About Us

Mission

Throughout the 2024-25 academic year, Hotchkiss will celebrate a defining milestone in the School’s history: 50 years of coeducation. We will create a year-long, inclusive, community-building conversation that engages students, parents, faculty, staff, and alumni. Elements may encompass student research,  classroom work, alumni events, performances, and physical and digital exhibits, including documentary film.

Beginning with the first female trailblazers who enrolled in the fall of 1974, our goal is to reflect on their inspiring legacy, to pay tribute to the achievements of the young women who followed in their footsteps, and to acknowledge gratefully all members of the Hotchkiss community who boldly helped steer the School forward. And with this nod to the past—both its triumphs and missteps—we also look to the future, illuminating ways to approach and embrace the future of a diverse and inclusive Hotchkiss.

Goals and Purposes

Commemorate the Past 50 Years

Commemorating the 50th anniversary of co-education is important to the culture, community, and future of the School. This milestone encapsulates some of the School’s most joyful moments as well as some of its darkest. It supports development goals, programmatic goals, and even admissions. It’s an opportunity to:

  • Honor and commemorate important history
  • Deliver programming that serves past, present, and future students 
  • Acknowledge darker history amidst a celebration/commemoration that is overall positive 
  • Support Development and Admissions outcomes
  • Continue to shape the culture of the School we want to be for the future
Engagement of Students

Engage students in understanding, unpacking, and commemorating the role of girls and women at Hotchkiss and in our broader society throughout the 2024-25 school year.

Support Networking for AlumnAE

Create a network with the intention of fostering relationships and connections and to identify programs, events, and/or opportunities that meet alumnae “where they are” and that are meaningful to them.

The Next 50 Years

Use the anniversary year to draw more attention to the “unfinished agenda” for women in society and more specifically at Hotchkiss as we look to the future.

 

Steering Committee 

  • Chair Robin Chandler ’87, Project Manager for the 50th Anniversary
  • Hope Cobera ’88, P’24, Chief Communication Officer
     
  • Robert Chartener ’76, P'18 Trustee
  • Caroline Reilly ’87, Director of Alumni Engagement
  • Lisa Brown, Chief of Staff to the Head of School
  • Rosemary Davis, Archivist and Records Manager
  • Kinyette Henderson, Dean of the Class of 2027, Instructor in English
  • Catherine Calame, Marketing and Communications Strategist
  • Katie Fleishman, Head of the English Department, Instructor in English
  • Joan Baldwin P’03, Curator of Special Collections
  • Kelsie Fralick ’11, Instructor in Latin
  • Daymyen Layne, Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Sub-Committees

School Programming Committee
Identify guest speakers, content for All-School meetings, Chapel Programming, MLK Day, and more.

  • Chair Kinyette Henderson, Dean of the Class of 2027, Instructor in English
  • Katie Fleishman Ph.D., Head of the English Department, Instructor in English
  • Carita Gardiner P'17,'20, Dean of the Class of 2025, Instructor in English
  • Keith Moon P’13,‘16, Instructor in English, History & Russian Language
  • Catherine Calamé, Marketing and Communications Strategist
  • Lisa Brown, Chief of Staff to the Head of School
  • Daymyen Layne, Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion


Academic Curriculum Committee
Identify, engage, and encourage on-campus partners to participate in the 50th commemorations through the academic curriculum. Establish All- School Read.

  • Chair Katie Fleishman Ph.D., Head of the English Department, Instructor in English
  • Hope Reisinger Cobera '88, P'24, Chief Communication Officer
  • Emma Wynn P'28, Instructor in History, Philosophy & Religion
  • Jennifer Likar, Instructor in Biology
  • Beth Smithey, Instructor in Chemistry and Physics
  • Davida LaCosse, Instructor in Chemistry
  • Kim Gnerre, Assistant Director of the Edsel Ford Library


Women in Sports Committee
Plan events and activities to commemorate 50 years of women athletes/coaches at Hotchkiss engaging alumnae as well as former faculty, staff, and parents and connecting them to present-day Hotchkiss female athletes and teams.

  • Chair Kelsie Fralick '11, Instructor in Latin
  • Dave Thompson P’27, Director of International Programs
  • Danielle Turner '03, Head Athletic Trainer
  • Nian Wilder '86, P'17,'20, Director of Reunion Giving


Performances & Exhibitions Committee
Identify and showcase the depth of female contributions to Hotchkiss and the world through a historical lens of visual, performance, and musical art.

  • Chair Joan Baldwin P’03, Curator of Special Collections
  • Rosemary Davis, Archivist and Records Manager
  • Fabio Witkowski, The Joanne Eastman Sohrweide Chair, Artistic Director, Director of Music, and Instructor in Piano
  • Terri Moore, Director of Studio Art and the Tremaine Art Gallery
  • Derek Brashears, Director of Theatre, Resident Designer and Technical Director, Instructor in Theatre


Alumni Outreach Committee
Attract and inspire alumnae who have not been active and then help them stay engaged. Better understand the ways that the School and the Hotchkiss Alumni Association might connect with alumnae going forward, and promote and strengthen Hotchkiss’s networks in support of alumnae. 

  • Chair Caroline Sallee Reilly ‘87, Director of Alumni Engagement
  • Ninette Enrique, Chief Advancement Officer
  • Erby Mitchell P’21, Assistant Head of School and Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid
  • Serena Oh Castellano, Director of College Advising
  • Sarah Thornton-Clifford '76, P'07,'23
  • Lydia Gidwitz ’03, Board of Governors

Student Engagement Committee
Help with a wide variety of initiatives throughout the coming year including social media, school publications, branding, and marketing for the 50th as well as helping with on campus events.

  • Co-Chairs: Aailyah Wang ’25, Petal Hammam ’25, Addie Cirulis, Marisin McLain ’25,  Lucy Hall '25

Celebrating Athletics at Hotchkiss Committee

A group of athletic alumnae have been planning events and activities to commemorate 50 years of women and girls in athletics at Hotchkiss. 

The committee is ongoing and includes:

Kelsie Fralick ’11 - Chair
Biffy Roraback ’83, P'07,'10,'11
Tina Test ’76
Nian Wilder ’86, P'17,'20
Robin Chandler ’87
Carroll McCaffrey Willa ’95, P’27
Sarah Hall ’96, P'25,'27
Caitlin Cahow ’03
Chase Delano ’07
Faimie Kingsley ’09
Charlotte Searle ‘14
Theresa Yu ’19
Jillian Cudney ’22