Head, Heart, and Hand: Stories of Professional Wayfinding from the NMH Alumni Community

Ben Nicholas '15 is currently Lieutenant in the Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal. Ben was the company commander for the group of Navy divers and technicians that conducted the Artemis II capsule recovery in coordination with NASA. In this episode, we explore the impact his time at NMH had on him as a young man, his pathway to the U.S Naval Academy, and the experience of leading the mission to stabilize and retrieve a capsule that just went around the moon.

In this episode, Sheila Heffernon, retired director of the NMH Choral program, is joined in a conversation with her former student and mentee, Carolyn Kuan '95, who has served as the music director of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra since 2011. We talk about the powerful origins of their student-teacher relationship which grew into a lifetime of deeply respectful shared admiration and friendship. We also explore their journeys to conducting, and the importance of building community and human connection through music.

A trailblazer in craft brewing and craft distilling, Sam first began homebrewing while living in New York City after college. This newfound passion led him and his wife and fellow alum, Mariah, to open Dogfish Head, America's smallest craft brewery based in Coastal Delaware in 1995. The company grew into a beloved and iconic brand, and one of the largest craft beer companies in the country. Recently, it merged with the Boston Beer Company. In this episode, we talk with Sam about his treasured but bumpy journey through NMH, finding his passion for craft brewing, and how the "head, heart, and hand" mission is instilled into the fabric of their company and philanthropic endeavors.

Caitrin Rogers '00 is an American documentary film producer. She is best known for producing ⁠20 Feet from Stardom⁠ (2013), which earned her an ⁠Academy Award⁠, an ⁠Independent Spirit Award⁠, and a ⁠Grammy Award⁠. She also produced the miniseries Ugly Delicious (2018) and Shangri-La (2019), as well as the films The Black Godfather (2019) and Miss Americana (2020) and most recently Piece by Piece (2024). In this episode, we talk about the confidence she gained at NMH to head West, her thoughts on what makes a good story, and what truth means in documentaries.

Lindsey Dawson '00 is associate director of HIV Policy and director of LGBTQ Health Policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation. She conducts research and analysis on HIV policy in the United States and focuses on LGBTQ health policy issues, particularly those related to disparities, access and coverage. In this episode, we talk about Lindsey's determination to attend NMH, how research became her calling, and how LGBTQ and HIV policies are impacted by political polarization and federal funding changes.

Emily Luchetti '75 is an award winning pastry chef, author, poet, and rancher. She has worked in many of America's top restaurants including Jeremiah Tower’s Stars in San Francisco. She is the author of five dessert cookbooks and has received numerous accolades and honors including the James Beard Foundation Award for Outstanding Pastry Chef and the Women Chefs & Restaurateurs Golden Whisk Award. In this episode, we talk about Emily's workjob in West Hall, her journey from a savory to sweet chef, the role writing has played in her career, and how she found balance over a lifetime.

Daniel Ross '90 is a nationally recognized social entrepreneur, consultant, and leader with a lifetime fellowship from Ashoka – Innovators for the Public Good. He is the Founder and CEO of DAISA Enterprises, where he specializes in supporting development of food and environmental enterprises and programs in underserved communities. In this episode, we talk about his early work advocating for migrant farm workers, his experience building community-led policy coalitions, and his current work helping entrepreneurs and mission-driven investors and funders wanting to maximize their impact.

Kiano Moju is a Kenyan/Nigerian American author, recipe developer, producer, director, and video host. In this episode, we talk about Kiano’s path to NMH, and her journey into the culinary world. We explore what inspired her to launch The Jikoni Recipe Archive, a non-profit that celebrates and documents the rich cuisine of Africa and across its diaspora, and discuss her debut cookbook, AfriCali.

Delphi Lyra '24 was a finalist for the NMH Class Orator Competition this past Spring. Her speech focused on the important history of the trees that surround Memorial Grove, situated between Alumni Hall and Ford Cottage. Delphi shares her speech with us, and talks about what inspired her to explore this significant part of Mount Hermon history, and why you are never alone when you are part of the NMH Alumni Community.

Karin Kimbrough '86 is the chief economist at LinkedIn where she leads a team of economists and data scientists that delivers research and insights from the LinkedIn Economic Graph. She previously worked as assistant treasurer at Google and as managing director and head of macroeconomic policy at Bank of America. She also served as vice president in the Markets Group of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York during the financial crisis. In this episode, we talk about her one Workjob regret, the impact the pandemic has had on women and recent graduates, and the opportunities AI holds for the future workforce.

The Honorable Valerie Jarrett '74 is Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors of the Barack Obama Foundation. She is also a Senior Distinguished Fellow at The University of Chicago Law School. She is the author of the New York Times bestselling book Finding My Voice: My Journey to the West Wing and the Path Forward, published in April 2019. Ms. Jarrett was the Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama from 2009-2017, making her the longest serving senior advisor to a president in history. She oversaw the Offices of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs and Chaired the White House Council on Women and Girls. In this episode, we talk about Valerie's long family ties to NMH, how her time at the school influenced her work in public service, her two terms serving in the Obama Administration, and what keeps her altruistic during times of divisiveness.

Tom Baxter ’59 served as a captain in the Army Corp of Engineers and Tabatha Collins ’92 served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy in the Naval Nuclear Training Command. In this episode, we talk about how their NMH education influenced their military service and about their professional pathways after serving. They also offer valuable perspectives on how to make sense of global conflicts. Have a listen!

Lío Mehiel '11 is a Puerto Rican and Greek transmasculine artist, filmmaker, and actor. Lío began their career as a professional salsa dancer and child actor on Broadway. Currently, they are best known for their performance in the feature film, MUTT by writer/director Vuk Lungulov-Klotz, for which Lío was the first trans actor to win the Special Jury Award for Best Acting at the Sundance Film Festival in 2023. As a visual artist, Lío’s work has been featured in publications such as DAZED, Hypebae, Artnet, The Art Newspaper, GayTimes, LA Weekly, and others. In this episode, we talk about their journey to NMH, growing from mistakes, and the important role art-making has in exploring one's identity.

J.D. SHIELDS is an award-winning writer and director whose television credits include EMPEROR OF OCEAN PARK (MGM+) and THE COMPANY YOU KEEP (ABC). J.D. was recipient of the 2018 HUMANITAS Carol Mendelsohn Prize College Drama Award and has participated in the Disney Writing Program, the HBOAccess Writing Program, Film Independent’s Project Involve and the AFI Directing Workshop for Women. Her short film BLUE HOUR, supported by Women In Film, had its premiere at the 2023 Brooklyn Film Festival and subsequently played at HollyShorts and the Milwaukee Short Film Fest where it won Best Film and Best Actor. In this episode, we talk about J.D.'s professional pathway, the importance of embracing change and pivots in one's career, and the impact the current strike has had on her work.

Emily Schwerin-Whyte '98 is a second-generation family owner and Co-Collaborative Executive Officer (Co-CEO) of Badger, a leading organic body and skin care company. She co-leads Badger’s strategic visioning and oversees its sales and product development. The Company has received numerous awards and recognition, including Real Leaders, New Hampshire’s Business of the Year, B Lab’s Best for the World, and landing a spot on Forbes’ Small Giants list. Emily and her Co-CEO and sister, Rebecca, are the Alnoba 2021 CEO Environmental Leadership Award recipients. In this episode, we talk about how her family's deep values informed her unique childhood, her education at NMH and beyond, and the principles and practices that drive Badger's mission.

Jenna Flateman Posner '00 is a former professional rugby athlete, a tech expert turned retailer who was just named Chief Digital Officer of Solo Brands. Previously, she served as the Chief Digital Officer at SNIPES, a successful sneaker and streetwear company. Jenna came to NMH to play ice hockey and grew into a tremendous athlete whose career continued through her college years at Wesleyan. In this episode, Jenna walks us through her incredible story of coming to NMH, the critical role sports have played in her career journey at several start-ups, and how her kids have influenced how she leads.

Judy Denison N'53 has led a remarkable life dedicated to community service and social justice. She attributes the values that have driven her dedication to her time at the Northfield School for Girls. She has been an advocate, champion, and change agent who has not been afraid to take on tough issues. Judy is also a social entrepreneur; she has founded several organizations, including Save The Mesas, the Golden Concert Choir, and, with her daughter Jean, the Belize Education Project. More recently, Judy has been a volunteer with the International Rescue Committee and is credited with obtaining furniture and household items for many refugee families resettled in Colorado since 2020.

Natascha Sherman Hess '96 is the Chef and Founder of The Ginger Pig, an award-winning pan-Asian restaurant in Denver, CO. Her passion for food has made her a highly-recognized and beloved force in the Denver culinary scene, named “Exceptional Newcomer” in 2022 from the Colorado Restaurant Association, and accolades from 5280, Thrillist, Westword, and more. You’ll also see Chef Natascha on Chopped, and Beat Bobby Flay on Food Network. In this episode, we explore Chef Natascha's unorthodox path to the culinary world, one that started with taking Chinese and playing hockey at NMH and wound its way through travels in Asia, sports broadcasting, a legal career, and back to what she always loved, cooking.

Vernon J. is the Founder of EquityCoin, the first digital token on the blockchain backed by affordable housing. Since 2005, Vernon has dedicated his life to community-building through multifamily acquisitions and asset management, facilitating over $180 million worth of real estate transactions around the United States. Giving back has always been a major part of Vernon’s career. Some of the community programs he co-founded in the last decade include Healthy NMY, Young Masterminds Initiative, NY for Seniors, Mastermind Connect, and EastNewYork.com, all of which are thriving today. In this episode, we talk with Vernon about his career in real estate and how he has leveraged blockchain technology to help solve the affordable housing crisis.

Being first in one's family to attend college is a tremendous achievement. It can also come with hurdles and challenges as one navigates that pathway without the roadmap other students have from the experiences of family members. In this episode, we talk with Rai Wilson '13 and Iiyannaa Graham-Siphanoum '17, who help us understand more deeply these journeys and how others can be stronger allies to First Gen community members. 

Rai Wilson '13 (they, them) was born and raised in Trenton, NJ. They attended NMH via the New Jersey SEEDS scholars' program, and upon graduating went to Manhattanville College. Rai self-designed a major in Youth Advocacy and completed a minor in Women's and Gender Studies. They returned to Trenton, NJ and worked with children in the Trenton, Princeton and Lawrence, NJ areas before attending Washington University School of Law. Upon graduating law school, Rai began working as an Attorney Guardian ad litem. Rai currently resides in Ohio with their fiancee and continues to practice Family Law and has begun creating the social justice vodcast, 'No Your Rights'.

Iiyannaa Graham-Siphanoum '17 is the Frederick Douglass Fellow at Western Reserve Academy (WRA), where she primarily works in the office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. At WRA, Iiyannaa serves as a dorm parent in the 9th grade girls' dorm, coaches JV volleyball, and teaches an elective on the Civil Rights movement. Iiyannaa is an alumni of Wesleyan University and the Upward Bound program, and she is passionate about fostering a community of support and belonging for people of every background.

People often associate philanthropy with asking for money. But it is so much more and plays a critically important role in how one can be a change agent in the world. In this episode, we talk with two experts in the field, Kristina Lentz Capano '85 an Jennifer Williams '87, who help us understand how we can all be philanthropic to the causes that are important to us, and how in giving of our time, treasure, talent, or knowledge we can make a huge difference in the world. 

Kristina is the Senior Director of School Development at Boston University. She has devoted her career to developing major gift programs and donors in some of the leading institutions in New England including Colby College, Harvard Medical School and Pine Street Inn. 

Jennifer is the Director of Major and Planned Gifts at NMH. She is an experienced fundraiser with a dedicated history of working with mission-driven institutions in the private secondary education and religion industries.

Fatima Saidi '13 was born in the small village of Ghazni, Afghanistan. In 1996, at the age of two, she became a refugee in Quetta, Pakistan, when her family took refuge from the Taliban. She returned to Afghanistan as a teen and with the help of a friend who knew of NMH, she applied and was accepted to the school. She went on to study at Bates College and currently serves as the Development and Relations Manager at Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition (MIRC). In this episode, we talk about her remarkable journey to NMH, the perspectives she came to understand as a student, her career path working with immigrants, the profound impact the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan has had on her family, and how it all comes back to NMH.

Michael Hardy is a founding member of the National Action Network (NAN), one of the leading civil rights organizations in the United States, where he has served as counsel to NAN and Rev. Al  Sharpton for over 25 years.  In this episode, we talk about the impact his Aunt had on his education, the influence his time in France had on his identity, and how theatre led him to a life of activism. 

Lee Moulton is a Board Director at the Uncle Nearest Venture Fund, a $50mm fund dedicated to investing in early and late stage minority-owned spirit brands. Along with his venture fund work, Lee works on eCommerce Partnerships at Google, where he focuses on the Americas region. In this episode, we explore the power and importance of using one's place of privilege to bring transformative good to the world.

Lindsay is the director of Career and Life Planning at New England College. Through her work she has developed a strong understanding of how students can make the most of college internships. She shares her advice on how to find these opportunities and how to make sure they are great experiences.

Currently a senior marketing and communications professional at The World Bank Group, Lisa shares with us her not-so linear professional journey that began with a love of languages and an inspiring teacher at NMH. Her openness to serendipity led to professional opportunities she hadn't expect and ultimately to a fantastic career in marketing and communications.

ESPN sports writer Buster Olney '82 joins us to talk about why writing is important, the role his mother played in making him a better writer, and how to tell a really good story, even if it's one about you. 

In this episode we explore how not knowing and taking risks can open up opportunities one might not have seen or considered, as well as the role mentors play in those endeavors.

Stacie Hagenbaugh, Director of Alumni Relations, sits down with Mariah and Kate to discuss finding their sense of purpose, connections to Humanities I, and doing well and doing good. 

Ray Two Hawks Watson, class of 1998, speaks with Director of Alumni Relations, Stacie Hagenbaugh. 

A conversation with Tanéyah Jolly '20 and Nashely Alvarez '19. 

Stacie Hagenbaugh, Director of Alumni Relations, speaks with Kim Mallett, class of 1985.