This month’s newsletter is available for download in PDF format.
Events Calendar
- May 2 – An Evening with the Ambassador at the Embassy of the Dominican Republic
- May 13 – Baltimore Book Club Discussion
- May 14 – Keeping Up With…
- June 2 – Parents Connection Spring Social and Care Package Party
- June 9 – DC Book Club Discussion
- June 15 – PAC-12 Night with the Nationals
Farewell Message from WDCSA President
I would like to express my gratitude to the Washington D.C. Stanford Association and Stanford alumni community for the opportunity to serve as your President over the past four years. During that time, I was constantly amazed by the talent and dedication of our alumni and parent volunteers. It was a privilege to work with so many wonderful people who are dedicated to serving our local Stanford alumni family and making a positive impact on the communities that we live in. I move on cherishing the lifelong friendships that I have made through WDCSA and knowing that the organization is in great hands under the leadership of our new President, Patricia Arty. Patricia is joined on the board by an amazing group of passionate volunteers, including Stephanie Tan (Co-Vice President), Ingrid Jernudd (Co-Vice President), and Jasmaine McClain (Treasurer), as well as countless other volunteers who give selflessly of their time, talents, and expertise in serving the Stanford alumni of the Washington, D.C. area. As we approach the 75th Anniversary of WDCSA, I am excited to see where the organization goes from here!
All the best,
Kevin Coyne, MS ‘02
WDCSA 2019 Election Results
Patricia Arty (BA ’10) President-Elect
Stephanie Tan (BS ’94, MS ’94) VP-Elect
Congratulations to the winners of the recent WDCSA elections! Patricia Arty (BA ’10) was elected President and Stephanie Tan (BS ’94, MS ’94) was elected Vice President. Each officer will serve a two-year term. Thank you to the 96 WDCSA members who voted in this year’s election! This year’s participation increased by 48 percent, compared to last year’s election. WDCSA would like to acknowledge the contributions of our outgoing President, Kevin Coyne (2015-Present) and outgoing co-Vice President, Patricia Arty (2017-Present), who now takes over for Kevin. Thank you to you both for your years of service to the Washington, DC community!
WDCSA Member Spotlight
DeLise Bernard
Born and raised in Richmond, Va, DeLise Bernard (’98, MA ’99) attended a high school for low income students with academic potential. When she was admitted to Stanford, the late Anna Marie Porras from the Admissions Office sent her a travel voucher to come visit for Admit Weekend. DeLise notes that this made all the difference for her in deciding to attend Stanford. While on campus, DeLise lived in Ujamaa (the African-American theme dorm) all 4 years, and was on staff for two of those years. She joined Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., served as President of the Stanford Black Pre-med Organization, and sang in the Gospel Choir. Among her many fond Stanford memories, one of DeLise’s favorites is standing in front of the Class of 1998 as one of the Department’s three Commencement Speakers. She recently served as the Co-chair for their record-breaking, award-winning 20th reunion, and is so proud of the women and men her classmates have become!
After completing her Bachelor’s degree in Human Biology and a Master’s degree in Sociology, DeLise decided not to pursue medicine and moved to D.C. She worked for a consulting company leading city-wide strategic planning efforts, and later became a political appointee in the D.C. Office of the Mayor to work on policy related to children, youth, and families. Together with her husband, she started “Beyond Excellence,” a consulting firm specializing in corporate wellness, health management, non-profit management, and human capital training and development. The organization is thriving, and continues to grow nationally.
DeLise now educates her three children using a curriculum tailored to each child’s learning style and interests. A typical week includes science classes at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, dance at the Washington Ballet, and courses at an African-centered co-operative. In her spare time, DeLise enjoys weekly date nights with her hubby, volunteering for Stanford (including her role as an OVAL Co-chair), and spending time with friends and family.
Her advice for the Stanford community? Be willing to change. Be willing to get off of a road that is not working for you and hop on a road you love regardless of the pressures, real and perceived. And once you’ve discovered that thing that brings you contentment and peace, sit there, and be.
If you have suggestions for other alumni in the DMV area to profile in upcoming newsletters, please send them to Jasmaine McClain (jasmaine.mcclain@gmail.com) or Stephanie Tan (stephanie.tan@stanfordalumni.org).
Upcoming Events
An Evening with the Ambassador at the Embassy of the Dominican Republic
Thursday, May 2, 5:30-8 pm
Embassy of the Dominican Republic
1715 22nd Street, NW, Washington, DC
Join the Washington DC Stanford Association for a special evening at the Embassy of the Dominican Republic. Our visit to the embassy will include a welcome and brief talk by Ambassador Perez. A buffet dinner will be provided where guests can interact with the Ambassador’s commercial, political, and economic counselors. Learn about their nation, enjoy their cuisine, and tour the embassy, all while networking with other Stanford alumni.
Limited street parking is available and the Dupont Circle Metro Station is located a few blocks from the Embassy. A limited number of tickets are available for this event, so please register early at the following link: http://alumni.stanford.edu/goto/event29728
Questions? Contact Lucy Lopez at lucyabsi@hotmail.com
Keeping Up With…
Tuesday, May 14, 7:15 pm
Private Residence
Washington, DC
Keeping Up With… is the modern-day monthly salon for Stanford Alumni in the DC area to discuss articles and podcasts.
This month, the salon will be “Keeping Up With….The Drop Out.” We will discuss the podcast series that goes into the story of Elizabeth Holmes and her company Theranos. We will discuss the rise and fall of this multi billion dollar bio-tech start-up.
Here is a link to the podcast series: http://abcradio.com/podcasts/the-dropout/
To RSVP, email Patricia Arty ’10 patriciaarty@alumni.stanford.edu or Melissa Runsten ’10, JD’15 melissa.runsten@gmail.com.
Parents Connection Spring Social and Care Package Party
Sunday, June 2, 2-4:30 pm
Private Residence
Great Falls, VA
Join the Stanford Parents Connection for our spring social to welcome the new Stanford Class of 2023 parents.
This event will also include the popular care package party. We ask that you bring a snack to share and multiples of one item for the care packages. You will be told how many the Wednesday before the event.
We will provide USPS medium flat-rate priority boxes, so come prepared with the mailing address and $15 towards the costs. All the boxes will be delivered to the post office on the following Monday morning and should get to Stanford in time for final exams. In the RSVP, please indicate the number of boxes you will be sending.
Come to fellowship, ask questions, and share your experiences and insights.
Questions/RSVP: Helene Myers, Ph.D., P’14, at cedarhouse@comcast.net
PAC 12 Night at the Nationals
Saturday, June 15, 4:05 pm
Nationals Park
Washington, DC
Join the rest of the PAC-12 Alumni of DC for our 4th annual PAC-12 Night with the Washington Nationals! This year, the Nationals will be facing off against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Nationals will also be celebrating Star Wars Night, with an Obi “Sean” Kenobi Bobblehead for the first 10,000 fans.
* THIS GAME WILL SELLOUT SO BE SURE TO BUY YOUR TICKETS EARLY *
We have arranged for special discounted tickets ($23) that include an $8 concession credit that can be used at the game. Seats are reserved in Section 238 in Center/Right Field. We sold out of our ticket allotment twice last year, so be sure to get your tickets early as we expect to sell out again!
Buy Your Tickets Here: https://groupmatics.events/event/DCPac12. Wednesday, June 12 is the deadline to purchase tickets.
If you have questions, email PAC12DC@gmail.com.
Stanford In the News
- Stanford is honoring two distinguished alumnae – Sally Ride, a physicist and the first American woman in space, and Carolyn Lewis Attneave, an internationally renowned scholar and psychologist who was instrumental in creating the field of Native American mental health – by renaming two campus buildings currently named for Father Junipero Serra. Effective immediately, Serra House, home to the Clayman Institute for Gender Research, is being renamed Carolyn Lewis Attneave House, and the Serra House in the Stern Hall undergraduate residence complex is becoming Sally Ride House. The new names honor two scholars who studied at Stanford and went on to make profound contributions as world leaders in their fields.
WDCSA Book Club Corner
Washington DC Book Club Discussion
Sunday, June 9, 5-7:45 pm
Washington, DC
The book group will discuss The Once and Future Worker: A Vision for the Renewal of Work in America, by Oren Cass. All are welcome to join the discussion and participate in the potluck dinner.
Cass theorizes that prioritizing consumption has led to a fall of American wages, a rise of substance abuse and obesity, and a decline of life expectancy. He prescribes a remedy of work and respect for the integrity of work to lead to more constructive politics.
For more information, contact Ann Cowgill ’82 at ann.m.cowgill@gmail.com.
Baltimore Book Club Discussion
Monday, May 13, 7:30 pm
Mother’s Federal Hill Grille
1113 S. Charles St, Baltimore, MD
The May selection is The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah, winner of the 2018 Goodread’s Choice Award under Historical Fiction, rated 4.6 out of 5.0 stars by over six thousand Amazon readers. With a backdrop of extraordinary beauty and unforgiving harshness of Alaska, this story explores the strength, depth, and irrationality of love amidst domestic violence.
The July selection is The Threat: How the FBI Protects America in the Age of Terror and Trump by Andrew McCabe.
Questions/RSVP: Helene Myers, Ph.D., P’14, at cedarhouse@comcast.net.