Presenting the 12th Annual Jewell Robinson Dinner

Greetings, fellow Goucher Alumnae/i!

My name is Jesse J. Holland Jr. MFA '12, and I'll be your host at the annual Jewell Robinson Dinner this year on Friday, February 23.

Being a proud graduate of Goucher College, on the board of the AAGC, and a current faculty member in the Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Nonfiction program, I'm back on campus quite often, and can see how much our beloved school is evolving with a new curriculum, new buildings, and a new attitude. But amid all of this change there are some things about Goucher that will always endure: the love of its graduates for our college, and the desire to celebrate the works of those who have brought honor to it.

And the Jewell Robinson Dinner is a perfect example of this, with its focus on Jewell, the first African American student admitted to Goucher College, and the annual Marguerite Barland ’60 Merit Award recipient.

The Marguerite Barland ‘60 Merit Award is an annual award that goes someone who has significantly contributed to the diversity of our campus community through leadership—as a mentor, role model, volunteer, or philanthropic supporter of the college. And I can tell you what an honor it is to receive this award, because I was the lucky recipient last year. I was walking through the Alumni/Alumnae House recently and I saw that great quilt on the wall. I swelled with pride all over again!

This year, the award goes to Altomease Rucker Kennedy ’71, a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Sanford Heisler Sharp, LLP. In addition to her high-powered legal career and other charitable work, Altomease has worked tirelessly for Goucher as a former member of the Board of Trustees. She epitomizes Goucher's motto of Grace and Truth, and she is well deserving of this recognition.

In-Person and Virtual Registrations are now closed.

And keep working for the honor of our beloved Goucher!  

Yours in Service,

Jesse J. Holland MFA ’12
Alumnae & Alumni of Goucher College