DATELINE SOUTH HADLEY--Why would a small prestigious women's college nestled in the Berkshire foothills make big headlines around the world? For national media--from the New York Timesto public radio and prime-time TV--the answer lies in Mount Holyoke's innovative academic programs, in its faculty who are leaders in their fields, and in a distinguished body of students and alumnae. These and other attributes of the College and its extended community are propelling Mount Holyoke onto the national stage virtually every day. In this increasingly global society, College news generated from South Hadley now shares the limelight with news from New York, Paris, and Bangladesh.

Newspapers and magazines that cited Mount Holyoke in the past year boast a
circulation of more than 170 million. Add to this the College's strong presence on television and radio and in the international press, and Mount Holyoke emerges as one of the most newsworthy of its peer institutions. What a pleasure it is to be a member of the College's media relations staff. In addition to having excellent news sense and exceptional drive, my colleagues have great material to work with--Mount Holyoke's successful faculty, dedicated students, accomplished alumnae, and distinctive programs.

This special issue of Vista profiles some of Mount Holyoke's own who made headlines in the national media; we invite you to go to the first page. As you peruse these pages, I know you will experience, as I do, the intellectual and creative energy that brings the College such visibility. We can all take pride in our affiliation with this outstanding institution.

--Patricia VandenBerg,
Executive Director of
Communications and
Strategic Iniatives