Alums Leading the Way

Mount Holyoke alums have been opening doors, breaking barriers and launching into the world as leaders since the founding of the College. Our graduates are leading the way — in the boardroom and in the classroom, in the lab and in public service, in the field and on the runway. Every day alums are lifting up others, calling out injustices and advocating for change.

Our alum network, by the numbers

#9

Best alum network

In the 2023 “Best 388 Colleges,” the Princeton Review ranked Mount Holyoke College #9 among private colleges for “Best Alumni Networks.”

39,000+

Global alum network

Our network of alums around the world share their time, insight and connections — these of course being code words for power. Alums of women’s colleges arguably constitute the most influential professional-women’s networks on the globe.

2000

Current alum volunteers

Keeping Mount Holyoke’s global community vibrant and engaged is dependent on the efforts of thousands of alums, parents and friends of the College who volunteer their time, talent, and resources.

Launching Leadership

In celebration of the achievements of our alums and to highlight the many ways Mount Holyoke prepares its graduates to lead in the world, Interim President Beverly Daniel Tatum held a series of conversations with a diverse group of graduates. These alums exemplify an intellectually adventurous Mount Holyoke education in action.

Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum (right) and Caitlin Lambert ’09

Mount Holyoke alum Caitlin Lambert ’09 is working to free children from prison while also advocating for juvenile justice reform in Somaliland.

Monica Landry '90 and Farah Khan '98

Two Mount Holyoke alums and members of its Board of Trustees met with Interim President Beverly Daniel Tatum to discuss finance careers, changing plans and leaps of faith at the latest Launching Leadership conversation on April 11.

Beverly Daniel Tatum and Tahmima Anam ’97

At a Launching Leadership event on Mount Holyoke’s campus, alum and award-winning author Tahmima Anam ’97 discussed anthropology, intense connections and the perils of writing satire.

Interim President Beverly Daniel Tatum with Charisse Pickron ’08 and Kira Banks ’00

Mount Holyoke alums Kira Banks ’00 and Charisse Pickron ’08 are researching race’s and racism’s impact on young children. During a recent visit to campus, they spoke about transformational faculty, stepping into who you are and being true to yourself.

Launching Leadership, Fall 2022 Semester

Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum and Addison Beaux ’99 during their Launching Leadership discussion

The final Launching Leadership conversation for 2022 was with Addison Beaux ’99, the founder and CEO of Beaux & Arrow. The wide-ranging conversation touched on student activism, gender affirmations and self-love.

Interim President Beverly Daniel Tatum speaking with Suzan-Lori Parks ’85 and Debra Martin Chase ’77 on stage following a performance of “Topdog/Underdog”

Love, work and the importance of connection were the overarching themes of a Launching Leadership discussion with Mount Holyoke alums Suzan-Lori Parks ’85 and Debra Martin Chase ’77 after an electrifying performance of Parks’ play “Topdog/Underdog.”

Aimée Eubanks Davis (right) and Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum (left)

Aimée Eubanks Davis ’95 discussed following her passion, being authentically bold and finding your own superpower.

(l-r) Interim President Beverly Daniel Tatum, Mona Sutphen ’89 and Natasha Mohanty ’03

Mona Sutphen ’89 and Natasha Mohanty ’03 discussed the importance of embracing a nonlinear path to success, why leadership can be lonely and the importance of a support system.

Tara Roberts ’91 and Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum

Tara Roberts ’91 is the Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year and the inaugural Launching Leadership interviewee at Mount Holyoke College.

Lessons in leadership

Mount Holyoke alums are leading in varied and nuanced ways and using their spheres of influence for good — through professional achievements, volunteer experiences, advocacy work, special passions/projects, and more. We want our community to hear these important stories.

Please use this form to share your story or to recommend a friend, classmate or colleague.

Alums in the News

Demonstrating leadership

Mount Holyoke College students were honored at the annual Leadership and Service Awards ceremony for their contributions to the community.

Mount Holyoke alum Caitlin Lambert ’09 is working to free children from prison while also advocating for juvenile justice reform in Somaliland.

How will you make your mark?

Mount Holyoke alums have always blazed trails and challenged the status quo. Scientists. CEOs. Politicians. Entrepreneurs. Pulitzer-Prize winners. Oscar winners. And everything in between.

Addison Beaux

Addison Beaux

Class of 1999

“Affirming my gender really gave me confidence to trust myself,” Beaux said. “I believe when we love ourselves, it makes it a lot easier to love and understand other people, and how we treat others is a reflection of what goes on in our own inner world.”

Read Addison's story

Charisse Pickron ’08

Charisse Pickron

Class of 2008

Assistant professor at the Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota Twin Cities and Director of the Child Brain and Perception Lab, University of Minnesota Twin Cities

Read Charisse's story

Tahmima Anam ’97

Tahmima Anam

Class of 1997

Award-winning novelist

Read Tahmima's story

Kira Banks ’00

Kira Banks

Class of 2000

Psychology professor, St. Louis University and Co-founder of St. Louis University’s Institute for Healing Justice and Equity

Read Kira's story

Monica Landry ’90

Monica Landry

Class of 1990

Senior advisor for Farallon

Read Monica's story

Farah Khan ’98

Farah Khan

Class of 1998

Managing Partner at L Catterton

Read Farah's story

Caitlin Lambert ’09 in front of a pink flowering bush on the Mount Holyoke College campus.

Caitlin Lambert

Class of 2009

Executive director and co-founder of the Children’s Legal Defense Center

Read Caitlin's story

Alison Rogers Cofe ’12

Alison Rogers Cove

Class of 2012

Founder of USEFULL

Read Alison’s story

Aimée Eubanks Davis

Aimée Eubanks Davis

Class of 1995

Founder of Braven

Read Aimée‘s story

Debra Martin Chase

Debra Martin Chase

Class of 1977

Tony Award-winning producer

Read Debra's story

Umama Zillur

Umama Zillur

Class of 2018

Co-founder and leader of Kotha, an organization dedicated to ending the culture of gender-based violence in Bangladesh

Read Umama’s story

Kaneka Turner ”16

Kaneka Turner

Class of 2016

Founder of educational consulting company ReImage

Read Kaneka’s story

Veronika Kivenson

Veronika Kivenson

Class of 2013

Postdoctoral fellow at Oregon State University and recipient of the Tory Burch Fellowship from the Innovative Genomics Institute

Read Veronika's story

Gabi Gregg

Gabi Gregg

Class of 2008

Fashion blogger and designer and advocate for the representation of plus-size Black women in fashion spaces

Read Gabi's story

Chloé Zhao

Chloé Zhao

Class of 2005

The first woman of color to win an Academy Award for best director

Read Chloé’s story

Natasha Mohanty ’03

Natasha Mohanty

Class of 2003

Head of engineering for checkout experiences at Stripe, a financial infrastructure platform

Read Natasha’s story

Rumbi Bwerinofa-Petrozzello

Rumbi Bwerinofa-Petrozzello

Class of 1994

The first woman of color to serve as president of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants

Read Rumbi's story

Sheila Lirio Marcelo

Sheila Lirio Marcelo

Class of 1993

Entrepreneur and founder of Care.com

Read Sheila's story

Tara Roberts ’91

Tara Roberts

Class of 1991

2022 Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year

Read Tara's story

Mona Sutphen ’89

Mona Sutphen

Class of 1989

Partner and Head of Investment Strategies, The Vistria Group

Read Mona's story

Deborah Harkness photo by Scarlett Freund

Deborah Harkness, Ph.D.

Class of 1986

Best-selling fiction author, TV producer and professor of history

Read Deborah's story

Suzan-Lori Parks

Suzan-Lori Parks

Class of 1985

First Black woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama

Read Suzan-Lori's story

Holly Metcalf ’81

Holly Metcalf

Class of 1981

Top crew coach and champion in expanding access to the sport of rowing

Read Holly's story

Susan Kare

Susan Kare

Class of 1975

Pioneer of pixel art and graphical computer interface

Read Susan's story

Wendy Wasserstein

Wendy Wasserstein

Class of 1971

Tony-winning playwright and Pulitzer Prize winner

Read Wendy's story

Barbara Smith, class of 1969

Barbara Smith

Class of 1969

Co-founder of the Combahee River Collective and co-author of the Combahee River Collective Statement

Read Barbara's story

Janet Litster Rideout

Janet Litster Rideout

Class of 1961

Organic chemist and patent holder of AZT

Read Janet's story

Nita Lowey ’59

Nita Lowey

Class of 1959

U.S. Representative and the first woman to chair the House Appropriations Committee

Read Nita's story

Jean Sammet, class of 1948

Jean Sammet

Class of 1948

Co-developer of the computer programming language COBOL

Read Jean's story

Ella Grasso

Ella Grasso

Class of 1940

First woman elected U.S. state governor in her own right

Read Ella's story

Virginia Apgar

Virginia Apgar

Class of 1929

Inventor of the Apgar Score for newborns

Read Virginia's story

Frances Perkins, class of 1902

Frances Perkins

Class of 1902

First woman Cabinet member, U.S. Secretary of Labor and creator of Social Security

Read Frances' story

Emily Dickinson

Class of 1849

One of the greatest and most original poets of all time

Read Emily's story