Melissa Gentry Witherow ’80

Witherow has served the College since 2004, most recently as the director of Boxwood Circle, the College’s leadership annual giving program.  She has also served as associate director of annual giving, and assistant and associate director of the alumnae office.

“Missy brings to this position her passion for Sweet Briar, an ability to build strong relationships, a keen appreciation for the critical importance of engaging our alumnae in supporting the College, and a strategic, data-driven and goal-oriented focus to her work,” said Heidi Hansen McCrory, vice president for development.

For Witherow, this new position offers her the best of both worlds.

“It is a privilege to be here in this new role. I am thrilled about the opportunity as it combines two passions with an institution and community I believe wholeheartedly in as a viable and relevant choice for young women,” she said. “I look forward to sharing news and successes from campus while garnering support for the College through alumnae engagement and annual giving.”

Prior to joining the College in a professional capacity, Witherow served on the Alumnae Association board and was an active alumna volunteer. Among her many roles, she was the national reunion giving chair, chair of Region VII, a member of the Centennial Committee and nominating chair.

Witherow’s numerous other civic and philanthropic duties include chairing the STAB Fine Arts Boosters at St. Anne’s-Belfield School in Charlottesville and participating in the Junior League.

She received her bachelor’s degree in international affairs from Sweet Briar in 1980.

Tusculum house in the 1960s

“The College has been a diligent steward of Tusculum, stabilizing, restoring, preserving and cataloging the elements of this historic property,” said Jo Ellen Parker, president of Sweet Briar College. “However, despite ambitious fundraising efforts and after consultation with our partners at the Department of Historic Resources and Preservation Virginia, it has become clear we will not be able to reconstruct the building in the time frame agreed upon when Tusculum was acquired.”

The College is seeking proposals from select individuals or organizations with the capacity and interest in reconstructing the building in a historically sensitive manner, at a location similar to its original site, and ideally for educational or non-profit use.

“Although it is not the specific outcome first hoped for, a successful transfer would serve the original goals of this project by allowing this marvelous building to be reconstructed—and seen, and used—as soon as possible,” said Parker.

The Tusculum Institute, an educational and community outreach program dedicated to preserving and studying the region’s historic assets, will remain at the College.

“While we regret we were unable to rebuild the house as once planned, the programming and public outreach that lies at the core of the institute’s mission remains unchanged,” said Lynn Rainville, director of the Tusculum Institute. The next institute-sponsored event will be the annual Teaching with Historic Places workshop on June 15. This year’s theme, “Civil Rights in Education,” will incorporate local efforts to integrate schools in Central Virginia, including Sweet Briar.

To learn more about the history of the Tusculum house project or to view the request for proposals, visit the Tusculum Institute website.

— Christy Jackson

Allida M. Black

Black is the executive editor of fdr4freedoms Digital Resource, an online education and advocacy program dedicated to former President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms: freedom from fear, freedom from want, freedom of speech and freedom of worship.  The program is part of the FDR Four Freedoms Park Conservancy. In addition, she serves as founding editor and chair of the editorial advisory board for the Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Project, a research center at The George Washington University designed to preserve, teach and apply Eleanor Roosevelt’s writing and discussions of human rights and democratic parties. Black is also a research professor of history and international affairs at the university.

“A scholar of women’s leadership and human rights, an educator and popular lecturer, Allida Black offers an inspiring example for graduates,” said Jo Ellen Parker, president of Sweet Briar College.  “I’m sure the Class of 2013 and their families will deeply appreciate her message and her presence.”

In 2010, Black served as program manager for the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs’ Women’s Political Participation Team, helping women in 70 countries run for office, lead their parties and serve as advocates for fellow citizens. The year before, she conceived and organized “The Courage to Lead: An International Summit for Women’s Human Rights Leaders,” which was co-sponsored by the Department of State, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Vital Voices Global Partnership.

A prolific writer, Black has authored seven books and multiple articles on women, politics and human rights policy. In 2012, she provided the introduction for Penguin Classics’ reissued “Tomorrow Is Now” by Eleanor Roosevelt, and she currently is writing a political biography of the former first lady.  Other work includes writing teachers’ guides for PBS documentaries and serving as an advisor to PBS, the History Channel, A&E and the Discovery Channel on additional projects.

Among her many philanthropic roles, Black serves as a governor of the Roosevelt Institute and its Four Freedoms Center, a member of the board of directors for the Educators Institute for Human Rights, a director of the Kilimanjaro Centre for Community Ophthalmology and a director of the Liberian Education Trust.

Black holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Emory University and a doctorate in history from The George Washington University.

For more information, visit the College’s commencement website.