MAKE A GIFT
Three alumnae will be honored at the AADC Founders Day Celebration which features the AADC Society for Excellence Induction Ceremony and the 95th Anniversary of the AADC, on Saturday, April 22, at the Douglass Student Center from 12 noon to 2:00 pm. Register online to attend our celebration.
The AADC Society of Excellence, formerly known as The Douglass Society established in 1973, recognizes alumnae who have made major contributions in their field of expertise and whose life work embodies exceptional accomplishments and leadership. Each year the Associate Alumnae of Douglass College recognizes and honors alumnae who have supported the AADC, excelled in their careers, and distinguished themselves in their communities.
This year’s honorees are: Alice Herman ’70, Public and Not-for-Profit Executive and Philanthropist; Michele Hoffnung ’65, Professor, Researcher, Writer, Activist; and Harriet R. MacLean ’76, Educator, Published Author, Community Service.
Alice Herman, Class of 1970, is an accomplished senior executive, honing her skills over many years of work in the public and not-for-profit sectors. During a 20-year career at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey she successfully tackled increasingly challenging positions, from Operations Manager at the Port Authority bus terminal and then at JFK International Airport, to Director of Government and Industry Affairs for Aviation, to Corporate Secretary of the Port Authority. Her final position at the Port Authority was Director of the General Services Department.
After leaving the Port Authority, Alice served as the Executive Director of Congregation Rodeph Sholom, a large synagogue/school/community services complex in New York City. She then became National Executive Director of Women’s American ORT, the major fundraising organization for worldwide ORT job-skills training programs. Finally, she was called on to serve as Executive Director of Celebrate 350: Jewish Life in America, leading a nationwide year-long celebration that culminated in a Washington, DC, dinner with President George W. Bush as keynote speaker.
Alice served in volunteer leadership positions for many years on the board and as President of Berkshire Hills-Emanuel Camps, a not-for-profit children’s camp and senior adult vacation center in upstate New York. She now enjoys mentoring graduate students at Baruch College of the City University of New York and Douglass alumnae through the AADC Mabel’s Alumnae Mentoring Program.
Alice recently co-chaired the Campaign for Douglass capital campaign in which the AADC raised nearly $42 million. She is a consistent and generous donor to the AADC Annual Appeal and regularly participates in AADC programs and events.
In addition to her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Douglass College, Alice holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Baruch College and is an honorary member of Pi Alpha Alpha, National Honor Society for Public Affairs and Administration.
Michele Hoffnung, Class of 1965, a Professor of Psychology, Emerita, at Quinnipiac University, impacted the lives of countless women through a distinguished 45-year career as a scholar, mentor and feminist activist. At Quinnipiac, she advocated for the establishment of the Women’s and Gender Studies Program and served as its Director for two decades. She co-authored “Lifespan Development,” a widely published textbook that illustrates the connections and relationships among all life stages and their transitions.
After earning her Psychology degree at Douglass, Michele went on to pursue advanced degrees, earning a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in Developmental Psychology. During her tenure at Quinnipiac, Michele was a Mellon Scholar at the Wellesley College Center for Research on Women and a Visiting Fellow in Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies at Yale University.
Michele was deeply involved in the civil rights, antiwar and women’s movements and began her focus on women in the late 1960s. By 1970, she became one of the first professors to offer a course on the Psychology of Women. This groundbreaking action garnered her the 2009 Pioneer Award from the American Psychological Association. Michele organized cooperative childcare services to help women and men balance family and career in both Washington, D.C. and New Haven. Michele also established a Faculty Women’s Group on campus, and developed the Celebrating Women’s Creativity Conference.
Michele has received numerous awards including the 2015 American Psychological Association’s Heritage Award and the 2003 Ruth Steinkraus-Cohen Memorial Outstanding Women of Connecticut Award. Her work includes several scholarly books, articles, reviews and presentations, which explore the lives, attitudes and roles of women. Among her books are, “Roles Women Play: Readings Toward Women’s Liberation,” and “What’s a Mother To Do? Conversations on Work and Family.” Michele has been published in journals such as “Sex Roles,” “Psychology of Women Quarterly,” and “Journal of Divorce and Remarriage.” She has been affiliated with the American Psychological Association, Society for Psychology of Women, New England Psychological Association and the Connecticut Chapter of the National Organization of Women.
Harriet R. MacLean, Class of 1976, has developed a career in public education over the last 30 years, serving diverse student populations as both a site and district administrator in positions across three California school districts. She served as Principal in three schools and rose to Assistant Superintendent. Each school led by Harriet experienced a transformation that resulted in vastly improved outcomes for students, families and the community, including the most vulnerable of demographic and socioeconomic groups. She has demonstrated a commitment to taking risks, breaking down institutional barriers and to providing high quality education for all students.
Following receiving her Bachelor of Arts in French and Russian at Douglass, Harriet earned her Doctor of Education degree from St. Mary’s College of California and holds two masters degrees, in French Literature and Educational Administration, from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana and San Francisco State University, respectively.
During six years of site leadership at Davidson Middle School in San Rafael, California, Harriet shaped the school’s academic and cultural growth. Davidson’s Academic Performance Index rose dramatically and suspensions dropped markedly under her leadership. The Davidson’s Positive Climate and Culture Program initiated by Harriet won a California School Boards Association Golden Bell award in 2011. She rose to Assistant Superintendent, Education Services, and continued leading the move to full implementation of the Common Core State Standards K-12 in San Rafael City Schools. In her current position as Administrator on Special Assignment, Equity, Community Schools, Restorative Practices, Harriet has been leading a city-wide community schools initiative in San Rafael.
Harriet is a member of the National Association of Elementary School Principals, American Association of School Administrators, and the San Rafael chapter of Phi Delta Kappa. Among awards she has received are: 2010 Outstanding Middle School Administrator, Marin County School Administrators Association; 2013 Women in School Leadership Award, American Association of School Administrators; and the 2013 National Distinguished Principal California Finalist, Association of California School Administrators. Harriet is also active in her community via the Bay Area Community Schools Network Advisory Council, Rotary Club of San Rafael Harbor, and Spectrum LGBT Center of Marin Advisory Council.
Thank you to our supporters of the AADC Annual Appeal who make events and programs possible. Your contributions help support the initiatives that empower and strengthen our alumnae sisterhood and the general operations that power them. Per the Agreement with Rutgers, the Annual Appeal is not on behalf of NJC, DRC, Douglass or Rutgers. Please click here to Make a Gift. Thank You.