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
Best alum network
In the 2023 “Best 388 Colleges,” the Princeton Review ranked Mount Holyoke College #9 among private colleges for “Best Alumni Networks.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Addison Beaux ’99
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.
Suzan-Lori Parks ’85 and Debra Martin Chase ’77
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 ’95
Aimée Eubanks Davis ’95 discussed following her passion, being authentically bold and finding your own superpower.
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
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
Litigating the Status Quo
Mount Holyoke alum takes part in getting drag ban legislation overturned in Tennessee.
Leadership and Service Awards honor students
Mount Holyoke College students were honored at the annual Leadership and Service Awards ceremony for their contributions to the community.
Launching Leadership: 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.
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
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.”
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
Tahmima Anam
Class of 1997
Award-winning novelist
Kira Banks
Class of 2000
Psychology professor, St. Louis University and Co-founder of St. Louis University’s Institute for Healing Justice and Equity
Monica Landry
Class of 1990
Senior advisor for Farallon
Farah Khan
Class of 1998
Managing Partner at L Catterton
Caitlin Lambert
Class of 2009
Executive director and co-founder of the Children’s Legal Defense Center
Alison Rogers Cove
Class of 2012
Founder of USEFULL
Aimée Eubanks Davis
Class of 1995
Founder of Braven
Debra Martin Chase
Class of 1977
Tony Award-winning producer
Umama Zillur
Class of 2018
Co-founder and leader of Kotha, an organization dedicated to ending the culture of gender-based violence in Bangladesh
Kaneka Turner
Class of 2016
Founder of educational consulting company ReImage
Veronika Kivenson
Class of 2013
Postdoctoral fellow at Oregon State University and recipient of the Tory Burch Fellowship from the Innovative Genomics Institute
Gabi Gregg
Class of 2008
Fashion blogger and designer and advocate for the representation of plus-size Black women in fashion spaces
Chloé Zhao
Class of 2005
The first woman of color to win an Academy Award for best director
Natasha Mohanty
Class of 2003
Head of engineering for checkout experiences at Stripe, a financial infrastructure platform
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
Sheila Lirio Marcelo
Class of 1993
Entrepreneur and founder of Care.com
Tara Roberts
Class of 1991
2022 Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year
Mona Sutphen
Class of 1989
Partner and Head of Investment Strategies, The Vistria Group
Deborah Harkness, Ph.D.
Class of 1986
Best-selling fiction author, TV producer and professor of history
Suzan-Lori Parks
Class of 1985
First Black woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama
Holly Metcalf
Class of 1981
Top crew coach and champion in expanding access to the sport of rowing
Susan Kare
Class of 1975
Pioneer of pixel art and graphical computer interface
Wendy Wasserstein
Class of 1971
Tony-winning playwright and Pulitzer Prize winner
Barbara Smith
Class of 1969
Co-founder of the Combahee River Collective and co-author of the Combahee River Collective Statement
Janet Litster Rideout
Class of 1961
Organic chemist and patent holder of AZT
Nita Lowey
Class of 1959
U.S. Representative and the first woman to chair the House Appropriations Committee
Jean Sammet
Class of 1948
Co-developer of the computer programming language COBOL
Ella Grasso
Class of 1940
First woman elected U.S. state governor in her own right
Virginia Apgar
Class of 1929
Inventor of the Apgar Score for newborns
Frances Perkins
Class of 1902
First woman Cabinet member, U.S. Secretary of Labor and creator of Social Security
Emily Dickinson
Class of 1849
One of the greatest and most original poets of all time