News from the Assocation
Finding place at Bryn Mawr—a complicated and sometimes difficult journey.
When you pick up this issue of the Bulletin and read my note it will be late summer, but I am writing this from my backyard in San Diego just days after being on campus for Bryn Mawr’s 2022 Reunion celebration. The 2s and 7s gathered in person for three days of programming, parading, eating, drinking, step-singing, hospitality suite-ing, strolling, and Blue Bus riding. The weather (mostly) cooperated, and the campus looked amazing.
As I try to articulate the emotions and feelings rolling over me, I keep coming back to words like “full,” “home,” “joy,” and “grateful.” Reading through posts on my class Facebook group and text message chains with fellow Class of 1997 grads (both Bryn Mawr and Haverford), I see so many people sharing their reflections, photos, and feelings, and I know I am not alone.
At this year’s Reunion, we celebrated our three alum award winners, Martha Toppin ’57, Nicole Spencer ’92, and Nathan Gold ’07. After we offered our accolades and highlighted the tremendous impact each recipient has had on the College and our community, they took to the podium in turn to share their remarks.
Martha, Nicole, and Nathan captured the complicated nature of time, people, and place beautifully, sharing personal and vulnerable reflections of their time at Bryn Mawr and their connection to the College. I heard and felt a thread about finding place and searching for familiar footsteps and common ground. I also heard that finding place at Bryn Mawr is not something that looks and feels the same for everyone and is still too often a difficult path to navigate.
In my welcome letter to you in the summer 2021 issue, I shared that I want to be a part of building and supporting a better, bolder, and more equitable future for Bryn Mawr students and alums. Martha, Nicole, and Nathan have done, and are doing, just that. By highlighting their voices and holding space for their stories, we are continuing to make visible the many different versions of Bryn Mawr.
Twenty-five years out, my connection with the College continues to expand and grow, and I am thankful to be discovering new and impactful ways Bryn Mawr shows up in my life and work, as well as to hear how it shows up in your life and work. Each new point of connection shows me how people give to, and take from, the College and the richness that comes from our different life stories.
I am looking forward to hearing more about your Bryn Mawr and celebrating with the 3s and 8s next May!
Sincerely,
Sally Bachofer ’97
President, Bryn Mawr Alumnae Association