Abstract
I graduated from a historic liberal arts college for women, Mount Holyoke College, a place where I sought intellectual challenge and found the power of my voice. In 1975, inspired, like so many of Mount Holyoke’s students, by the famous words of its founder, Mary Lyons, “Go where no one else will go, do what no one else will do, “ I moved from that small, inclusive learning community to a large, public research university to pursue a doctorate. I would remain in large public research universities in the Midwest and New England until returning to the College in 2015 to work to advance faculty development, leadership, and women’s education. Despite establishing my career in a very different institutional type, I have always sustained deep connections to the College, serving as class scribe for the alumnae quarterly and as a volunteer for fundraising efforts. As well, all three of my children graduated from small liberal arts colleges, including a daughter from Mount Holyoke, and I have long supported effective teaching at small colleges through the Professional and Organizational Network in Higher Education (POD).