Hard to realize that 50 years has passed since graduation. And, here I am feeling about 50, maybe, or younger. At the same time, lots has happened in a full life, thus far. First, my family: at age 50, I married my great love, Bernie Wohl. We met while serving on a board of a large social services organization in New York City, United Neighborhood Houses. Bernie, a social worker, was the long-time executive director of a settlement house on the Upper West Side in Manhattan. He was a vocal advocate for those in need, not only a city leader but a national one as well. I adored him. He was smart, talented, loving, generous and noisy. We had just over 13 years together before his death six years ago. He brought me great joy and made me laugh every day. And, he brought me his children, Carla and Michael, and their families and children. So I am a proud grandmother of four granddaughters living in Los Angeles and Boca Raton. A great and enduring gift.

I've worked since graduating from Mount Holyoke College in three careers. The first in education and higher education, started as a deanlet at Livingston College, Rutgers University, a new college committed to expanding opportunities for those without access to college. I got a master's degree there along the way. Then, as the chancellor's deputy, I spent a decade at the City University of New York, during the time when New York City nearly went bankrupt and then recovered. It was fascinating and complicated, for the financial structure of the university changed and long overdue facilities were built. Then I went to work on Wall Street for a dozen years, working in investment management firms,
including the Equitable and Prudential, providing me with a completely new perspective on our economy. At the end, I headed the customer service effort Prudential Securities globally. For the past 14 years, I have been an executive recruiter at Witt/Kieffer for colleges and universities across the country. It has been stimulating work and I meet remarkable leaders - presidents, vice presidents and
deans for the most part - whom I have placed at institutions such as UCLA, Virginia Commonwealth, and Brooklyn College. I could do without the travel.

For most of my career, I have also served on boards, not only United Neighborhood Houses, the umbrella agency for 3 8 settlement houses in New York serving 15 million, but also the New School University, and served as board chair of Prep for Prep, a program to prepare low income kids to go to top colleges, and St. Augustine's School of the Arts in the South Bronx.

Since graduation I have loved living in New York City, now very much my home. Happily, my sister, Deborah, is here as well. I have long had a home in Rhinebeck in the Hudson Valley that I escape to every weekend, now with my gentle friend, David Chalfin, a gifted, retired physician.

Okemos gets mentioned in my life with some frequency, usually signaling that I grew up in the Midwest in a small town. I still remember high school teachers, particularly Dale Brubaker, with whom I was recently in touch, and Mrs. Grinnell. And screaming at basketball games. And the friends. It has been a treasure to remain in regular touch with Sharon and Sally and Linda. Okemos was a good beginning.

Written 2012