Winter 2024 : simplebooklet.com

EDITOR Steven AverettCONTRIBUTORS Marla Goncalves Kyana JohnsonAmy Morris Shaumond ScottDESIGN Heather WinkelPUBLISHER Nija Majmudar MeyerMs. Madelyn R. AdamsMr. Justin H. Alexander ’99Mr. Calvin R. Allen, Jr. ’67Mr. Simon E. Arpiarian ’94Mr. Gerald R. BenjaminMr. Kenneth L. BlankMr. Ronald M. BrillMrs. Monica Howard DouglasMrs. Suzanna Sanchez Doyle ’00Mr. Michael S. DruckerDr. Russell K. Gore ’93Mr. William H. Gray IVMr. Ryan T. GunnigleMr. Rodney Scott HarrisonMrs. Jo Cranford Hodges ’96Mr. Ben F. Johnson III ’61Mr. Thomas L. Jones ’69Ms. Tamara R. Jones ’88Mr. Gregory S. Lewis ’92Mr. C. Brad Marsh ’77Ms. Belinda M.J. MorrisDr. Vicki R. PalmerMrs. Beth H. Paradies Mr. Stephen E. Roberts ’65Mrs. LaKesha M. RobinsonMrs. Lauren Z. SchlossbergMr. S. Paul Shailendra ’97Mr. Ricardo L. SimonMr. James E. Sutherland, Jr. ’86Mr. Matthew D. Wilson ’99GOVERNING BOARDWoodward Academy is Atlanta at its very best. We intentionally bring together students from diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences, creating a richer learning community and exceptional academic opportunities. Our students and graduates are caring and compassionate global citizens who are a microcosm of what the world should be. Excellence. Character. Opportunity.Woodward magazine is published twice a year by the Academy’s Marketing & Communications Oce. Contact us at magazine@woodward.edu.Mr. William W. AllisonMr. Aditya BhoopathyMr. Robert E. Bowers ’74Mr. Clarence Davis, 1974Mr. Adair Dickerson, Jr. ’71Ms. Vicki EscarraDr. Daniel S. Ferguson ’68Mr. W. Philip Gramm ’61Dr. Phillip A. Griths ’56Dr. Nancy Howard Jennings ’84Mr. Waldo S. Kennedy ’57Dr. Thomas L. Lyons ’66Mr. Gene W. Milner Jr. ’71Mr. George S. Morgan, Sr. ’69Ms. Garnet M. Nygren ’02Mrs. Marie Lupo Nygren ’78Mr. Larry D. ThompsonMrs. Amy C. VasseyMr. Anthony M. Webb ’99OUR MISSIONCHAIRDr. Xavier A. Duralde ’76PRESIDENTF. Stuart GulleyVICE PRESIDENT FOR OPERATIONS AND AUXILIARY SERVICESLee ConnerVICE PRESIDENT FOR ADVANCEMENTChris FreerVICE PRESIDENT FOR FINANCE AND CFOLouise MannVICE PRESIDENT FOR ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENTNija Majmudar MeyerVICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AND STUDENT LIFENigel A. TraylorMEMBERSVICE CHAIRMs. Mary S. Moore ’87ADVISORY BOARD2023-24 Academic YearADMINISTRATION

Page 5

3Atlanta At Its Very BestBut being at our very best isn’t just about achievement or exceptionalism. Because the more success we garner, the more incumbent it is upon us as a school, as a city, and as a society to look to the marginalized in our midst. Before we pat ourselves on the back for our eorts at a deep respect for dierence, we must be conscious of the fact that there are still individuals and groups who we are not reaching, who still feel disconnected from that feeling of community the rest of us enjoy. The student who feels isolated and incapable of expressing themselves. The family who steps out the door each morning with a tinge of fear for no other reason than the color of their skin, the religion they practice, or the country they come from. The unhoused person we look past at the oramp. It is our charge to pay attention to those cut o from that feeling of greatness. Only then will we truly be at our very best.—F. Stuart Gulley, Ph.D.“Atlanta inﬂuences everything.” It’s an observation that has become a badge of honor. From Atlanta’s hip-hop prominence, to its leadership on civil rights, to our recent centrality in national politics, to serving as the backdrop to a never-ending stream of TV and movie productions, it’s easy to feel that the city we call home plays an outsized role in driving the culture.Meanwhile, we at Woodward are fond of deﬁning ourselves as “Atlanta at its very best.” In athletic terms alone, with our football team making it to the state championship for the ﬁrst time in 43 years, following a statewide championship for our track and ﬁeld athletes this spring, and recent back-to-back state championships for our girls’ basketball team, it’s an easy mantle to don these days. When Michelin unveiled its ﬁrst Atlanta guide in October, it was little surprise that one of the ﬁve restaurants to receive a coveted Michelin star is owned and operated by Woodward alums (see pg. 37).The symbiotic relationship with our hometown runs deep. Drawing students and faculty from every corner of the metro area, Woodward proudly welcomes the most diverse student population of any independent school in Atlanta, mirroring our city’s continual transformation and diversiﬁcation as it welcomes people from across the country and around the world. Our graduates go on to become prominent entrepreneurs, doctors, researchers, artists, writers, athletes, and so much more. And many of them achieve those heights right here in Atlanta. Meanwhile, Woodward educates the children of some of our most prominent citizens, completing the circle of excellence.FROM THE PRESIDENTEditor's Note: Dr. Gulley himself represents Atlanta at its very best. He has been awarded Educator of the Year by the Atlanta Business Journal; Most Admired CEO in Education by the Atlanta Business Chronicle; and was named one of the Atlanta 500 by Atlanta magazine. Under his leadership, Woodward Academy has consistently ranked No. 1 or No. 2 in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Top Workplaces program, out of 150 of Atlanta's top companies. Dr. Gulley has three times received the highest honor in the special award category for leadership in large organizations.

Page 6

WOODWARD WINTER 20244 This weekend, Upper School students on the cross-country team returned from 10 days in Norway led by faculty and coaches Nick & Leslie Widener. The group explored the capital city of Oslo, the Old Town and UNESCO World Heritage Site in Bergen, and spent several days in Stryn at Torheim Gard Farm where they helped out and learned all about the farm's production of various vegetables, sheep, and apple cider. Oh yeah, and they RAN a lot, too! “Runs end. Running is forever.” @torheimgard @woodwardacademy @nicholaswidener @leslie_smile #woodwardacademy #woodwardexpeditions #woodwardway #studenttravel #educationaltravel #running #crosscountryrunning–@woodward_globalCONVERSATIONFollow Woodward news across social media channels.@WoodwardAcademy #woodwardwaySOCIALWhile the Woodward magazine comes out twice a year, the conversation among the Woodward community goes on year-round. Here’s a little of that conversation on posts from social media. Coffee was ﬂowing and conversations were going during this morning’s Parent Social –@woodwardacademy For several years, Primary School students have been paired with a Senior to serve as pen pals and write back & forth throughout the school year.Today, Primary School students and their Senior pals met for lunch to converse, learn more about each other, and of course, play!–@woodwardacademy Today, Lower School students and teachers threw a surprise parade for Ofﬁcer Fenner to show their appreciation and thank him for his act of heroism! #woodwardway–@woodwardacademy Thank you to best-selling author and Woodward Alum, Roshani Chokshi ’09 for visiting our Lower and Middle school students.Roshani talked about her writing process, gave tips on how to stay motivated, answered students questions and signed copies of her newest book, The Spirit Glass.

Page 7

Page 8

Page 9

7T he Chick-ﬁl-A Leader Academy (CLA) is a unique national leadership development program, and Woodward is excited to have its ﬁrst chapter serving 30 sophomores this year. The program is funded by a local Chick-ﬁl-A operator and is sponsored by Upper School faculty member Dr. Dale Stahl. The program seeks to engage, expose, and equip students with a servant leadership model that inspires impact through action. By attending monthly Leader Lab meetings and planning speciﬁc service projects, students get the practical tools and hands-on experience they need to make a positive impact in their local community. Woodward student participants were selected through an application process that determined the 30 student leaders (the maximum number allowed for each school for the program each year). These leaders started the year by participating in a kicko event designed to promote youth literacy. As part of the Chick-ﬁl-A million book giveaway, they packaged 160 sets of books, and wrote personal notes encouraging each young reader who received a set. Half of the books were delivered to College Park Elementary School, and then our Woodward students traveled to Main Street Academy in College Park to personally share the books with kindergarteners to encourage their love of books and reading. For their “Do Good December” project, CLA partnered with WA alum Kennedy Clemons ’23 (learn more about Clemons on pg. 42) and Spelman College to host a winter clothing drive to provide warm clothes for students at KIPP Strive Elementary School. Students worked to collect nearly 100 items for these students.In the spring, the CLA will design and execute a ﬁnal service project according to their interests and the needs of our community. Super Goober Day is Go!Despite a little rain, the 51st edition of Super Goober Day came off without a hitch as Woodward's younger students relished the opportunity to go nuts!Learning to Lead

Page 10

8WOODWARD WINTER 2024At the start of each new school year at Woodward, the excitement of welcoming fresh faces extends beyond the student body. The new teacher mentor program oers a lifeline to the educators stepping onto campus for the ﬁrst time. We asked Lori Fenzl, an experienced mentor, and Mo Lotfy, an enthusiastic mentee, to discuss the beneﬁts and nuances of mentorship.In her 23rd year of teaching, and ﬁfth year at Woodward, Lori’s decision to become a mentor was driven by a deep-seated passion for helping others. “I absolutely love welcoming new teachers to Woodward,” Lori begins. “I have always enjoyed helping people, and mentoring is a natural ﬁt. I also understand what it’s like to be new, and it can be overwhelming.”Lori’s insights oer a glimpse into the meticulous process of pairing mentors and mentees that sets Woodward’s mentoring program apart. “Once we have new hires,” she explains, “we look carefully at what the course load will be of the new teacher, as well as personality. We are intentional about pairing someone with similar course loads, so that the logistical, teaching, planning, and prepping help is automatic and, therefore, creates an easy collegial match. I knew Mo and I would hit it o immediately!”As a mentor, Lori wears several hats. She describes her responsibilities as being on the front end of the calendar, collaborating with Mo’s schedule, and providing insights into the weeks ahead. Her dedication extends beyond Navigating New Beginnings: Mentoring at WoodwardA Conversation with Social Studies teachers Lori Fenzl and Mo LotfyMo Lotfy and Lori FenzlPAUL WARD

Page 11

9the logistical aspects; she invests time in acquainting Mo with the intricacies of pedagogic life at Woodward. “How to enter the grades into our platform, communication expectations, how to get copies made, and other similar tasks,” Lori lists. But it’s not just about paperwork; Lori’s commitment to Mo’s professional growth transcends the classroom. She mentions the importance of the real-time on-the-job training that beneﬁts both teachers. “If we were not a couple of doors away from each other, I do not think my support for Mo would be as easy or attainable for either of us,” Lori adds.For Lori, the mentorship program has been a catalyst for self-awareness. “Mentoring makes you so much more aware of what we ask of each other here at Woodward. We expect a lot, and we give a lot to our students and parents. Mentoring keeps that in perspective and helps us grow, making sure what we ask of new teachers is not anything we do not ask of ourselves,” she arms.In Lori’s opinion, the beneﬁts of participating in a mentorship program are invaluable. “It’s like being a part of a club before your ﬁrst day of school. You already have a friend to sit with at the lunch table and feel like you belong,” she says. Mentorship programs, in general, aim to set everyone up for success, ensuring that no one feels they are alone in trying to ﬁnd their way without support. At Woodward Academy, it’s about direct, individualized support, creating a real bond.For Mo, the new teacher mentor program at Woodward was a fresh start. He explains that at his previous school, the mentor program was somewhat superﬁcial. “There needed to be more assistance, but it wasn’t available,” he recalls. Woodward has been a “Mentoring makes you so much more aware of what we ask of each other here at Woodward. We expect a lot, and we give a lot to our students and parents. Mentoring keeps that in perspective and helps us grow, making sure what we ask of new teachers is not anything we do not ask of ourselves.”dierent story. “I am blessed to have Lori as my mentor. She always takes time out of her busy schedule to assist me.”Mo describes their collaborative approach, which includes everything from setting calendar dates to planning sessions before the start of every unit. “Lori has helped me to become better organized, which is critical to succeed as a new teacher at a new school,” he acknowledges.Participating in the mentor program at Woodward profoundly impacted Mo’s sense of belonging. “It’s an honor to work here, but many aspects of the job take a while to get acclimated to,” he adds. With Lori as his mentor and the support of the social studies department, he’s found the transition to be seamless. “They are always there if I need somebody to vent to or if I need advice on how to handle a situation,” Mo emphasizes. Mo deeply values his conversations with Lori, particularly those centered around education and the philosophy of educating students. He admires her attention to detail and her commitment to her students, qualities he aims to emulate in his teaching.“I am very thankful that Woodward has implemented a mentoring program that is mindful of the needs of new teachers,” Mo shares. “This program allowed me to stay calm in my new position and not feel overwhelmed. I am incredibly appreciative of Lori and the time that she makes for me. She is swamped with work due to the various activities she is involved in, but she always ﬁnds a way to assist me. I am blessed to have her as a mentor, but even more fortunate to be able to call her a friend.”

Page 12

10WOODWARD WINTER 2024Seth Meyer: So, before you started this course, did you think that the words “human” and “person” were synonyms?Oscar Rivera ’24: Yes. William Henriksson ’24: Yes.Nicky Okoli ’24: No. SM: All right. What did you think, and what do you think now, about the dierences?NO: To be a person has more to do with one’s relation to society and others, while being human is biological (being homo sapien).OR: Right, personhood is a moral status, while human is biological.WH: Personhood can potentially be achieved, while humanness is inherent upon birth.SM: Excellent. We’ve learned there are moral, but also legal questions, when it comes to the status of personhood. That is–we’d like to believe in our society that all human beings are aorded equal treatment. Upper School German teacher Seth Meyer also teaches two Compassion Capstone courses on personhood. The course asks students to confront a number of questions: What is it to be human? What is the dierence between human and animal? How do technology and artiﬁcial intelligence alter our understanding of humanity? How does the rhetoric of personhood aect our judgment of others? What is an immigrant, a migrant, a refugee, a foreigner, an alien? Students mine everything from foundational philosophers, to contemporary theorists on post-colonialism and critical body studies, to literature, ﬁlm, and art to arrive at answers.Meyer sat down with three of his students—William Henriksson ’24, Nicky Okoli ’24, and Oscar Rivera ’24— for a conversation on personhood.Getting PersonalStudents ponder the deﬁning characteristics of personhood with the help of their teacher.PAUL WARDFACULTY/STUDENT Q&A

Page 13

11However, we know throughout history that that has not been the case. In the United States, Black people were not guaranteed the same rights as others; women were not permitted to vote until the 20th century; Japanese Americans were interned; those without U.S. citizenship today are not treated as equal to other persons here. But before all this, we started with an even more universal and ontological question: What is it to be human? NO: Between human and animal, we discussed Rilke’s “Eighth Duino Elegy,” where the poet laments that animals live a direct, immediate experience with the world, while humans, as soon as they are aware of their own mortality, can never truly be in the moment anymore.WH: Right. Animals are closer to that “oceanic” or “womb-like” feeling we might have once had. Having an awareness of time though, we begin to objectify and analyze the world. When we do that, we do not allow ourselves to experience it wholly anymore.SM: I had thought humans were superior to animals. You are saying that human rationale is also what limits our ability to “be here now?” Interesting! Beyond human and animal, we did explore, with the help of philosophers, what makes a human a person. Enlighten us?OR: Persons 1) have autonomy and self-consciousness, 2) are rational actors, and 3) are part of a moral community.SM: All right. With those deﬁnitions, can you fathom a “human, non-person?”NO: Yes, and there are several of them walking among us. We call them young children! Not yet autonomous beings or aware of themselves, as William was saying, perhaps they have not yet achieved personhood.WH: A child lacks the ability to dierentiate between right and wrong. They can only think of themselves instead of what is best for society.SM: Therefore, children cannot defend themselves in court, for example, or vote. Legally, they are not full persons. The same goes for those in vegetative states. So those are human non-persons. Can there be non-human persons?OR: Yes, that’s what I’m arguing in my term paper! I’m writing about the ﬁlm “WALL-E.” While the society in the movie has tried to make life easier with technology, all the humans within it have nearly surrendered their autonomy to reliance on that technological advancement. Meanwhile, the only break from that is when the being WALL-E himself enters this society on the ship Axiom and knocks two humans out of their trance. So WALL-E, a somewhat ugly, two-foot-tall robot, is the self-aware, autonomous being who participates in a moral community: He is more a person than the humans.SM: You bring us nicely to the last part of our course. We asked, ﬁrst, the ancient universal question: what is it to be human? We asked, second, the legal question: how have some humans been oered full rights of personhood and how are others restricted from them, or not seen as full persons? Finally, on the future of humanity, what are the consequences and ethical considerations for our future with AI?WH: I also am writing a future-oriented paper, asking if one can lose their status of personhood by going beyond it, using the example of vampire ﬁlms. Vampires, once humans, achieve abilities that go far beyond humanity’s. However, then they also are no longer part of a community of persons and that community’s laws. SM: Post-humanism? The fate (or the end) of personhood? What fancy word did we learn for the study of the end times?OR: Eschatology!NO: And I am writing about the animated TV series “Adventure Time,” where the characters Finn and Fern—who initially are the same person—inhabit two dierent bodies. As time goes on, the more and more they try to converge, the more stark their dierences become thanks to their dierent experiences of the environment through their dierent bodies.SM: Thank you all for participating in this conversation and fulﬁlling your unique capstone project assignment–taking a theory or philosophy from the course and applying it to something outside the course. You have shown well with your thoughtful approaches that anything is analyzable. Opposite: (L to R) Oscar Rivera ’24, Seth Meyer, William Henriksson ’24, and Nicky Okoli ’24. Below: Nicky Okoli.

Page 14

WOODWARD WINTER 202412THE ARTSThe Upper School's fall production of A Midsummer Night's Dream featured cuttings and notes by Lindsay Price from the original Shakespeare. Shakespeare’s most popular comedy, the play follows a group of hopelessly lovestruck (and lost) teenagers as they stumble into an ancient enchanted forest where the fairies love to wreak havoc on unsuspecting humans almost as much as they love playing tricks on one another. An eccentric rogue spirit and a bumbling troupe of wannabe actors join in the fun. The production featured skilled contributions from students onstage and o through rigorous rehearsals and three well-attended performances.Midsummer in AutumnPAUL WARD1 Ruby Lundquist ’24, Tyler Hart ’24, Ryley Yasseri ’25, Voss Love ’25, Jordyn Nelson ’24, and Sophie Hylton ’24 2 Georgia Verheyden ’24 and Elizabeth Gore ’25 3 Naomi Fleming-Blake ’26, Daniel McCall ’25 and Jordyn Nelson ’24 (on stage) 4 Elizabeth Gore ’25 5 Grace Putman ’25 6 Anna Schwartz ’24, Elizabeth Gore ’25, Ryley Yasseri ’25, Jordyn Nelson ’24 and Daniel McCall ’25132

Page 15

Page 16

14WOODWARD WINTER 2024Earlier this year, Daniele Naujokas ’25 entered an international art contest called “Art for Well-Being” co-organized by the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (PMNCH), hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO), and 1.8 Billion Young People for Change’s Global Forum for Adolescents. The contest received 787 submissions from 114 countries and Daniele’s artwork was selected as one of 30 ﬁnalists. Daniele’s entry was one of only two submissions selected for the ﬁnals from the United States. We spoke to her about the experience and what drives her as an artist. How did you learn about the Art for Well-Being competition and what led you to enter?Last semester, I had the huge honor of working with a nonproﬁt organization, HERI-Kenya which is an initiative in Kenya working with and beside Kenyans to inspire community education, new research, policy change, and grassroots activism in environmental health issues. I traveled to Diani, Kenya, to collaborate with HERI and Jean Shin, an incredible New York-based sculptor who mentored me while I was there. I learned about activism and the arts, and my newer pieces have been inspired by what I’ve gained from this experience. HERI’s team shared this incredible global competition that really spoke to me, and the communities I am a part of, and I decided to submit my work.What was the inspiration for your painting, “Surrender to the Earth”?The original inspiration for my work comes from a speciﬁc feeling of enlightenment I had on my 15th birthday. I had traveled to Painting with a PurposeDaniele Naujokas ’25 was selected as a ﬁnalist in the international Art for Well-Being competition.Providence Canyon, here in Georgia, for a day trip and I was overcome with a deep appreciation for life, especially for the planet. I felt struggle and relaxation and feelings I couldn’t truly describe in words, so as we were leaving I drew a quick sketch of my idea. Eventually, through my artistic process, it developed into the detailed and meaningful piece I’ve created now. Its ocial meaning describes the importance of keeping a strong hold on the planet that has nurtured us since the beginning of time. I believe it is our job to take care of it.Is that you in the painting?Yes, it is! I felt that this was a message I wanted to personally share; in the future, I would like to share the stories of others and their struggles in my work. THE ARTS

Page 17

15FROM THE ARCHIVES2024THEN AND NOW1945THEN: GMA students ride to school in style in custom buses. NOW: Woodward students still enjoy custom buses (equipped with Wi-Fi, to help them make the most of their commute), but many also avail themselves of MARTA. The College Park MARTA station opened in 1988, and welcomes hundreds of Woodward students daily.PAUL WARDHow did it feel when you were selected as one of the 30 ﬁnalists and were asked to create a video for the Global Forum for Adolescents climate change session?It was incredible. I still can’t quite fathom that I was chosen as one of the top 30 out of 787 people around the world. I was competing against artists as old as 24 years old from dierent countries and watching the ﬁnal Global Forum, it ﬁnally settled in. What subjects and causes inspire you?I have always had an interest in psychology and social sciences. The way art can portray emotions and hidden messages is inspiring to me, and it’s something I’ve always wanted to demonstrate through my artwork. Another huge part of my life also has been experiencing dierent cultures and addressing world problems. The connection between art and activism is something I’ve always strived to create.What role do you think art plays in helping to bring attention to those causes?Using what I create, it is my personal mission to share and bring awareness to the world’s problems and their eects on people, and to give a voice to those who can’t put their feelings and experiences into words. If I can share my life story through my artwork, and if I can express the feelings and struggles I go through as an individual, I would like to do that for other people who can truly bring light to what we all face as human beings.

Page 18

WOODWARD WINTER 202416Can you each summarize your relationship with dance? Jenny Gould: Dance has been a part of my life since I was a very little girl. And it kind of grew up with me. I was pigeon-toed and not a born dancer, physically. The doctor got me into dance to help my muscles develop. By the time I was seven, I was completely enmeshed in dance. I majored in dance at SUNY Purchase and lived in New York, Woodward’s robust dance program extends from the Primary School through the Upper School. We spoke with Middle School dance teacher Veronica Cato and Upper School dance teacher Jenny Gould about their relationship with dance and their approach to building that appreciation within Woodward students.On PointeMiddle and Upper School dance teachers Veronica Cato and Jenny Gould discuss the beauty, vitality, and necessity of dance.ARTS Q&Adid the whole starving dancer thing through the 80s, auditioned and got rejected and just kept going. Dance gave me conﬁdence and empowered me as a professional dancer, for a long time in ballet companies. Then I started branching out. I went to Alvin Ailey on a merit scholarship and started auditioning for Broadway shows because I wanted to break out of classical and concert dance and get into musical PAUL WARDKaila Alexander ’29 (front) and Bria Coffey ’29

Page 19

17How have your personal experiences in dance inﬂuenced the way that you teach? VC: I’m Black, I’m a woman, and I’m human. So those three things drive my teaching. Society might say, “You have to look this way. You have to move this way. Your body has to be a certain way.” And I’m really trying to break down those walls, making sure technique is still at the forefront. Emotional wellness is very close to my teaching, knowing what I have gone through so my students don’t have to go through that.JG: Along the lines of what Veronica said, I came from the old school. I couldn’t even get into a company in New York because I didn’t have the body, I didn’t have the long legs up to the torso. Now I feel like there is a lot more opportunity, and there’s more body acceptance. VC: All bodies are dancer bodies! That is my motto this year.JG: Exactly! But back then I had a lot of denigrating teachers. So I try to give my students what I didn’t get. I want to be the teacher that I didn’t have. I’m all about giving them the opportunity to express themselves. theater. So dance has always been a relationship, like an old friend. But as you get older, your body’s like, “Nope!” I became a personal trainer, a dance teacher, and a choreographer. I wanted to give back. I moved from San Francisco back to Atlanta, my hometown, and began at Woodward as the Middle School dance teacher.VC: My journey aligns with Jenny’s journey. My mom put me into dance when I was very young because I was, shall we say, an extraordinarily curious mover! And it helped a lot because there’s a lot of discipline in dance as well as movement. I went to a performing arts high school. Then I went to college for dance performance at New World School of the Arts. My personal relationship with dance is just a beautiful love. It’s like we’ve had this duet together throughout my life. I performed in the Czech Republic, Brazil, and Puerto Rico with dierent dance companies. Now that I’m in an educator role, I feel such a responsibility to help my students take these transferable skills into their life, even if they don’t want to be professional dancers. It is another way to communicate—non-verbal communication. But you can speak so loudly through movement, even louder than words, sometimes, or when you don’t know what to say. It’s about emotional wellness and all of these things that we didn’t have growing up. I feel like it’s so important to elevate and teach my students that they have a voice. And then also to bring awareness of social justice to all facets of humanity. Because they’re living it. And they’re at an age where they understand it, but may not know how to digest it and make sense of it. I try to bring that into dance and mesh all of it together.That’s why in my program I do a lot of choreography studies. Giving them the Young Choreographers Showcase as a venue and a vehicle to be who they are is really important to me. I didn’t have somebody at their age to show me, “Hey, let’s create something. What’s the message? What’s the meaning?” For me, dance is a universal language. That’s why I love it so much, because it doesn’t discriminate. This is a safe space. I want to give my students that vehicle that I didn’t have. I want to be approachable as a teacher and as a mentor so that they feel safe. Because being a dancer is so vulnerable. I want to teach them that Top: Jenny Gould (center, in red) with Riley Charles ’25 (right) and Aashni Patel ’24. Bottom: Gould leads the Honors Upper School Dance Ensemble, including Gabby Evans ’27 (left front), Aiden O'Neil ’25, and Cheyenne Shelton ’26.

Page 20

WOODWARD WINTER 202418more infused. A good dancer has a clear vision but also has a sense of dance from their heart and isn’t a robot. A good dancer knows how to express themselves and reach and move their audience. I have a lot of dancers in here who blow me away to where I’m in tears. Just being a conscious, loving, caring human being is huge. VC: I would say it’s three things. One is having a passion for dance and being able to exude that passion. Two, having a growth mindset and an open mind. There are multiple ways to do one thing. I may give you three colors, but everyone can use those to make a whole dierent painting. We’re all going to have an open mind and not be afraid to dance outside the box. My third one is remaining a student. Be a sponge. Soak up all the information from every teacher, every workshop. There’s a saying that goes, “Beginner dancers dance with beginner dancers. Intermediate dancers don’t want to dance with beginner dancers. Advanced dancers dance with everyone.”How do the two of you work together to help dancers transition from the Middle School to the Upper School?VC: We hold two alignment meetings a year with the Primary School all the way to the Upper School, to make sure our curriculum is funneling through. Since I know Jenny has a choreographic showcase with her students every year, I make sure that my dancers understand the elements of improv and the elements of choreography in eighth grade. So when they get to ninth grade, they can integrate with the Upper School dancers. I also make sure they know technique, so even if they are, say, working on ballet, they’re still working on modern techniques, vocabulary, and history. It’s very important to me that they know not just the vocabulary of dance, but anatomy. I have vocab quizzes to facilitate that. I don’t directly teach Upper School students, but I am the dance department chair for the Governor’s academic auditing program. So we are constantly having conversations with each other about who we are bringing into the program. JG: When I started with the Middle School program, I built it up from nothing. I always believe in leaving a program better than you found it or leaving it with somebody who will make it stronger. After 15 years, having Veronica take it over was so gratifying. She really gets those kids prepared to come to Upper School. Like she said, we do a lot of choreography studies. We have ballet, modern, jazz, everything. We have beginning, intermediate, and advanced. But it really helps to have her introduce that improv mode and the choreography introduction mode so that they can just feed into this program. And we have similar backgrounds of concert dance, so we have similar visions of what we want. Upper School is a lot more independent compared to Middle School. They create their whole choreography showcase. So I appreciate the preparation and discipline Veronica instills.What would you each say are your proudest moments of teaching at Woodward?VC: Mine is not even just about dance. It is that I have cultivated a space for students where they feel seen, safe, and loved. I come in as myself every day, and I genuinely think they appreciate that. I can see them growing. It’s like planting Veronica Cato vulnerability is beautiful and make sure that they’re daring greatly.VC: It’s the freedom to fail. Class is there for you to make mistakes. That’s the only way you can get further. We’re aiming for excellence but not perfection. How do we get there? JG: We do a whole study of improvisation composition. And I love seeing the kids grow and come out of themselves, knowing that this is a safe place for them to be who they are.What makes a good dancer? JG: Somebody who is able to be vulnerable and conﬁdent and conscious. A dance artist is somebody who wants to express themselves and feels that conﬁdence, someone who says, “This is my message. I’m strong. I have solid technique.” Every time they go on stage, they get a little bit more conﬁdent. It’s a little

Page 21

19the seed and then seeing it sprout and grow through Middle School and Upper School. I had a senior come up to me last week and give me a hug with tears in her eyes saying, “Miss Cato, I remember you telling me dance is a universal language,” because English isn’t her ﬁrst language. And I’m proud that my dance concerts are socially conscious and are an opportunity to burst that bubble for parents and the audience, not just the students, so everyone can continue to grow outside of dance.JG: I feel like I’m true to myself and it’s not necessarily one moment that stands out. It’s just really important to me that my students understand not just dance, but life lessons through dance. You may not become a professional dancer, but you have what dance teaches you about being a conscious, compassionate human being. My mission is creating this space, and I’m proud that I’ve given them the opportunity to express themselves through the voice of dance.VC: And you created the capstone project for dance!JG: It’s easy to forget the things that I’ve accomplished! It took me two years to make the case. There were capstones for other subjects and I felt it was very important to have a capstone for dance. The irony is I had my ﬁrst three capstones perform last year, and the Dean of Academics saw all of the art modalities that were expected in the projects, and as she was watching them she said, “You know, I think we’d like to use your dance capstone as a model for all the caps.” My next goal is to connect the dots a little bit more that dance is not just P.E. It’s not an auxiliary. It’s a curriculum, and it’s really important for life. What does dance mean to each of you? VC: Dance to me means freedom. It means liberation. It means humanity. It means love. It means joy. It means expression and language.JG: Ditto. Dance to me is love. It is courage. It is grace. It is humanity. It’s communication. It’s art. It’s an expression of movement. It’s heartfelt and healing. Ellie Spiegel ’29 (front) and Veronica Cato

Page 22

Page 23

Page 24

22WOODWARD WINTER 2024Where kindliness is, piety must be. Where hospitality thrives, reverence triumphs. —The Rev. Jenkin Lloyd Jones, 1893My spiritual home is a little brown wooden chapel in the middle of the cornﬁelds and dairy farms of the Wisconsin River valley. Built in 1886, Unity Chapel also was the spiritual home of my ancestors who settled in that valley nearly two centuries ago. My family and I toll the bell when we gather there each summer, and it rings out across the valley, just as it has for generations. Our dead are buried in the graveyard that surrounds the simple building, their names now fading on the stones. The greatest honor of my life has been to preach in this humble space. When my feet touch the same holy ground that has hosted generations of spiritual and religious seekers, I am truly at peace. In the late 19th century, it was to our family chapel that the Rev. Jenkin Lloyd Jones, General Secretary of the ﬁrst World Parliament of Religions, invited religious leaders from the world’s religions to speak and oer wisdom from their faith traditions. This was radical for the time and remains an inspiration to me in my work as an interfaith chaplain today.My commitment to multi-religious community is inherited (I am a great-great-niece of Rev. Lloyd Jones) and deeply grounded in my faith tradition’s commitment to the “inherent worth and dignity of all people.” Moreover, I take my inspiration from scripture, from the words of the Apostle Paul. “Test everything,” Paul says, “Hold fast to what is good.” “Live in harmony with one another.” “As far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” (Romans 12). “Strengthen the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all….See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing….” (Thessalonians 5). When we apply these words to our lives today, we ﬁnd a road map for living in a community that is rich and varied, diverse and pluralistic. Living in a community in this way is not always easy. I have found, though, that when we seek to live with hospitality and kindness as our guiding values, piety and reverence do, in fact, thrive. Living in a diverse religious community does not mean that we leave our own traditions or values at the door. Quite the opposite! The kind of community we seek to foster here at Woodward Academy is one that asks each of us to bring all of who we are into this space. This requires each of us to know ourselves, to learn well the values of our own spiritual homes and faith traditions that help us live in harmony with others. Indeed, interfaith leader Eboo Patel writes that “to see the other side, to defend another people, not despite your tradition but because of it, is the heart of pluralism.” A community like ours asks each one of us to share what and to whom we are committed—morally, spiritually, religiously, and ethically. We relate what is most important to us, and enter into dialogue with others who are equally committed, perhaps to the same tradition, or to something dierent. As we enter these encounters with honesty and hospitality, making space for each other and seeking to understand one another across our dierences, we all learn and grow, and hopefully, deepen our own commitments in the process. What Interfaith Community Means to MeCHAPLAIN'S CORNERUnity Chapel in Spring Green, Wis.Woodward Chaplain Megan Lloyd Joiner

Page 25

23Renaming in RemembrancePHILANTHROPYThe Christopher Redding Edwards II ’13 and Erin Victoria Edwards ’17 Center for Innovation is named to honor the lives of Chris and Erin by a gift from their father, Dr. Christopher Redding Edwards. While at Woodward, Chris shared his musical talents as a member of the Robert W. Woodru Marching Band, the Jazz Band, the Concert Band, and Symphonic Winds. He also participated in Theatre and many service clubs. He went on to attend Elon University, where he pursued a degree in broadcast journalism and ﬁlm production. Chris was a consummate gentleman with the kindest of hearts, the best of intentions, and the gentlest of actions. Erin was a Peer Leader, cheerleader, and member of the Homecoming court. She pursued her passion for journalism as editor of the Blade and Silent Voices literary magazine. Upon graduation, she attended Boston University as a Posse Scholar. Erin will be forever remembered not only for her many literary contributions but also for the warmth she radiated to everyone who came into her presence. Erin was warm, gracious, and poised beyond her years. Erin Victoria Edwards ’17 June 21, 1999 – August 21, 2019Christopher Redding Edwards II ’13 June 30, 1995 – August 21, 2019 On October 28, Woodward dedicated the Center for Innovation (formerly Brand Hall) in memory of Woodward alumni Chris '13 and Erin '17 Edwards, who tragically lost their lives in 2019. Their father, Dr. Chris Edwards, recently made a generous ﬁnancial commitment to commemorate their legacy at Woodward in this way, making this the ﬁrst academic building on campus to bear the name of persons of color. The Christopher R. Edwards II '13 and Erin V. Edwards '17 Center for Innovation will more commonly be known as the Edwards Center for Innovation. The plaque installed as part of the dedication reads:

Page 26

24WOODWARD WINTER 2024WAR EAGLE WATCHBILL YODER, WARREN BOND PHOTOGRAPHYGOING DEEPThe Woodward Academy Football Team had a historic season, ﬁnishing 12-3 as GHSA 6A State Runner-up, playing in the State Championship Game for the ﬁrst time since 1980. The team ﬁnished 7-0 in region competition, winning the Region Championship for the third year in a row and 8th time in the past decade. In the postseason, our 10th ranked War Eagles defeated Evans 31-14, #9 ranked Houston County 27-7 , #1 ranked and previously undefeated Gainesville 20-17, and #3 ranked and previously undefeated Douglas County for the opportunity to play #2 ranked and undefeated Thomas County Central in the title game at Mercedes Benz Stadium. This year’s War Eagles never gave up, ﬁghting back from deﬁcits throughout the postseason, earning them a spot in the title game for the ﬁrst time in 43 years. Woodward has won the state championship in football in 1970 and 1980 and state runner-up in 1976 and now 2023.

Page 27

Page 28

26WOODWARD WINTER 2024Nicholas Widener has infused running into every aspect of his life, from his start as a student-athlete at Woodward on the cross country team, to now serving as the team’s head coach. We spoke to him about the joys of the sport.How long have you been coaching cross country?This is my ninth year coaching cross country at Woodward and my third year as the head coach. And then, of course, I ran at Woodward, too.What makes a good cross country runner? I think someone who is willing to hurt and someone who’s willing to go to a place that other people aren’t willing to go to in terms of mental and physical fortitude. I think running asks you to bring your best and you have to inject so much positivity and physicality into everything that you do. I think the great runner is able to do that, but then they’re also able to adapt at any point in a race or a workout and be in tune with their body.What is the most challenging aspect of the sport, both as a runner and as a coach? As a coach the most dicult part is unifying the team. And I say that because a lot of people still don’t traditionally view cross country as a team sport. I think it’s a team sport disguised as an individual sport. You’re not necessarily passing a ball or directly relying on your teammate, but your score is so dependent on how your teammates operate, even though you may not be able to speak to your teammate during the race because they’re either far ahead of you or maybe far behind you. Sometimes they’re right beside you. The toughest thing as a coach is to build that reliance on teammates and make sure that they’re willing to trust each other. As a participant, the tough thing to do is work on the mental aspect of the sport. I think it’s so easy for us to discuss the physical side of the sport and work on the physicality and getting in shape and being ready to run races. But when you go negative in a race, which usually always happens—there can be just one ﬂeeting Going the DistanceCross country coach Nicholas Widener ’09 sets the pace for his student athletes.PAUL WARD

Page 29

27Opposite: Nicholas Widener ’09 addresses the cross country team at the AAAAAA state meet on Nov. 4.moment or it can be a lot of a race—you have to be able to to combat that and calm your mind and stay focused for as long as possible. I think that mental aspect is the toughest as a competitor. Last summer you traveled with the team to Norway (see pg. 32). What was that experience like?It was a challenging experience because it was my ﬁrst time leading an international trip. There was so much that we wanted to accomplish. But as a coach and as a trip leader, I think it went really well. We were able to run in some breathtaking places. There was this one run outside of Stryn, which is where my friend’s farm is located. We were in between two mountains and a glacial lake. That run was just so beautiful and amazing because it felt so freeing and kind of everything that running is about; reconnecting to yourself and nature and being out there experiencing a landscape we don’t usually have access to. One of the best things in Norway was that we were so disconnected from everything else. Even though we could still pick up our phone or laptop in some instances, it felt like the landscape demanded our immediate attention. On that run, it called on us to be more grounded. Then we did a couple runs on a loop that ended with us getting into the glacial lake, which was an awesome end. There was another run in Bergen, where we decided we were going to run to the top of the mountain. We had mapped out the route but didn’t quite know the elevation. But we kept getting to these tops and were like, “OK, I guess we’ll just keep going.” The view that we ended up with once we reached the top of the mountain was so incredible. You could see all of the mountains there and see the town below. It was just stunning.What are some other standout moments for you in your time coaching the team? One of the toughest things is trying to make sure that everything we’re doing is being instilled in the kids. My approach is that running is a lifelong pursuit, and it’s nice when we run personal records or can ﬁnish top places. But what I’m trying to do is get our athletes interested and invested in running for the rest of their lives. Over Thanksgiving break, some of the runners who graduated reached out to me and wanted to meet back up for a run. The fact that they’re continuing on and wanting to run is certainly one of the things that inspires me the most. But as far as speciﬁc moments and races, there were a couple races this past season. In the girls’ race this past season at regionals they ran the best that they’ve run since 2016. They really came together. When we were in Huntsville, Ala., the boys had a really great race. The top moments for me are when the runners are working together and aware of that teamwork, and they can see how they’re thriving o each others’ successes. One of the best things about coaching cross country and distance track is that I get to spend a lot of time on runs with them. On easy runs, we spend time talking and in fellowship. I get to know them on a deeper level and build stronger relationships with student-athletes on the run.What kind of things do you enjoy when you’re not teaching or coaching? Running has very much become integral to my life. So there’s always a lot of running around every day. I haven’t taken a day o in almost two years. I love to read nonﬁction books about running or anything with current psychology and how people are behaving. And then my MFA is in photography. So I love to spend a lot of time photographing and editing photos. I really like to create a series and put it into a photographic book.What goals do you have for the cross country program going forward? The girls program is absolutely on the rise. I hope to see them ﬁnish in the top ﬁve in state within the next couple of years. I think that’s a goal that’s doable. And we have a great group of seventh grade girls coming up. If they want to accomplish it, they certainly can. As coaches, we try to do everything we can to provide them with all of the conﬁdence and the tools to accomplish their goals. And then I want to continue to do more for both the boys and girls to develop a community where they know that they can come to running and they can enjoy it; I hope that it’s something they can get invested in and continue for the rest of their lives.

Page 30

28WOODWARD WINTER 2024Aiming for SuccessCatherine Hatcher ’24 is not giving up her shot.What grade were you in when you enrolled at WA? I enrolled at WA in kindergarten—I’m a Vintage Eagle!Can you tell us about your journey with the Clay Target team? How many years have you been on the Clay Target team?My introduction to the Clay Target team began sophomore year when Coach Underwood approached me, sensing my love for the outdoors. He asked if I’d like to try out for the team, and being someone who’s willing to try anything once, I decided to give it a shot. At the time, I was the only girl trying out, but I made the team. I didn’t know then that I would fall in love with the sport, and have continued with it since.Could you share a signiﬁcant moment or achievement from your time with the Clay Target team that stands out to you?A couple of moments come to mind. The ﬁrst is when I cleared an entire station in sporting clays, a remarkable feat. Another standout memory is the day I scored an 88 in trap shooting. Achieving that score made me realize that I was just as capable as anyone on our team, boosting my conﬁdence and igniting my genuine love for this sport.Balancing academics and sports can be challenging. How do you eectively manage your time to excel both in your studies and on the Clay Target team?Maintaining a balance between my academics and Clay Target requires careful planning. The team meets twice a week, which allows me to plan my schedule accordingly. I utilize morning tutorials or advisory when I can’t attend afternoon sessions. After practice, which usually takes about two hours, I head home and dive straight into my homework. Avoiding distractions and staying focused helps me eciently manage my time.What skills or qualities have you developed through your involvement with the Clay Target team that you believe will beneﬁt you in your future pursuits, whether in sports, academics, or your career?Participating in Clay Target shooting has honed my

Page 31

29ability to track fast-moving targets, which has surprisingly improved my skills in equestrian activities. It helps me gauge distances and make jumps in a more ﬂuid and precise manner.Clay Target shooting demands high levels of focus and precision. How do you prepare mentally and physically for competitions, and what strategies do you employ to stay composed during high-pressure moments?For me, it’s about striking a balance between solitude and camaraderie. Before tournaments, I take about ﬁve minutes to be alone, gain my conﬁdence, and ﬁnd my center. It’s also crucial to manage time eciently, ensuring you arrive on time, set up properly, and stay focused. During competitions, I’ve learned to avoid ﬁxating on how others perform and instead concentrate on my own game to maintain composure.How has your experience with the Clay Target team helped you develop connections and contribute to the team’s success?Being a member of the Clay Target team has enabled me to form deeper connections with my teammates. Many of them have become some of my closest friends. When there’s a strong bond, we’re more willing to help each other, which beneﬁts both the individual and the team as a whole. Beyond Clay Target, what are your academic interests or other passions?Science is a subject that really fascinates me. I’ve had the privilege of learning from exceptional teachers at WA, including Mrs. Tuohy my freshman year, Mr. Lawhon in junior year, Dr. Mays, and Ms. Hagan in my senior year. Each of them has ignited my passion for dierent aspects of science, and I’ve even doubled up on science classes this year. Outside of school, I enjoy riding horses and hope to pursue this passion in college and in my future career.What are your plans for the future, and what will you miss most about WA?As I transition to the next chapter in my life, I’ll undoubtedly miss the familiarity of WA. This school has been my home since kindergarten, and I’ve grown attached to the campus and the people who’ve been with me throughout this journey. I’ll especially miss the teachers who have had a signiﬁcant impact on my development. But most of all, I’ll miss my friends, whether they’re lifelong companions or recent connections. Each of them brings something special to my life, and I will miss them all greatly. Net PositiveThe volleyball team went 7-0 in region play and earned an 11th straight region title. The War Eagles ﬁnished with a 22-15 record and an overall 18th place in the state tournament.

Page 32

WOODWARD WINTER 202430IN THE WORLDI Know What You Did Last SummerGLOBAL CONNECTIONSLast summer found Woodward students traveling to the icy ords of Norway, the geothermal wonders of Iceland, and the lush jungles and beaches of Costa Rica as part of the school’s international program. Here’s a roundup of their unforgettable experiences.COSTA RICA LANGUAGE LEARNING AND ECO-TOURISMFaculty leader: Lori Beth WisemanThis past June, 38 Upper School students traveled with six enthusiastic World Languages teachers to explore the captivating country of Costa Rica. The program started with a service project that allowed students to explore mangroves, the unsung heroes of the Costa Rican ecosystem. Over two days, the group picked “propágulos” (mangrove seeds) and planted them in soda bottles repurposed as sapling pots. Students then took around 200 12-week-old saplings and planted them where the mangrove had eroded away, and celebrated a job well done at beautiful Manuel Antonio Beach that afternoon.Following this enriching learning experience, students traveled to Monteverde, where they experienced the Cloud Forest, ziplining, and an optional night tour with all the creepy crawly things you can imagine, including tarantulas, green vipers, luminescent scorpions, and a 15-member family of boa constrictors (junior and senior members included). In the town of La Fortuna, close to the famous Arenal volcano, students experienced the beautiful Baldi Hot Springs and a chocolate and pineapple tour where both guides led with unmatched charisma and humor.The adventure closed with a dinner folklore show, where all students were bursting to get out on the dance ﬂoor! On the last day, the group took one last drive to the Volcano Poas that had been closed to visitors for some time, where they enjoyed seeing the beautiful limestone pool at the top of the crater.

Page 33

31The Global Integrated Science Study is a new Upper School summer science course (earning 0.5 credit) in which students gain practical, hands-on experience in a new cultural setting while exploring a speciﬁc science topic or issue in depth. This course combines classroom learning with immersive ﬁeld experiences. Through a combination of lectures, group discussions, and individual research, students develop a deeper understanding of how global forces may vary dramatically from one region of the world to another.For the ﬁrst immersive ﬁeld experience, students went to Iceland to examine how its geology and geographical positioning on Earth allow the island nation to creatively use its surroundings as a world leader in sustainability practices. The eight-day program included excursions to national parks, glaciers, geysers, volcanos, and waterfalls. Students also examined Iceland’s production of energy from geothermal and hydroelectric facilities as well as sustainable practices in operating a greenhouse responsible for producing nearly 50% of the island nation’s tomatoes.GLOBAL INTEGRATED SCIENCE STUDY TO ICELANDProgram leaders and teachers: Mark Carrington and Maria Mays

Page 34

32WOODWARD WINTER 2024WA CROSS COUNTRY - NORWAY CULTURE AND RUNNINGProgram leaders and coaches: Nicholas Widener ’09 and Leslie WidenerThe Woodward Cross Country team traveled to Norway over the summer to run on the streets of Oslo, in the hills of Bergen, and through the mountains of Stryn. During the trip, the team stayed on an organic farm harvesting produce, pulling weeds, packaging vegetables, and volunteering their time in the majestic shadow of a glacier. The team also saw Edvard Munch’s iconic painting, “The Scream,” the historic ﬁsh market in Bryggen, and rode one of the steepest cable cars in the world to the top of Mt. Hoven to admire the cool, blue of Nordord below. Coaches Nicholas Widener ’09 and Leslie Widener led the team on the trip (for more see, pg. 26), alongside Associate Athletic Director David Widener and Middle School Administrative Assistant Beth Widener. The team’s motto for the trip was “Runs end. Running is forever.”Upon arriving in Oslo, the team took a sleeper train across the country to Bergen. From there, it was a ﬁve-hour drive to the farm in Stryn. The roads were winding, with 4 km of tunnels through mountains, but the vistas were spectacular. The culinary selections were some of the best of the trip, especially all of the hotel breakfast spreads. Some of the runners tried whale for the ﬁrst (and likely last) time, reindeer, moose, brown cheese, and smoked BBQ.The cool glacier lakes were the ideal respite for both easy and tough runs through the Stryn region. Standing in the icy water, at the foot of Briksdal Glacier after a tough uphill run, is a memory the team said they will think back on many miles from now.

Page 35

33TROPICAL ECOLOGY FIELD STUDY IN COSTA RICAProgram leaders and teachers: Elaine Carroll and Chery Gibson CobbFor years the Upper School Science Department has oered the Tropical Ecology Field Study in Costa Rica summer course, which is an opportunity for students to study and work hands-on in the forests, ﬁelds, and communities of Costa Rica. This past summer, 10 students traveled for 11 days throughout Costa Rica examining some of the richest ecosystems on Earth: lowland Caribbean rainforest, highland cloud forest, coastal Paciﬁc rainforest, mangroves, and even caves.In addition to the academic requirements, the course had a service learning component as the students worked alongside Victorino Molina Rojas, a naturalist in Costa Rica and one of the founders of the Bellbird Biological Corridor Project. Together they planted approximately 300 trees. The purpose of this project was to help provide a wind-break along a ridge as well as expand the wildlife corridor near the Children’s Eternal Rainforest. Students learned the importance of a wildlife corridor for migratory animals.When asked about their experience, Nathan Terrio ’25 said, “Reading about a topic in a textbook is so dierent from seeing and interacting with it in real life. The Tropical Ecology course has shown me that every small detail in nature has a huge eect on its surroundings.” Added Meglan Welch ’24: “Traveling to Costa Rica was an experience full of education and friendships. Taking a journey to Costa Rica for 11 days allowed me to immerse myself in its biodiversity. Observing and admiring the ecological systems was not only fascinating but inspiring. After ﬁnishing the trip, I am left with a passionate curiosity and hunger for more. I am grateful for the opportunity.”

Page 36

34WOODWARD WINTER 2024Marshall Guest ’00 co-leads the public policy team at the Metro Atlanta Chamber (MAC) as Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Public Aairs. His team advocates for policies that make it easier for companies to do business across metro Atlanta and Georgia and ﬁnd the diverse, skilled talent they need to keep business prospering. “We help make it possible for those who call Atlanta home to live in a community that works for everyone,” he said. Guest also oversees the public aairs team, which is responsible for MAC’s internal, external, and executive communications. “Every day is a bit dierent. We may meet with business leaders, work with elected ocials at the state Capitol, or collaborate as a team on a project to help move the region forward. We are constantly working to ensure metro Atlanta remains a growing and thriving region to live and work.” As part of this year’s Leadership Atlanta class, Guest joins three other Woodward alumni— Russell Falkenstein ’06, Adam Mathes ’99, and Mary Moore ’87. “Taking part in this program is a tremendous honor and an incredible experience, especially with fellow Woodward alums,” Guest said. “It’s an opportunity to learn about the city, its challenges, and opportunities along with other Atlantans.”Woodward magazine talked with Guest about his Woodward experience and his take on Atlanta’s business climate and economy.HOW DID WOODWARD ACADEMY PREPARE YOU FOR COLLEGE AND YOUR CAREER?One of the amazing things about Woodward that helped prepare me for today is the geographic and cultural diversity I experienced. Besides an excellent education that prepared me well for college, the diversity of the student body and the relationships built between students are invaluable. The city is the heartbeat of the region, but I think about Atlanta in terms of the greater metro area. When I attended Woodward, as is still the case today, students traveled to Main Campus in College Park from all over metro Atlanta. I had friends who lived in Marietta, Newnan, Grin, Duluth, Midtown, and Buckhead. Woodward is unlike any other school in Atlanta. I was exposed to a microcosm of the world just by attending Woodward.ARE THERE TEACHERS OR CLASSMATES WHO WERE INSPIRING TO YOU AT WOODWARD?Ms. Jeanne Anne Ratli (Upper School English teacher) taught me to value the power of the written word and the importance of that skill set in school and as a professional. What I learned from her sticks with me today. And, of course, I have to recognize my mom, Susan Guest, who has been teaching at Woodward North for 33 years, since it opened in 1990. She made the Woodward experience possible for my sisters and me. The fact that she is still there today is a tremendous testament to how much she loves Woodward and how fulﬁlling her job is to her. TELL US ABOUT YOUR COLLEGE AND CAREER EXPERIENCE BEFORE THE CHAMBER.I graduated from the University of Georgia in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in history and anthropology. Thinking I was heading o to law school the following year, I planned to spend one legislative session working at the state Capitol. Before I knew it, one year had become many, and I held several sta roles working in the state Senate as an aide in leadership oces. I then joined the Governor’s sta as deputy press secretary. After a stint there, I returned to work in the legislature, but this time in the Speaker’s Oce, where I worked for six years as press secretary and policy advisor for former Georgia House Speaker David Ralston. While in the Speaker’s Oce, I attended school part-time and earned my M.B.A. from Georgia State University. I joined MAC’s sta in 2014, ﬁrst as the VP of Business Climate on the policy team before being promoted into the role I am in now.Leading the WayAtlantaAT ITS VERYBest

Page 37

35WHAT HAVE YOU OBSERVED ABOUT THE WAY ATLANTA'S ECONOMY AND BUSINESS CULTURE HAVE CHANGED OVER THE YEARS AND HOW HAS POLICY MADE THAT POSSIBLE?Change is constant, but so is our business leaders’ commitment to the region, which has long been a theme of business executives in Atlanta going back decades. Our business community has a deep sense of pride for this region and this state and a desire to give back to make this place we call home better for our eorts.WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE GROWTH INDUSTRIES FOR THE CITY IN THE NEXT DECADE?With 35 Fortune 1000 companies headquartered in Georgia and more than 200 on the Inc. 5000 list, it is clear that metro Atlanta is “built for business,” as we like to say at MAC. There’s a reason why Area Development Magazine ranked Georgia as the best place for business for an unprecedented 10th consecutive year. Metro Atlanta leads in supply chain, logistics, and ﬁntech. And now we’re leading the nation in clean tech investment. People are ﬂocking to metro Atlanta and Georgia because they know that the region oers the potential for a fulﬁlling career and a life well-lived. The region and the state need to have the vision for investing in our clean tech infrastructure to maintain a competitive advantage in the new economy. That also means we need to invest in our community and in our people. We know that talent wants to work and live where they feel like they belong. That’s why we also need to continue investing in our people and ensuring that metro Atlanta remains the attractive place it is today.

Page 38

36WOODWARD WINTER 2024Jennifer Zyman ’95 is a senior writer at Food & Wine. She also is a freelance writer who writes about restaurants and develops recipes. She hosts the podcast The Food that Binds. Her work has appeared in The Atlanta-Journal Constitution, Atlanta Magazine, Bon Appetit, Creative Loaﬁng Atlanta, Eater Atlanta, The Kitchn, The Local Palate, National Geographic, Serious Eats, Southern Living, and Thrillist, and her former website, The Blissful Glutton.We spoke to Zyman about her journey and about what makes Atlanta’s culinary scene unique.WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER ABOUT YOUR TIME AT WOODWARD?My writing career started at Woodward. I was lucky to have amazing English teachers and a headmaster who loved to read the same books as I did. And they really made me feel like I mattered and that I had talent. The art department also did that for me because that was really part of my creative process. I was in Richardson Hall ﬁve hours a day in my junior and senior years.HOW DID YOU GET YOUR START IN FOOD JOURNALISM?Like many kids who were ﬁrst generation immigrants–and I wasn’t really even ﬁrst generation, because I was born in Brazil–there’s pressure to do something more traditional to make money. So I studied marketing at Emory’s Goizueta Business School. I did an internship with Old Navy at Gap Corporate Headquarters in San Francisco in the Public Relations Department. E-commerce was rolling out. And I loved it so much that I went back to work there after I graduated from Emory.At the same time, I had always loved food. I grew up in a family that was food obsessed. My dad used TAKING ATLANTAIN BITESAtlantaAT ITS VERYBestto say he was like Anthony Bourdain before Bourdain was on the scene. That was our lifestyle, just following him around the world. I’ve been to every continent, but Antarctica, and that’s because of my parents. My mother’s an artist and went to Sorbonne in Paris. My parents really encouraged that curiosity and it was always through the lens of food. Because food is a direct line to somebody’s culture, tradition, or past, and involves all of the senses.The thought of living in a cubicle was too much, so I decided to attend culinary school at the Cordon Bleu in San Francisco with the intention of working on the management side and writing about food.Following culinary school I worked both as a cook and as a restaurant owner. But I didn’t have a creative outlet. So I started a blog called The Blissful Glutton, which followed me back to Atlanta. And I slowly started building an audience.I focused a lot on immigrant-owned restaurants, which I think, for a lot of people, demystiﬁed places like Buford Highway, even Duluth. Eventually publications started coming to me and saying, “We’ll pay you to do this.” Now I’m a full-time sta writer at Food & Wine. I write more about cooking now, which has been nice as I needed a break from restaurants.HOW WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE THE ATLANTA CULINARY SCENE? Underrated. Misunderstood. Pound for pound, we’re never going to have as many ﬁne dining restaurants as New York or even L.A. But we have like 20 Szechuan restaurants. We have the largest Korean restaurant population in the United States. All of a sudden, we have six or seven fancy omakase restaurants. If you’re open-minded, Atlanta is an amazing place to eat. But if you’re

Page 39

37looking for middle-of-the-road continental places, Atlanta is not going to feel fulﬁlling to you as a diner.WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT ATLANTA DOES BEST WHEN IT COMES TO DINING? CONVERSELY, WHAT’S THE MOST GLARING OMISSION OR SLOW TO ARRIVE TREND?As far as strengths, I really think it’s the breadth of foods from other countries. We have such a global dining scene because there are so many immigrants in Atlanta. I’m one of them. It’s one of our superpowers.I think one of the glaring omissions is diners and delis–those really serviceable neighborhood spots where you can get a burger and a big Greek salad and a bowl of chicken noodle soup. Our French food scene could be better. But maybe that’ll happen. Ten years ago, if you’d asked me if we had any good Thai food, I would have said, “Not really. Maybe go to Little Bangkok on Cheshire.” Now we have so many interesting Thai restaurants, and also Laotian, which is kind of adjacent in terms of a lot of its ﬂavors. L.A. is the closest food city to Atlanta in terms of its sprawl and in ﬁnding gems in shopping centers. L.A. today is where Atlanta will be in 15-20 years, culinarily. Minus all the great old Italian restaurants, sadly. HOW WILL THE ADVENT OF THE MICHELIN GUIDE AFFECT DINING IN THE CITY? I’m not sure if it will change anything. We’ve seen big name chefs like Tom Colicchio come here and fail. Craft was open across from Lenox Mall. You couldn’t have a more tony location. The food was amazing. The service was amazing. And it closed. Things that work in other major metros don’t necessarily ﬂy here. And then there are other people like chef Marcus Samuelsson who have been doing a really good job. He’s created a very distinct atmosphere. I am curious about Michelin like everyone else. I feel like it’s going to make a lot of people feel like Atlanta is legit. But most people in the dining scene already know that.WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT WRITING AND THINKING ABOUT FOOD? Everyone likes to eat. So it’s a way that I can connect with anyone in any environment anywhere in the world. When I tell people what I do, they light up. They want to talk about it. And it’s such an organic discipline as well. A recipe is always evolving. As a recipe developer, every time I make one of my own recipes, it’s dierent. I change it. I tweak it. It evolves. I love how creative a lot of these chefs are: just the way that they present the food, and the environment in which the food is presented. There’s no end to the possibilities. And that, for me, is really exciting. The Big ChillThe Big Chill is a Woodward community event, hosted by the Alumni Association, and beneﬁts need-based student ﬁnancial aid at the Academy. The 14th annual Big Chill will take place on Friday, February 23, 2024 at The Stave Room. The theme is A Taste of Woodward and will showcase alumni, parent, and employee restaurateurs in a tasting event format.Among the participants is the Hsu Family Restaurant Group. In October, Lazy Betty, owned and operated by the Hsus, was one of only ﬁve restaurants in the city to earn a Michelin star in the organization’s debut slate of Atlanta rankings. “The Michelin star means a lot to our sta,” said Ron Hsu ’00. “It’s really a reﬂection of the sta that comes in everyday doing the hard work–all the chefs that stand on their feet and work in grueling conditions and servers having to deal with impossibly high standards and expectations. Without them, none of this would be possible. Michelin should only elevate the culinary scene in Atlanta. As more operators strive to push the culinary boundaries, the overall product should improve and evolve and the Atlanta community will be the main benefactors. Lazy Betty is truly grateful and humbled to have been recognized.”Arden's Garden Leslie Zinn, Woodward parentCajun Crawlers Mike Blackstock ’93Creature Comforts Chris Herron ’99Dem Burgers Kalen Axam ’10DAS BBQ Stephen Franklin ’93Delilah’s Everyday Soul Jason Reeves, Woodward employeeDoug's North Carolina BBQ Will Hill, Woodward parentHsu Family Restaurant Group Howard Hsu ’95, Ron Hsu ’00, Anita Hsu Wilson ’98Leaping Cow Ice Cream Trav Carter, Woodward Alumni ParentMellow Mushroom College Park Kristy Thomas Nardone ’88 and Bart Baker ’87 Paschal’s The Russell Family, including Benji Russell ’13Sammy Cheezecake Sammy and Fallon Smith, Woodward parentsSix Feet Under Nancy and Tad Mitchell, Woodward parentsTWO Urban Licks Marisa Amick Anderson ’96West E Ben Johnson ’87 Woodward Dining Services Chef William Taylor ’99 Yumbii Carson Young ’03Big Chill Participants

Page 40

38WOODWARD WINTER 2024George T. French Jr. is the ﬁfth president of Clark Atlanta University and a current Woodward parent. We spoke with him about higher education in our city and why he and his wife chose Woodward for their daughter, Meglan Welch ’24.WHAT DREW YOU TO THE PRESIDENCY OF CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY?After serving as President of Miles College for nearly 15 years, I was recruited to the presidency of Clark Atlanta University (CAU) in 2019. As the longest sitting HBCU president in the nation, I have a deep passion for education and a commitment to fostering academic excellence. My vision and passion are directly aligned with the legacy of CAU educators and great philosophers such as W.E.B. DuBois, who possessed a strong desire to make a positive impact on the lives of students and the wider community. I, too, have the drive to continue to lead and further elevate CAU as an academic center of excellence and a premier source for higher education.HOW WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE THE STATE OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN ATLANTA?Atlanta is home to a diverse range of educational institutions, including public schools, private schools, charter schools, and public and private colleges and universities.With Atlanta being the home to the Atlanta University Center—the oldest and largest consortium of HBCUs, comprised of Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine, and Spelman College—and the civil rights capital of our nation, the state of higher education in Atlanta has a unique set of opportunities and challenges. The recent ruling by the Supreme Court to strike down armative action in higher education admissions decisions is deeply disappointing, as it has the potential to hinder African Americans from matriculating within a sector of higher education. Amidst this setback, however, lies an unintended consequence of this ruling. HBCUs now have a unique opportunity to continue showcasing their contributions to the economy and value in providing education to the best and brightest students. HBCUs provide a unique educational experience that nurtures the growth and development of their students. Our institutions oer an environment where students can thrive academically, socially, and culturally, free from the burden of racial prejudice. However, with most HBCUs operating privately, there is a need for more public and private ﬁnancial support to ensure these institutions continue to produce the majority of Black engineers, scientists, doctors, lawyers, business owners, and educators.WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF SINCE YOUR ARRIVAL AT CLARK ATLANTA?Since I arrived we have broken all CAU fundraising records, including the launch of a quarter-billion-dollar comprehensive campaign. We recently approved the 2023-2028 CAU Strategic Plan. We also have received approval to construct three new campus buildings simultaneously. The school currently has a record enrollment of 4,135 students, along with a record pool of more than 30,000 applicants, signaling the strength and attractiveness of CAU.WHAT ARE SOME INITIATIVES THE SCHOOL IS PURSUING UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP?Recently, my wife, Dr. BaShen Bacon French, and I had the privilege of joining U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Ghana President Akufo-Addo at the presidential residence in Accra, Ghana. This gathering was a show of commitment by the United States to Africa and its future. It was an honor to represent Clark Atlanta University on an international stage, as we continue to expand our global reach and inﬂuence, always prioritizing the best interests of our student scholars. From Ghana, we traveled to Togo with then World Bank President Davis Malpass to solidify research relationships with the University of Lome. At CAU we are intentionally focused on internationalization and globalization.Center of the UniversityAtlantaAT ITS VERYBest

Page 41

39WHAT SETS THE ATLANTA UNIVERSITY CENTER APART, BOTH FROM OTHER COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AROUND ATLANTA AND FROM OTHER HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES NATIONALLY?The Atlanta University Center (AUC) is truly unique and distinguishes itself in several ways, both from other colleges and universities in Atlanta and from other HBCUs nationally. The AUC institutions are renowned for their commitment to academic excellence. They oer rigorous academic programs across a wide range of disciplines, providing students with a comprehensive and well-rounded education. The AUC is known for producing graduates who are well-prepared for success in their chosen ﬁelds and who go on to make signiﬁcant impacts in their respective industries.Additionally, AUC institutions have a strong commitment to social justice and community engagement. They actively promote and foster an inclusive and equitable environment, encouraging students to become agents of change in their communities. The AUC institutions strive to address social and racial inequalities through research, advocacy, and community outreach.WHAT CURRENT CHALLENGES DO HBCUS FACE AND HOW DO YOU FORESEE THOSE INSTITUTIONS EVOLVING INTO THE FUTURE?HBCUs face several challenges in the current educational landscape. Many struggle with limited ﬁnancial resources. They often have smaller endowments compared to predominantly white institutions, which can impact their ability to invest in infrastructure, faculty, and student support services. Resource allocation is a consistent challenge. This ﬁnancial constraint can hinder their competitiveness and limit their capacity to provide quality education.Despite these challenges, there are reasons to be optimistic. Eorts are being made to secure increased funding for HBCUs, including federal and private initiatives aimed at providing ﬁnancial support to strengthen HBCUs’ infrastructure, academic programs, and student services. Continued advocacy and partnerships can help sustain and enhance this ﬁnancial stability.While HBCUs face challenges, they have a resilient spirit and a strong mission that positions them for a promising future. By addressing ﬁnancial constraints, enhancing student success initiatives, embracing innovation, and maintaining their commitment to social justice, HBCUs can continue to play a vital role in providing quality education and empowering the next generation of leaders.WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO SEND YOUR DAUGHTER TO WOODWARD ACADEMY? HOW DOES WOODWARD REFLECT YOUR VIEWS ON EDUCATION?As parents and educators, there are several reasons why my wife and I chose to enroll Meglan at Woodward. First and foremost, upon arriving in Atlanta, our friends and mentors Ambassador Andrew Young and Mrs. Carolyn Young told us that Meglan MUST attend Woodward! Woodward oers a rigorous, comprehensive curriculum that emphasizes critical thinking, problem-solving, and intellectual growth. The faculty is highly qualiﬁed and dedicated to providing an excellent education, preparing students for college and beyond. We also appreciate the strong alumni network and support system.Choosing the right school for Meglan involved considering her individual needs, interests, and goals. While we planned to visit several schools, once we visited Woodward, we knew we were home. Nearly four years later, Meglan continues to rate Woodward 11 out of 10!

Page 42

40WOODWARD WINTER 2024Any honest assessment of Atlanta must take into account the city’s homeless population. Yet it’s a problem many of us strive to keep in the periphery of our vision. Woodward visual arts teacher Jonathan Grainger was aware of his own tendency to keep the issue at arm’s length. In response, he developed a course for Woodward’s new Maymester curriculum titled “Unhoused in Atlanta” with the assistance of service leadership advisors Jennifer Green and Elizabeth Grin, whose contributions Grainger says greatly informed his work. We spoke to him about the course and about how homelessness is something we can’t aord to ignore.WHAT LED YOU TO DEVELOP A MAYMESTER COURSE ON HOMELESSNESS IN ATLANTA? As mentioned in the course description, I drive to Woodward and home every day and I see so many people who are struggling with housing insecurity. For years I’ve thought I’d really like to help in any way, or at least learn more about what I could do. This was an idea that I started incubating years ago at the former school where I worked, because they also have a special topics period. But I was never able to get it o the ground. So when the Maymester program was announced I thought this had to be the time. WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE MOST COMMON MISCONCEPTION PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT THE UNHOUSED POPULATION? I feel more comfortable speaking about my own perceptions. When I was growing up, homelessness was sort of contextualized as the result of people’s own poor decisions. And even though I feel like I don’t know as much as I could about the issue, I understand now that a myriad of factors contribute to homelessness. I would imagine many people share those misconceptions or a lack of knowledge around how an individual could very easily get to that point in our society. I think the tipping point between having a home and not having a home is very slight.WOULD YOU SAY THAT THIS CLASS IS AN EFFORT FOR YOU TO COME TO A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE ISSUE AND WHAT CAN BE DONE, AS MUCH AS IT IS FOR THE STUDENTS? Absolutely. I want to be on this learning journey with them. At the same time, I want to remain as ignorant as I responsibly can, if that makes sense. As part of my preparation, I will be having the same experiences that I am planning for the students. I’m going to partake of those beforehand, mostly for logistical and safety reasons, so that I know what I’m proposing to parents.SO WILL THAT INVOLVE GOING OUT AND INTERACTING WITH UNHOUSED PEOPLE? Exactly. The goal is to get into the community as much as possible. Right now the plan is to engage in a shelter build, which will take place on campus. Hopefully we also can install it. But at the very least we will pursue outreach opportunities where we’re providing hygiene kits.WHAT DOES THE SHELTER BUILD INVOLVE EXACTLY? The shelter build is with a non-proﬁt group called Mad Housers. They build shelters for unhoused individuals that are very simple four-panel structures that they then go out and install. They work directly with an individual like an architect would with a client. They assess the person’s needs and try to meet those needs within the limited parameters of that baseline structure. SEEING THE UNSEENAtlantaAT ITS VERYBest

Page 43

41WHAT ARE THE MOST EFFECTIVE OR COMPASSIONATE THINGS PEOPLE CAN DO TO HELP THE UNHOUSED? Again, speaking for myself and my journey, what I realized I could do was to simply acknowledge those individuals with a wave, a look, a nod; anything to let them know that they are seen. And I felt like that was the beginning. That was the very least I could do: just being able to provide and maintain a sense of humanity. Realistically, I often don’t have cash to give. What I had used as a lie and excuse in the past now in a cashless society is actually true.In terms of giving food, I know people who do that regularly. During the pandemic, when we were eating with our advisory at school, there was often a lot of food left over if a student wasn’t here. I took that food and tried to hand it out, as colleagues did as well.WHAT DO YOU HOPE THE COURSE WILL IMPART TO STUDENTS?I hope that this class can provide us with more tangible ways to have a more consistent and meaningful impact on homelessness and understand what is the most ecient use of time and resources. Because it is an issue that seems so huge, and to see it every day, over and over again, it’s really demoralizing. I know that not everyone feels this way, because there are people actively doing work to address the issue. But one of the barriers I’m trying to push through with this experience is just thinking that someone else will ﬁx it or can do more than I can, and therefore, I should step back. And I recognize that that’s just a way for us to maintain uninvolvement.OUR MISSION AT WOODWARD IS TO BE “ATLANTA AT ITS VERY BEST… A MICROCOSM OF WHAT THE WORLD SHOULD BE.” WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?In terms of maintaining a sense of humanity, there are a lot of curricular initiatives here to focus on empathy and building compassion as a skill in order to do that among our student body, with each other, and within themselves. Hopefully this course is an extension of that. How do you move out into your community in a way in which you are maintaining the dignity and humanity of everyone you meet? I think that’s the potential of our Woodward community, of Atlanta as the larger community, and hopefully as a species. I think if we start to see each moment as a way to restore or maintain that humanity, and we focus on that as our goal rather than getting tangled up in the economics or the policies—the bureaucracy of it—I think we can hopefully unify people who may disagree on other things to agree on how to address this problem.

Page 44

42WOODWARD WINTER 2024Actress Kennedy Chanel Clemons ’23 discusses her experiences in Atlanta’s ﬁlm and television production industry and how Woodward facilitated her dual track life pursuing college and acting at the same time.TELL US ABOUT YOUR ACTING CAREER. HOW DID YOU GET STARTED AND WHAT ROLES HAVE YOU PLAYED?When I came to Woodward, I was suddenly exposed to more cocurricular options than I’d ever seen. Many of my new friends were exploring sports-related cocurriculars, so I did the same. Disheartened after failed attempts to make conversation on the soccer and the softball ﬁelds, I told my parents I wasn’t good at anything except reading and talking. They told me Woodward has an activity for everyone and encouraged me to consider something more in line with those skills. I auditioned for the Lower School theatre dance ensemble and scored the lead role as the narrator. That gave me the conﬁdence to audition for community theatre, where I played the ﬁrst Black Alice in their rendition of Alice in Wonderland. Since then, I have worked on some amazing projects. I worked on the Netﬂix series Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings, and starred in the reboot of the 1980s series Dynasty, also for Netﬂix. I was featured on the Disney+ show Just Beyond and as a lead in the Aretha Franklin biopic, RESPECT. I also have worked on STARS’ BMF and Never Would Have Made It, about gospel artist Marvin Sapp. I spent the second half of senior year ﬁlming my ﬁrst lead role as Sarah Duvernay in the third season of the Amazon Prime horror anthology series Terror Lake Drive. Outside of ﬁlm and television, I’ve had roles in commercials for Kohls and Delta Air Lines. TELL US WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN UP TO SINCE GRADUATING FROM WA LAST SPRING?Though I knew my choices for college were boundless, I chose to go right down the street to Spelman College here in Atlanta. I am a psychology major on the pre-law track with a concentration in mental health (pediatric neurology). I love school and I am so grateful for the preparation Woodward gave me to succeed academically and socially. Although the writers and actors strikes aected my ability to work this fall, now that they are resolved I am excited to get back to acting! WHAT DREW YOU TO ACTING INITIALLY AND WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT IT?My passion for acting comes from a love for reading! I would sit in front of mirrors and act out what I imagined characters’ faces were doing in certain scenes, or how their voices sounded. Once I learned that I could bring words to life, I knew that acting was the career path for me. Creating a character onscreen is the same as creating a character in a book—you have to ﬁll in every detail that is not given to you. I am tasked with making words on paper into a person. I love bringing characters to life, and I love the power acting gives me to live a million dierent lives.IS THERE A ROLE THAT YOU’RE MOST PROUD OF?I am most proud of playing Sarah Duvernay in Terror Lake Drive, my ﬁrst lead role in a series. I am blessed to not only play Sarah but her doppelganger as well. The role has stretched me to new bounds, from crying scenes, to on-screen kissing, to water stunts, to full scenes playing against myself. I’m also proud of this role because in my contract it was stipulated that I should skip the second half of my senior year at Woodward. It was a total Hannah Montana moment—trying to ﬁgure out how to get the best of both worlds. I chose to ﬁnish my second semester virtually. That meant missing events like prom and senior skip day. But with the help of Woodward, my parents, and my management team, I was able to live my dream while completing school, ultimately walking the graduation stage with my classmates.WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS OF THE ATLANTA ACTING/FILM/TELEVISION SCENE?Most of my shows and movies have been ﬁlmed here in Atlanta, so I am very grateful for the robust industry here. Most actors talk about their dreams of Hollywood, but Hollywood wasn’t made for all actors. There is a speciﬁc look for Hollywood actresses—think Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland, or Jennifer Lawrence. Main CharacterAtlantaAT ITS VERYBest

Page 45

43I love that in some ways Atlanta has deemed itself the “Black Hollywood,” a place where Black actors are not the minority but the baseline. It can be easy to feel discouraged when you are ﬁghting for a spot in an industry that has already designated a spot for you as the “sassy Black girl” or the “funny Black sidekick.” But Atlanta’s ﬁlm and television production industry provides a space for Black girls like me to be the main character.HOW DID WOODWARD ACADEMY PREPARE YOU FOR YOUR COLLEGE EXPERIENCE AND CAREER? Woodward prepared me with communication skills, a passion for service, and executive functioning skills that helped me succeed in the world. I am blessed to be a Bonner Scholar at Spelman. The scholarship recognizes students with a heart for community service and the ability to be a leader of community change. The things I learned at Woodward surfaced most recently when I initiated a clothing drive to bring donations to the McKinney Vento (homeless children and youth) kids at Kipp Strive Primary School. I had to use time management skills, communication skills, and self-advocacy tools to successfully manage my ﬁrst-ever college ﬁnals week while coordinating the clothing drive. Academically, college seems like a breeze compared to Woodward’s rigor levels.ARE THERE TEACHERS OR CLASSMATES WHO WERE INSPIRING TO YOU AT WOODWARD?Yes! Dawn Axam, Lower School dance teacher, has known my family for years, having taught at my aunt and uncle’s high school, Tri-Cities. I was nervous about working with this woman who had put people on Broadway, sent my aunt to school on a theatre scholarship, and choreographed for some of my favorite celebrities. She not only shaped me as an actress but as a person as well. Kelsey Emerson, my Upper School English teacher, shaped my reading and writing skills. I owe my perfect ACT writing score to her. During my time with her freshman year, I was ﬁlming Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings, and it was my ﬁrst time needing time management skills. Her little boosts of conﬁdence have stayed with me and aected me more than she could have imagined. My senior year math teacher, Paula Gentry, was just as much of a pillar. Ms. Gentry never made me feel bad about my mathematical struggles. One of the most important connections that I made at Woodward was the counseling and learning support centers. As a neurodivergent student balancing a million dierent things, I was sometimes a little overwhelmed. It was so reassuring to know that I had an oce full of people like Dr. Chato Hendrix, Mrs. Leigh Shelor, Dr. Kem Edwards, and my personal favorite, Ms. Kendra Clemons, who believed in me and supported me in all my endeavors. (Thanks, Mommy.)OUR MISSION AT WOODWARD IS TO BE “ATLANTA AT ITS VERY BEST… A MICROCOSM OF WHAT THE WORLD SHOULD BE.” WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU?It’s about reﬂecting the vibrant spirit of Atlanta, mirroring its strengths and values within the school’s community. This school fosters an environment where dierent cultures, perspectives, and talents converge harmoniously, mirroring the ideal global community, preparing students like me for what the world is like outside of Woodward’s gates. Woodward Academy’s commitment to excellence extends beyond academics, embracing the arts, music, drama, and more. By cultivating a well-rounded education that values artistic expression, the school contributes to Atlanta’s cultural richness and helps students appreciate the city’s creative tapestry.

Page 46

44WOODWARD WINTER 2024Dr. Russell K. Gore ’93 is the Founding Director of the Shepherd Center Complex Concussion Clinic and Medical Director of the SHARE Military Initiative. He is a neurologist specialized in traumatic brain injury (TBI) with speciﬁc interest in the assessment and rehabilitation of athletes, service members, and veterans with protracted recovery after mild TBI. Dr. Gore is an adjunct Associate Professor in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology leading an interdisciplinary research team developing methods to assess, quantify, and treat brain injury for military and sports applications. Woodward magazine spoke with Dr. Gore about his experiences at Woodward and beyond.TELL US ABOUT YOUR CAREER IN MEDICINE AND YOUR EXPERIENCES IN THE AIR FORCE.I took a dierent path in my medical career based on circumstances that were often out of my control. I was in my internship at Emory, my ﬁrst year after medical school, when September 11th occurred. Jane and I were soon moving to Texas for ﬂight surgeon training. I was a primary care doctor at home, caring for pilots and families, and an operational doctor on deployments, caring for casualties. I was assigned to ﬁghter squadrons so it felt like a family fraternity where everyone ﬂies the F15. At the time, we focused on our young family but deployments were never far away. It was harder for Jane, being left behind. I was oered an assignment at the Air Force Research Laboratory doing research using technology to monitor pilot performance in-ﬂight for the F35 program. This neurotechnology experience changed my path from an interest in emergency medicine to neurology, and I returned to Emory for training. Later, I would ﬁnd myself at Shepherd Center caring for service members and veterans with injuries sometimes sustained in the same places I was deployed. WHY WERE YOU DRAWN TO MEDICINE INITIALLY AND WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT IT?I decided to pursue medicine later in college. I was studying biomedical engineering in a class about ﬂuid dynamics, and we were studying a new extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) device for infants born early, with premature lung function. After a lecture, the professor asked if anyone wanted to see the device in use at the medical center and to my surprise, only one other student stayed after class with interest. We went to the neonatal ICU, put on gowns, and I witnessed this amazing device literally oxygenating a newborn’s blood and bypassing the lungs to allow time for development. I was completely blown away. I realized I wanted to be involved with innovative biotechnology but also directly treat the people who beneﬁt from these technologies. I love my work because I live between the clinic, supporting an injured person, and the research lab using technology to better understand and treat future injuries. I am blown away all the time by the capacity of human resilience, the power of empathy to promote healing, and the potential for technology to improve the lives of those with traumatic neurologic injuries. HOW DID WOODWARD ACADEMY PREPARE YOU FOR YOUR COLLEGE EXPERIENCE AND CAREER?At Woodward, I was ﬁrst challenged to ask questions and to consider how I should approach a complex problem rather than just memorizing facts. There are so many examples but I vividly recall Mr. Floyd encouraging us to solve dicult math problems in less obvious ways. There is often no clear path to a solution, so trust your instinct and keep solving and keep trying if at ﬁrst you fail. A HEALTHY PERSPECTIVEAtlantaAT ITS VERYBest

Page 47

45WHY DID YOU CHOOSE WOODWARD FOR YOUR CHILDREN AND WHAT HAS THEIR EXPERIENCE BEEN LIKE?Well, actually we did not choose Woodward for our children so much as they chose it for themselves. Certainly, they were aware of Woodward, and we have a strong family connection with the Academy. During the admission process, both William and Elizabeth chose Woodward but for very dierent reasons. As a parent I feel like the experience has been amazing because Woodward is a great place to get involved and ﬁnd a supportive group. OUR MISSION AT WOODWARD IS TO BE "ATLANTA AT ITS VERY BEST ... A MICROCOSM OF WHAT THE WORLD SHOULD BE." WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT AS A MEMBER OF OUR GOVERNING BOARD? Woodward Academy is a diverse community working hard every day to live, work, and learn together. I’ve heard President Stuart Gulley make the statement on a number of occasions that our deep respect for dierence is Woodward’s gift to Atlanta and the world. Living in a silo, with others who look and think alike, is easy, but living in a truly diverse community is hard work. After Woodward, our students enter a fractured world with unique skills and experience needed to respect dierences and work toward healing these fractures. ATLANTA HAS WORLD-CLASS HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU'VE SEEN EVOLVE OVER YOUR CAREER. HOW WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE HEALTHCARE IN OUR CITY? AND WHAT ARE SOME AREAS THAT NEED IMPROVEMENT? I have been privileged to work in dierent healthcare organizations with very dierent organizational structures. I have worked in military healthcare, the veterans administration, the national health service in the UK, a large academic healthcare system, a large charity hospital, a small private practice, and now a nonproﬁt rehabilitation hospital. In each of these settings, healthcare is driven by clinicians who genuinely want what is best for patients and spend much of their time navigating systematic barriers to care. I’ve witnessed daily acts of heroism when a case manager or a nurse go to extreme lengths to provide a complete stranger with access to digniﬁed care. The pandemic brought these heroic acts to light but these were always happening, every minute of every day, but only in places we choose to avoid when we are well or in places we can avoid if we are privileged. We need to recognize that the people who dedicate their lives to this care are what matter when you are in your worst moment, not ﬂashy waiting rooms or new technology, and certainly not corporate earnings or investment portfolios. Our healthcare systems need to prioritize supporting those who provide care.WHY DO YOU CHOOSE TO GIVE SO GENEROUSLY OF YOUR TIME AND TALENT BY SERVING ON THE GOVERNING BOARD?This is really a privilege, and honestly I still don’t feel like I’m qualiﬁed enough (or old enough) to serve on the Board. I was the president of the SGA as a senior, and I recall attending a Board meeting led by Ben Johnson ‘61 to advocate for uniform changes allowing students to wear a Woodward sweatshirt. This was a big achievement at that time! Suddenly, I found myself on a committee navigating a global pandemic to keep our students healthy and learning. It feels surreal at times, but it’s easy to serve this amazing community.

Page 48

WOODWARD WINTER 202446ALUMNI NEWSAlumni Service Award Winner Julie Davis Couch ’88 Julie with her husband, Chuck, and parents Jack Davis ’62 and Joy Davis; the Couches with their children (l to r) Jack, Sarah Beth, and Henry.ALUMNI SPOTLIGHTWoodward Academy is synonymous with home and family for Julie Davis Couch ’88, whose family includes three generations of Academy alumni. Julie was honored this fall with the Alumni Service Award for her dedication and years of volunteer work on behalf of the Academy.Her father, Jack Davis ’62, graduated when the school was known as Georgia Military Academy. Julie herself attended Woodward for 11th and 12th grade. She and her husband, Chuck, are the parents of three children; their two eldest are young alumni (Jack ’19 and Sarah Beth ’23); and their youngest, Henry ’25, is a junior this year.After graduating from Woodward, Julie attended the University of Georgia, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Middle Grades Education. She taught in public schools for several years before having children. Starting at Woodward North, the family moved to College Park in 2011 so the children could ﬁnish school at her alma mater. Jack graduated from Ole Miss in 2023 and works in business development and marketing at a media company; Sarah Beth is a freshman at University of South Carolina; and Henry manages Woodward’s baseball team and is in Honor Council and Jazz Choir.Julie has given countless hours to the Academy as a volunteer and remains deeply involved in the life of the school. She served on the Alumni Association Board of

Page 49

47Directors for six years and co-chaired The Big Chill, an annual fundraising event for alumni and parents, for two years. She is an enthusiastic cheerleader for The Woodward Fund, volunteering for 1 Day for WA (the annual day of giving for Woodward alumni) and for the fALL IN campaign for parents. During these campaigns, she is a ﬁxture at the Advancement Oce in the Ann & Ben Johnson ’61 Center, making phone calls and sending texts to fellow alumni and parents encouraging them to give to The Woodward Fund. Julie and Chuck are longtime sponsors of The Big Chill and members of the President’s Circle, the leadership giving society of The Woodward Fund. They think it’s important to donate every year to help cover the gap between tuition and the actual cost of an unparalleled Academy education. “I believe in this community,” Julie said. “We are grateful for our children’s experiences at Woodward and we want to support the next generation of students.”Over the years, Julie has especially loved opportunities to engage with new families. Last year, she served on two panels to share her experience with families who are considering Woodward for their children. She also loves being on campus. These days, you can often ﬁnd her in the classroom as a substitute teacher. “I love spending time with the students, building relationships with the faculty and sta, experiencing the ﬂow of the school day, and being part of the energy of the school,” Julie said.She served on her 35th reunion committee this past October and served on two previous reunion committees. “Julie represents the very best of our alumni community,” said Kate Breslin, Woodward’s director of alumni engagement. “She brings great energy and enthusiasm to everything she takes on, and she has left her mark in so many ways, especially with The Big Chill. She was a great mentor to me when I started in my role last year. She generously shared her experience and guidance, and to this day I know that when I call or text her for anything big or small, she will be on the other end with a smile saying ‘yes.’” For alumni seeking ways to give back to the Academy, Julie recommends starting with The Big Chill, an annual event hosted by the Alumni Association that raises money for need-based student ﬁnancial aid. “We always need dedicated volunteers to join our committee, and we have a lot of fun!” she said.Julie said she was honored and humbled to receive the Alumni Service Award. “I will always ﬁnd ways to be of service to the Academy. Our family is, and always will be, part of the Woodward family. I am proud that my children are third generation Legacy War Eagles, and I’m thankful to my parents, Jack Davis ’62 and Joy Davis, for paving the way for me and for my children to be successful and achieve their potential,” she said.  ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORSEXECUTIVE COMMITTEEPRESIDENT Matt Brill ’91VICE PRESIDENT Riah Greathouse ’03OFFICERS AT LARGE Liann Freeman ’98 Ryn Pollard ’05 Todd Williamson ’01DIRECTORSLauren Crim Barclay ’08Danny Bernstein ’03Andy Cameron ’83Leigh Shattles Cardwell ’98Adam Carll ’08Barrett Cornelius ’09Torrance Mosley ’94Susan Oliver Pratt ’86Benji Russell ’13Robin Beck Stokes ’06Special thank you to our Board Members who completed their service this year: Julie Davis Couch ’88Alok Deshpande ’94Suzanna Sanchez Doyle ’00PARENTS OF ALUMNIIf this issue of the magazine is addressed to your child who no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please get in touch to update their mailing address at alumni@woodward.edu.Julie has given countless hours to the Academy as a volunteer and remains deeply involved in the life of the school.

Page 50

WOODWARD WINTER 202448When he was sworn in as United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York by President Biden in August 2021, Damian Williams ’98 became the ﬁrst Black leader of the oce. This fall, he became the 2023 Distinguished Alumnus of Woodward Academy. Williams’ achievements would come as no surprise to anyone who knew him at Woodward, where he served as SGA President and Peer Leader, was named a National Merit and Achievement Scholar Semiﬁnalist, and was a member of the National Honor Society. A Vintage Eagle, Williams lettered in varsity boys tennis and was named Most Likely to Succeed his senior year. After graduating from Woodward, Williams earned an economics degree from Harvard University, a master’s in international relations from the University of Cambridge, and a law degree from Yale. He clerked for Judge Merrick B. Garland of the U.S. Court of Appeals and for Justice John Paul Stevens of the U.S. Supreme Court. As U.S. Attorney, he leads a sta of 450 lawyers, special agents, and other professionals, supervising the investigation and prosecution of all federal crimes and the ligation of all civil matters in which the United States has an interest. Earlier in his career, he served as Chief of the Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force in the Southern District of New York. As an Assistant U.S. Attorney, he investigated and prosecuted white collar cases involving corruption in ﬁnancial markets and politics. Woodward magazine spoke with Williams about his life, career, and memories of the Academy.What are some highlights/accomplishments of your career that meant the most to you?I’ve been very fortunate in my career, and it’s dicult to identify a single highlight or accomplishment that meant the most. But, if I had to choose, I’d choose being sworn in as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York (SDNY). My oce was founded in 1789, and until 2021, it had never had a Black person serve as its leader in its 232 years. I was happy to break that barrier once and for all. It was long overdue. I was sworn in at the Harlem Armory, which is a place with a special connection to the SDNY. The armory used to be the home of the 369th Infantry Regiment—the “Harlem Hellﬁghters”—an all-Black regiment formed before World War I that had to ﬁght under French command because the U.S. Army was still racially segregated. The Hellﬁghters ultimately endured battle longer than any other Army regiment in the war. When the war ended, the commander of the Hellﬁghters, a white man named Col. William Hayward, became the U.S. Attorney in SDNY. In 1921, Hayward made history by hiring the ﬁrst female Assistant U.S. Attorney and the ﬁrst Black Assistant U.S. Attorney in SDNY. That Black lawyer, James C. Thomas Jr., was a Harlem Hellﬁghter who fought under Hayward in WWI. So, I thought the armory was a ﬁtting place to mark my appointment as U.S. Attorney 100 years later. I think back to that day frequently, and it motivates me to focus not on the history that I made by becoming the U.S. Attorney, but instead on the history that made me. What is ahead for you in the next phase?I’m not quite sure. Serving as an Assistant United States Attorney, and now United States Attorney, are the only professional dreams I have ever had. It has been an amazing experience to live those two dreams. I’m trying to stay in the moment and not think too much about what might come next, because the day-to-day is so rewarding and I don’t want to miss a minute of it. Tell us about your experience as a Woodward student.Most of my childhood memories are rooted at Woodward. I remember being 5 years old and getting dressed—in my new uniform—for the ﬁrst day of ﬁrst grade. I was a ball of nerves and excitement. And I remember, 12 years later, putting on my uniform for the last time before I graduated. I truly grew up at Woodward. I was involved in Damian WilliamsAlumnus and Trailblazer Believes in ServiceDamian Williams ’98 Named Distinguished AlumALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Page 51

49everything from sports and academics to student groups and social life. Because I started at Woodward at such a young age, and stayed throughout, I felt like my class was my family. It wasn’t until I got to college that I realized that my experience at Woodward was not typical. Not everyone had the stable, rooted, balanced experience that I did. I feel blessed to have had it. Do you attribute some of your success to attending Woodward? And what are the things you learned that set the stage for your college and career?Absolutely. I’ll point to one thing in particular that jumps out at me. There was always a deep sense of duty and patriotism that ran through the Woodward culture. Maybe it was the history as a former military academy, maybe it was something else. But duty and service and patriotism were always in the air, and I picked up on it. I knew, from an early age, that I wanted to ﬁnd some way to give back to this country. Some of that desire to serve came from my experience as the son of Jamaican immigrants, but a lot of that desire came from Woodward. It helped shape the choices I made—where to attend college, what to study, what jobs to take. I’m living out that dream now as United States Attorney. Are there teachers/classmates/coaches who inspired you?There are far too many to list here. I’ll mention one of my teachers, Ms. Collins, who taught me in third grade. Ms. Collins was a special person. I was in her class at a time when I really lacked self-conﬁdence, and I needed someone to invest in me and see the potential in me. Ms. Collins lifted me up, and she continued to lift me up throughout my time at Woodward. I tried to tell her as often as I could, which, in retrospect, wasn’t nearly often enough, that she helped make me into who I am today. Can you share any advice for today’s Woodward students and younger alumni?Find a way to serve. Not everyone has to engage in public service in a governmental capacity, but there are plenty of ways to give back, and to give back often. The rewards are incredible. In my opinion, serving causes bigger than yourself is a real gift. Do you still have family and friends in the Atlanta area?Sure do. I love coming back to Atlanta. And every time I do, I make sure I stop by the Woodward campus, especially on the weekend when it’s quiet. I take my time and walk around. There is so much that’s changed since I started in 1986 and graduated in 1998, but much is the same. I love tracing the steps I walked years ago, as a ﬁrst grader all the way up to senior year. It makes me feel like I’m wearing my uniform again. WA CONNECTJoin Our Alumni Directory and Networking Platform!Connect with fellow graduatesExpand your professional networkGive back by mentoring young alumniAccess job opportunities from other alumniTo get started, scan the QR code or visit waconnect.com

Page 52

WOODWARD WINTER 202450LTC Lane Links Service to Success in LifeYou might say that John Lane has given two lifetimes of service to humanity. After 24 years in the U.S. Army, he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel before going on to serve an additional 25 years at Woodward Academy, where he taught social studies and served as Director of Campus Safety. Lane spoke for the November 10 Veterans Day service in Gresham Chapel, addressing alumni, guests, and the Class of 2024 in person and the rest of the Upper School student body over broadcast in their classrooms.Born in the hospital at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Lane is the son of a ﬁghter pilot who served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, and a nurse who served during World War II. At 23, he graduated from West Point as a commissioned ocer in the U.S. Army. Over the course of his military career, he served in a variety of command and sta assignments at Fort Moore, Fort Liberty, Fort Lewis, and Fort Ord as well as overseas assignments in Korea, Germany, and Egypt. He also served as a member of the faculty and administration at West Point and the United States Naval Academy. In addition to his bachelor’s degree from West Point, he holds a master’s degree from Stanford University. Lane’s Veterans Day remarks were an impassioned address to seniors as they prepare to embark on college and life beyond Woodward. He encouraged them to pursue a life of service to others. “In terms of contributing to the state of humanity. I’m convinced that living this way gives real meaning to our lives,” he said. “Some mistakenly think that serving others involves sacriﬁce, but serving others has little to do with sacriﬁce. Service and success don’t have to be mutually exclusive.” Lane recalled his graduation 48 years ago from West Point, when commencement speaker former President Gerald Ford challenged his class to give a lifetime of service to the people of the United States. “For 24 years in the Army, I looked forward every 1 Honor Guard member Sophia Sangha ’24 places a wreath at the WWII memorial. 2 Woodward’s Veterans Day program is made possible by the Tyler H. Brown ’96 Leadership Speaker Series Endowment Fund. First Lieutenant Brown died ﬁghting for his country on September 14, 2004, at age 26, when his Army unit was attacked in Ramadi, Iraq. 3 Coach Lee Sellers and Dr. Bob Schorr ’56 enjoy the luncheon for alumni and special guests following the program.HONORING OUR VETERANS2 31

Page 53

51day to serving the soldiers I worked with. It was a joy teaching them self-conﬁdence and independence, guiding their moral and ethical development, and helping them reach their full potential. Upon retirement from the Army, I was blessed to serve Woodward Academy, ﬁrst as a teacher and then as Director of Campus Safety. I looked forward to being here every day, to working with the sta, faculty, and students. It was a pleasure to serve.”In his campus safety role, Lane elevated Woodward Academy’s emergency preparedness and response to become a national model for independent schools, said President Stuart Gulley. Thanks in large part to his remarkable leadership of the Academy’s Pandemic Response Team, the Academy was able to navigate the immense challenges of COVID-19 and to remain open safely for in-person students. “Above all, a life of service means leaving the world a better place than you found it,” Lane said. “A life of service requires making a choice—ﬁnd an area you’re passionate about, an area where you can make a dierence, an area that brings you joy, a sense of purpose, and fulﬁllment. It has been said that when we light a lamp for somebody else, it also brightens our path. A candle can light many other candles without diminishing its own light. I invite you to share in the boldness of committing yourself to a life of service.”Following Lane’s remarks, the Veterans Day service continued with a wreath-laying ceremony in Memorial Plaza to honor the 117 alumni who gave their lives in service to the country. 4 The Woodward Honor Guard processes to Memorial Plaza. 5 John Lane, guest of honor with his wife Linda Lane and President Stuart Gulley. 6 Bryce Jackson ’24 played the National Anthem and Taps on the trumpet during the wreath-laying ceremony.456

Page 54

Page 55

53To view more photos, visit woodward.edu/alumni/events6 Class of 1983 Reunion at Woodward History Center 7 Casey O’Neal Creal ’88, Cydney Troope ’88, Abby Ashworth Bennett ’88 and Winnie Wilkins Thompson ’88 8 Macinda West, Matt West ’93, and Greta Jackson ’93 9 Ian Schumacher ’98, Chad Carson ’98, and Justin Spiller ’98 10 Sabina Miller Gilbert ’78, Van Newcomer ’78, and Kathleen Collins ’78 11 Class of 1973 memorial in honor of classmates who have passed.UPCOMING EVENTSThe Alumni Oce hosts frequent events for Woodward alumni. For more information, go to woodward.edu/alumni/events.February 23, 2024The Big ChillJoin us for the 14th annual Big Chill, beneﬁtting need-based student ﬁnancial aid at Woodward. This year’s theme is A Taste of Woodward and will showcase alumni, parent, and employee restauranteurs in a tasting event format. Learn more at woodward.edu/bigchill.March 17, 2024Athletic Hall of FameAll are invited to honor the new inductees to the prestigious Hall of Fame.April 19, 2024Founder’s Day & Golden War Eagle LuncheonGMA and Woodward Alumni in the Golden War Eagle Club are invited to campus to celebrate our history.May 1, 20241 Day for WASupport the next generation of War Eagles on our annual day of alumni giving!Important note for the Class of 1974Your 50th reunion will be celebrated in fall 2024 during Homecoming weekend, along with all of the other class reunions. Please stay tuned for the October date, which will be announced soon. We look forward to celebrating with you this fall!79810611

Page 56

54WOODWARD WINTER 2024Let’s Get TogetherAlumni gather for Campus Connect and regional events.REGIONAL EVENTS3124The Alumni Oce launched a new program called Campus Connect this fall to help our newest alumni connect with each other on their college campuses. Our ﬁrst events were hosted in September and October at Auburn University, in Athens for University of Georgia and University of North Georgia students, and in Atlanta for Georgia Tech and for the city’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) including Clark Atlanta, Morehouse, and Spelman. Woodward alumni in Charlotte gathered at Legion Brewing Co. in South Park on September 7. Special thanks to our host committee including Holly Holmes Blackstock ’90, Michael Mandl ’08, Jonathan Oberti ’12, Damian Pryor ’99, Nancy Tribble Ralston ’07, Tim Robertson ’00, and Richelle Thompson ’17. The New York Chapter of the Alumni Association met up at Sotto Park on September 27. CAMPUS CONNECTIf you are interested in helping to launch a chapter of Woodward’s Alumni Association in your city, please reach out to alumni@woodward.edu.1 Athens – Jay Isaacs ’22, Ethan Faircloth ’22, Laura Hollis ’22, Sela Humphrey ’22, and Jack Dempsey ’22 2 Woodward in Charlotte at Legion Brewing. 3 Georgia Tech – Vaishavi Vuyyuru ’21, Jakari Harris ’16, Naomi Censullo ’20, Lee Johnson ’22, Sarah Marsh ’23, Abby Hartman ’21, and Drake Oakhill ’20 4 Woodward's ﬁrst regional chapter in New York at Sotto Park.

Page 57

551975Dean Mead attorney and shareholder Michael D. Minton was honored by The Florida Bar Tax Section as the 2023-2024 Gerald T. Hart Outstanding Tax Attorney of the Year at a meeting in Orlando, Fla., on September 30, 2023. He is the ﬁrst resident from the Treasure Coast of Florida to receive this award. In July, Michael also had the honor of escorting his youngest daughter, Michelle Lavienia Minton, down the aisle in Highlands, N.C., at her marriage to Ryan Conroy.1976Steve Justice was inducted as a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) in a ceremony on May 18, 2023, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. “The Class of 2023 AIAA Honorary Fellows and Fellows are among the best minds in the aerospace profession. I commend each member of this year’s class for their many accomplishments,” said Laura McGill, AIAA President. Steve is a member of the AIAA Board of Trustees and was recently selected as treasurer-elect for the institute. He works as chief innovation ocer at The Ginn Group in Peachtree City, Ga. WEDDINGS page 58 EAGLETS page 59 PASSAGES page 60CLASS NOTES1962*In September 2023, Bruce McEver released the audiobook for “Many Paths,” his powerful and poignant memoir. According to PR Newswire, “’Many Paths’ tells a remarkable story of a successful life built on deeply-held values. It oers sage advice drawn from real-world triumphs despite diculties and heartbreak; it reminds listeners that the project of life is not only self-realization, but learning to be humane in the face of tragedy. ’Many Paths’ is a proof, of sorts: kindness and dignity gifted generously and practiced often will uplift the soul and improve our communities.”1968This summer, Rick Minton enjoyed a ﬁshing trip with classmate Don Moorhead ’68 and his wife Deb Moorhead. 1979Robert “Buzz” Law is in his 39th year as president of the ﬁnancial planning ﬁrm, Creative Financial Group, a division of Synovus Financial. He has been reappointed by Governor Brian Kemp as the 7th District representative for the State Board for the Technical College System of Georgia. He has served on the board since 2014.1982Erica Dinnerstein Kahn just returned from Hamburg, Germany, and the Triathlon World Championships, where her son placed 30th in his age group. She is so proud of his dedication to his sport.1984£ Shelly Crooks Michael and her father, 91-year-old Kenneth Crooks Jr., co-authored a book, “Heart Love to Head Love,” to raise awareness about dementia. The story is an eye-opening ﬁction loosely based on their own family experiences and depicts the eects of the development of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia on members of a blended family. *Denotes alumni of Georgia Military Academy

Page 58

56WOODWARD WINTER 2024£ Classmates Josh Lieppe, Max Stein, Glenn Warren, and Andy Watkins traveled to Toronto to cheer on the Atlanta Braves as they played the Toronto Blue Jays.2006Dr. Thomas “Ben” Suitt published his ﬁrst book, “Narratives of Trauma and Moral Agency among Christian post-9/11 Veterans” published by Palgrave Macmillan. The book explores the role of faith in the lives of those who fought during our post-9/11 conﬂicts.2010Julia Watkins has been named the new Thomas M. Belk Chaplain and Director of Religious and Spiritual Life for Davidson College, where she is a graduate of the Class of 2014.1990Bethany Browning has released a dark comedy/horror novella called, “Sasquatch, Baby!,” now available on Amazon. She also was the co-writer on a feature ﬁlm called “War of the Wills,” which was released for streaming on Amazon in May 2023. You can ﬁnd links to her short ﬁction, which has been showcased in Stories We Tell After Midnight, Halloween Horrors, The HallowZine, JAKE the Magazine, Sage Cigarettes, Mudroom, Esoterica, and more at bethanybrowning.com. She lives in Occidental, Calif., and would love for any Woodward alums to ﬁnd her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @buzzwordsocial.2001The Rev. Dr. Taylor Driskill Paord graduated with her doctorate degree in Theology and the Arts from Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, D.C., in May 2023. Her dissertation was entitled “Making the Word Flesh: Bringing the Biblical Narrative to Life Through Drama.” Taylor currently serves as Lower and Middle School religion teacher at St. Martin’s Episcopal School in Atlanta.2004Capt. Chandler Alford retired from the United States Army in August 2023. He served as an engineer ocer in Texas, Missouri, Washington, and Alaska, with one combat deployment to Afghanistan. He and his wife, Rachel, reside in Fairbanks, Alaska, where he serves as an engineer manager for arctic infrastructure projects.2012Claire Crawford graduated with her doctorate of Philosophy in Political Science from the University of Southern California. She’s accepted a joint tenure-track assistant professor position at Wake Forest University in the Department of Politics and International Aairs and the Program of African American Studies.£ Julie Hubschman and Woodward teacher Linda Wyatt enjoyed hiking together across Tuscany in Italy during the summer of 2023. Cheers to their next adventure!2013Morgan A. Rousseau graduated from University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston John P. and Katherine G. McGovern Medical School in April 2023 and will begin her residency at University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Texas.

Page 59

57£ Gabby Norwood participated in the National American Miss Illinois pageant in September 2023, and not only won the title of Miss Illinois Teen but also won Best Resume, Best Model, Best Media Correspondent, and Best Spokesmodel. She returned to Northwestern early as a Peer Advisor, taught a class, and served as the assistant director for the play “The Prom” staged in November. Finally, in early December Gabby won the title of international Spokesmodel after competing with over 100 accomplished young women around the world. On June 1, 2023, Maya Packer held her ﬁrst fundraising event for the Maya S. Packer Philanthropic Fund. Her ﬁrst grant went to youthSpark, “a nonproﬁt that aims to advocate for vulnerable children and families who have been aected by courts in Fulton County.” Maya is a sophomore public relations major at the University of Southern California.20 14Afshan Lakhani graduated from Mercer University with her doctor of Pharmacy and masters in Business Administration degrees. She recently accepted an oer to work at Walmart Pharmacy as a sta pharmacist.2016Madison L. Rousseau graduated in May of 2022 with her master’s in Security Policy Studies from The Elliott School of International Aairs of George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and is working as a research assistant at The Combating Terrorism Center at West Point. She started law school this fall. Trevor DeLaere graduated from The University of Oklahoma in 2023 with a master’s degree in Environmental Science in Hydrology and Water Security. He works for a national environmental ﬁrm as an environmental consultant on emergency response projects covering the southeast.2021£ On July 15, 2023, Christina Millar was crowned International Miss in the 2023 Royal International Miss pageant held in Orlando, Fla.2022£ Former War Eagle cheerleader and current Atlanta Falcons cheerleader, Natasha Dedeaux, got the chance to host the Lower School Cheer squad for an exclusive Meet and Greet with the Atlanta Falcons cheerleaders. Students spent time on the ﬁeld, met professional cheerleaders, and had a special Q&A session with Natasha.SHARE YOUR NEWSSubmit your big news at woodward.edu/alumni/connect or email alumni@woodward.edu.

Page 60

58WOODWARD WINTER 20241 Lisa Miller Zawko ’05 married Marc Zawko at Montaluce Winery in Dahlonega, Ga., on December 17, 2022. In attendance (l to r): Jordan Arkin Fishman ’05, Tiany Morgan Grizzle ’05, Kiley Hodgson King ’05, Lindsey Richardson Alvarez ’05, Wight Murphy ’10, Meghan Whaley ’05, Hannah Chary Korman ’05, Ryn Pollard ’05, Debbie Shipp (retired WA PS teacher/parent), and Sabina Miller Gilbert ’78 (former WA MS teacher). Not pictured: Bailey Blair Sabulis ’05, Margo Velez Rice ’03, and David Rice ’03.2 William Uphouse, M.D. ’14 married Rachel Nissen on October 22, 2022, in Norcross, Ga. Will is a second-year resident in anesthesiology at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, N.C. Rachel is a fourth-year medical student at Mercer University in Columbus, Ga.3 Christy Goodman ’87 married Ron Cockrell in August 2023. The wedding was attended by Woodward alumni Laura Carter ’87, Alka Wells ’87, Mike Wells ’86, Kelly Manning ’89, and Jennifer Milsap ’87. The couple resides in Foley, Ala.4 Brett Nolan ’01 married Stephanie Flack on April 29, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. Mark Weaver was a groomsman, and Kasey Blackwelder Abbe ’02 was in attendance with her family. The couple lives in Jacksonville.5 Luz Ovalle ’14 married AJ Abel on April 29, 2023. Classmates Hayden Schaefer ’14, Alex Eidson ’14, Richard Wang ’14, and Lindsay Hornecker ’14 were in attendance.GETTING HITCHED? Send us a note and photo and we’ll include the happy news in the next issue of Woodward magazine. EMAILalumni @woodward.eduONLINE woodward.edu/alumni/connect245WEDDINGS513

Page 61

59EAGLETS1 2 341 Lauren Crim Barclay ’08 and Kayin Barclay welcomed Lily Katherine Barclay on January 17, 2023.2 Alison Chambers ’95 gave birth to Ava Jeanne Chambers on January 24, 2023. Mom and baby live on Saint Helena Island in South Carolina, where Alison is a banker at a Beaufort bank. Alison still loves the veterans and sings vintage hits at air shows, veterans events, and special events all over the East Coast. She especially loves to sing the National Anthem the way it was meant to be sung. Alison is a historical reenactor and can be seen portraying Betty Grable circa WWII, Marilyn Monroe circa the Korean War, and Nancy Sinatra circa the Vietnam War. She’s currently working on a Jenny Lind impression for the Civil War. 3 Anna Johnson Taylor ’10 and Christian Taylor ’09 are thrilled to announce the arrival of their daughter Emma Sheeld Taylor, born August 10, 2023.4 Allie Maron Chinsky ’08, Andrew Chinsky, and big sister Emmie welcomed Lucas Mitchell Chinsky on June 29, 2023.5 McKenzie Strawn Price ’10 and Addison Price ’10 welcomed their son, Wilson Fleet Price, on September 3, 2023.NEW ADDITION? We’d love to share the great news with the Woodward community. Send us the announcement and a photo, and we’ll include it in the next edition of Woodward magazine.EMAILalumni @woodward.eduONLINE woodward.edu/alumni/connect5

Page 62

60WOODWARD WINTER 2024Charles Moore ’47May 31, 2023James Murphy ’47January 22, 2023United States Marine CorpsHarold Hair ’51March 20, 2023United States ArmyThomas “Zelle” Lassiter Jr. ’51May 8, 2020United States Air ForceRonnie Cowan ’52August 14, 2023Bob Greeson ’54June 28, 2022Charles Blake Sr. ’54April 23, 2022United States Coast GuardJack Leathers ’55September 12, 2023Charles L. Cansler Jr. ’57July 8, 2023Don Rainwater ’57February 4, 2022Father of Susan Rainwater ’81 & John Rainwater ’82Walter Whitehurst ’60June 2023Harold Adams ’64February 11, 2023Bill Palk ’64August 16, 2023United States ArmyJoe Rice ’64May 24, 2023United States Air ForceBrent Allain ’67December 11, 2022Brother of Alexander Allain ’76Manuel Ayala ’68February 4, 2023Timothy Epperson ’69December 25, 2022Vicki Thomas ’69June 2023Wife of James Ward ’70Douglas White ’72May 29, 2023Jack Frost II ’73July 24, 2023Sandra Lewis Armstrong ’74July 27, 2023Jim West ’74February 5, 2023James Weatherly ’76May 15, 2023Mark Brown ’81December 27, 2022Stephen Homan ’83December 6, 2021Brother of Charles Homan ’81Brother-in-Law of Lisa Browning Homan ’81Ferozan Walizai ’11September 4, 2023While we mourn those whom we have lost, we also remember and celebrate their lives, the people they were, and the work they did to leave a better world behind them. Obituaries can be found online at woodward.edu/passages.PASSAGESRelationships within the Woodward community are noted. Please notify alumni@woodward.edu of any discrepancies.

Winter 2024

Page 1

Page 2

Page 3

Page 4