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Dear Trinity Alumnae and Alumni, Family and Friends,

120 years ago, Trinity’s very first graduating class—the great Red Class of 1904—marched forth from Main Hall to serve and lead in a world where women with college degrees were few in number, but mighty in their impact. This year, Trinity’s 121st graduating class—the great Red Class of 2024—follows the pathways in service and leadership blazed by those pioneer women so long ago.

As Trinity graduates have done across the last twelve decades, the Class of 2024 brings its considerable talent to communities as teachers, healthcare professionals, scientists, journalists, diplomats, business executives and nonprofit leaders. Their many professional pursuits are all rooted in Trinity’s values of service to others, integrity and commitment to social justice.

Throughout the Spring 2024 semester, examples abounded of Trinity students and faculty robustly engaged with teaching and research, internships, advocacy and scholarship across the full range of issues our graduates will encounter for decades to come. From confronting intergenerational poverty on a United Nations panel, to advocating for environmental protection for the Chesapeake Bay, from learning the fine art of diplomacy through the Model Organization of American States, to presenting research on the medical exploitation of Black women at the National Council for Undergraduate Research, Trinity scholars demonstrated their deep commitment to academic excellence and action for social justice.

This newsletter recounts just some of the remarkable achievements of today’s students and faculty at Trinity. Each generation of Trinity alumnae lived through tumultuous times, and each carried with them Trinity’s hallmark passion for developing solutions to some of the most complicated issues of human society. Our academic community today exemplifies the importance of sustaining the climate for active learning and deep engagement with the issues of the day, with vigorous advocacy and even intense debate at times, but without rancor or disruption of the fundamental life of the campus.

I hope you enjoy this report on some of the exciting work of today’s students, and know of my deep gratitude to you for your generous support of the vital mission of alma mater.

   Patricia McGuire ’74, President

Student Excellence

Trinity at the United Nations: Citizens for Global Solutions

Trinity students had an extraordinary experience spending several days in March at the United Nations as fellows with Citizens for Global Solutions. As part of their experience, they created a special panel presentation with Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur who maintain NGO status at the U.N.: “An Intergenerational Panel, Confronting Poverty Through Diverse Lenses.”

Trinity Hosts Model Organization of American States Conference

More than 200 students from across the country came to Trinity to participate in the 2024 Model Organization of American States (OAS) conference. Model OAS is a rigorous and competitive experience in which universities participate by representing countries in South, Central and North America. Trinity’s Dr. Erin Carriere-Kretschmer ‘92, Assistant Professor of Political Science, was recently named the President of the Washington Model OAS.

Trinity’s Model OAS student team representing the country of Suriname: Kayla Strong, Sircey Smith, Lexi Bernier, Skylar Blue, Cuaresma Gillard, Cinthya Calderon-Hernandez, Inari Martinez (not pictured), and Betty Seyoum (not pictured).

Solar Eclipse Viewing Party

Trinity’s Ten Years of Partnership with TheDream.US

In February, TheDream.US celebrated its tenth anniversary as an organization devoted to supporting DACA and undocumented students in college. Trinity was one of the first private colleges included in TheDream.US program, and today we celebrate the several hundred Dreamer Scholar alumnae and students who have thrived at Trinity through this program.

Karla Núñez Pérez ’24, Red Class President and President of the Butterfly Network, Trinity’s organization of undocumented students, recently wrote on LinkedIn about her experience at the Dreamers of Today Summit in Chicago where students from all over the country convened to discuss strategies for the future of undocumented students and college graduates.

10th Annual Research Day

Arbey Romero’s Spring Research Project: “(2+2)Photocyclo addition of Cyclohexene and Maleic Anhydride as a Potential Single Molecular Conductive Mechanophore

Jazmin Avila ’24, highlights the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in addressing contemporary challenges through her spring research project presentation. The project titled, “Wheeling Away the Wheelabrator,” explored the impact of the Wheelabrator, Baltimore’s waste-to-energy incinerator on air quality and public health. Jazmin’s project highlighted the complexities of pursuing profitability while safeguarding public health. Through her work, she emphasized the importance of considering the broader implications of business decisions and the need for sustainable solutions. Reflecting on her experience, Jazmin noted, “This project was truly enriching, providing me with a deeper understanding of the intersection between business and health, science, and medicine.”

11 Students Initiated into Phi Beta Kappa

School of Education Successes

Grant to Prepare Future Teachers for the D.C. Public Schools

Alumnus Receives Prestigious 2024 Teacher of the Year Award

Trinity is also celebrating with Brandon McCoy, a current master’s degree student in Trinity’s School of Education Educational Administration Program. He was selected as the recipient of the W. Edward Walter Excellence in Teaching Award and named Teacher of the Year, 2024, given by the Friendship Charter Public Schools. He was honored at a gala and received an award for this honor.

80 Teachers Enroll in Trinity Certificate Program

Trinity on the Hill

Trinity Joins Celebration on Establishment of National Women’s Colleges and Universities Day

Trinity students held a panel discussion with Speaker of the House Emerita Nancy Pelosi ’62 at the Capital regarding the relevance and importance of women’s colleges and universities. The event was coordinated by the Women’s College Coalition. Following the panel discussion, the group had a celebration on the steps of the Capital with U.S. House Appropriations Chair Kay Granger and Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro – co-sponsors of a resolution establishing National Women’s Colleges and Universities Day.

Trinity Student Advocates for Nursing Workplace Development

Also on the Hill, as part of her senior project, Adilia Sequeira ’24, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, advocated on Capitol Hill for greater funding for nursing workforce development in the United States. She presented her project, entitled “Empowering Voices: Title VIII and the Future of Nursing Education” at Trinity’s first Nursing Symposium. This year, Adilia received Trinity’s prestigious Special Service Award, and is graduating this spring.

Alumnae/i Spotlight

Kimberly Ortiz ‘22, Healthy Athletes Program Manager for Special Olympics DC

Trinity Washington University’s tradition of service is clear in the work of alumnae like Kimberly Ortiz ’22. During her time at Trinity, Kimberly pursued a Master’s in Public Health, complementing her Bachelor’s degree in Medical Sociology and Health Services. Her senior research focused on the influence of physician demographics on patients with disabilities. Kimberly utilizes her degrees to promote inclusivity and wellness for individuals with intellectual disabilities, combatting medical discrimination and challenges. Now, as the Healthy Athletes Program Manager for Special Olympics DC, Kimberly spearheaded a renewed partnership between Trinity’s School of Nursing & Health Professions and Special Olympics DC.

Clinical Mental Health Counseling Alumni Honored

During the Graduate Counseling Program’s Social Justice Forum 2024, three esteemed counseling alumni, Keith Gethers MA’18, Taylor Shiver MA ’19, and Destinee Smith MA ’20 (not pictured) were honored for their leadership of the Graduate Counseling Association. Dr. Luane Oprea noted, “Through their GCA leadership, they and their colleagues strengthened the Counseling Program’s professionalism, graduate student network, and community involvement. Keith, Taylor, and Destinee are making a world of difference as counseling alumni from Trinity Washington University.” Trinity’s Counseling Program is now CACREP-accredited and affiliated with the national counseling honor society of Chi Sigma Iota. Tau Omega Upsilon (TOU), the Trinity chapter, has replaced Trinity’s GCA.

Jamileth Mendez ’23, Environmental Justice Program at Work in the Field

The Annual Fund–the Most Valuable Gift of All!

No other giving supports so much and so many.

Your gift to the Annual Fund, of any size, addresses Trinity’s most fundamental needs and exciting opportunities. The Annual Fund provides the resources to attract and retain our excellent faculty, innovate our programs within our liberal arts tradition, fund research grants for faculty and students, expand student scholarships, and support many other essential items like new technology and student support services.

Make Your Gift to Trinity Today!

October 24 – 26, 2024

Reunion and 125th Anniversary Celebration

Register Now!

Dear Trinity Alumnae and Alumni, Family and Friends,

Is college worth it? Almost every news outlet these days seems to have a story amplifying voices that express acute criticism of higher education. Politicians, pundits, parents and the general public all have something to say on this topic. Those of us who care deeply about the critical importance of higher learning for the future of our nation and society know that we have to be more specific about the “value proposition” for our institutions.

At Trinity, we are confident, even fearless, in stating our “value proposition” for the 21st Century, linking across 125 years to the audacious vision of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in 1897: to provide a great higher education for women that builds their confidence, enlarges their intellect, strengthens their faith and moral backbone, and inspires their passion to be effective leaders for good throughout the communities they serve. In 2023, we build upon that original “value proposition” to include not only the women in our daytime undergraduate college, but also working adults in our coeducational graduate and professional programs, and ambitious high school students in our coed dual enrollment and early college programs.

The success of Trinity’s value proposition is clear in the achievements of our students and graduates across a range of majors and professional endeavors. Read on in this newsletter to learn more about the many ways in which Trinity students and graduates today exemplify the enduring value of a great Trinity education!

   Patricia McGuire ’74, President

Trinity Traditions Endure

First-year students sign the Honor Code book in Notre Dame chapel after taking the Trinity Honor Code pledge and receiving their first-year medals during New Student Convocation.

Trinity Science Majors on Summer Research Internships

Quite a few science majors spent the summer of 2023 in major research laboratories working with senior scientists as part of our undergraduate research program. Labs and projects include:

Johns Hopkins University: Seven science majors were selected in a competitive process to work in the laboratories of senior researchers at Johns Hopkins University as part of a program funded through a Sloan Foundation grant at Trinity.

• Arbey Romero, Class of 2024, Biology
• Rosa Lopez, Class of 2024, Biology
• Melanny Lopez, Class of 2025, Biology
• Evelyn Rosales, Class of 2024, Biology
• Mamalee Milton, Class of 2023, Biology
• Andrea Chavez-Romero, Class of 2023, Chemistry and Data Analytics
• Esther Nyarko, Class of 2024, Biology and Data Analytics

Mayo Clinic: Yesica Tumax (pictured left) is a senior majoring in Biochemistry with a minor in Bioinformatics and Data Analytics. This summer, she was part of the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science in Florida. She wrote of her experience, “During my 10 weeks [at the Mayo Clinic] I worked in a Neuroscience Cancer lab with a graduate student as my mentor. We looked at how radiating glioblastoma cells affected the extracellular vesicles. I had a lot of fun networking and learning new lab skills, such as cell culturing and nanosight tracking. I am so grateful that Trinity taught me many useful lab skills that I was able to use during my internship.”

Nuclear Nonproliferation Fellowship

Oluwafunmilayo “Funmi” M. Ayodeji, Class of 2023 summa cum laude in Political Science, earned a prestigious fellowship to the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey in California.

Funmi writes about her fellowship: “My independent project focused on the intersection of human rights and nuclear disarmament. Specifically, I examined the human rights aspect of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons is important because it attempts to set a norm that nuclear weapons are unacceptable…My independent project aimed to investigate how human rights can be incorporated into nuclear disarmament discussions…I plan to expand my independent research in law school and get it published.”

Catholic University: Luce Scholars Micheyla Stoney (right), senior Forensic Science major, and Qabso Qinati, senior Biochemistry major, joined Dr. Jandro Abot’s materials engineering laboratory at Catholic University. Dr. Abot specializes in developing carbon-nanotube materials with unique electrical and sensing properties.

Purdue University, National Data Mine Program: Stephanie Matamoros, Qabso Qinati and Esther Nyarko participated in Purdue NDM coursework and training in R and Python. Onjali Mceachin, senior Math major and Data Analytics minor, conducted mathematics research during the summer and will continue an internship with the Data Mining Network.

Howard University, Pharmacology: J’Kaylah Beasley (left), junior Biology major, participated in research at Howard Pharmacology this past summer on triple-negative breast cancer cells and on slowing down Parkinson’s with nicotine.

New York University: Stephanie Matamoros is a junior majoring in Chemistry with a minor in Data Analytics. This summer she was part of the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) in Chemical Biology at New York University (NYU). At NYU, she had the opportunity to explore research in biochemistry where she was investigating the FGFR2 C382R gene phosphorylation, gaining skills working with cells and biochemistry assays.

Vernal Bioscience: Junior Florence Njoroge, Biochemistry major, participated in a summer internship in manufacturing science and analytical development.

“Ewa’s Bill” Becomes Law in Maryland!

Ewaoluwa Ogundana Obatuase, Class of 2021 summa cum laude in Political Science, completed her Master’s in Public Policy at the University of Maryland and took a position as a Higher Education Policy Analyst at the New America Foundation. She wrote a blog post when she was an intern at New America concerning the fact that Maryland, like many states, prohibited undocumented students from obtaining professional licenses to practice in fields like Nursing. As a result of her advocacy, the Maryland state assembly passed a bill granting licensure rights to undocumented persons, and Governor Wes Moore signed “Ewa’s Bill” into law on May 3, 2023.

Annual Fund – Marches toward Million Dollar Goal!

The Trinity Annual Fund raised over $950,000 last fiscal year and is reaching for $1,000,000 in total gifts for fiscal 2023-2024. Annual fund dollars are critical each year in providing student scholarships, faculty research funds, and many other essential items like new technology and program support. Please keep in mind to make your annual fund gift every year, even if you are participating in a reunion or class giving project. The Trinity Annual Fund is the cornerstone of all giving to Trinity, so please know your support, at any level, is truly appreciated.

The Trinity Annual Fund is the cornerstone of all giving to Trinity, even if you are participating in a reunion or class giving project. Your support, at any level, is truly appreciated and makes a tangible difference to our students. All the successes you see in these pages are made possible by your generosity.

Please make your Annual Fund gift today!

Trinity Environmental Science Research

Nakiah Farrell (left), senior Chemistry major, worked with Trinity Chemistry Professor Dr. Shizuka Hsieh on air quality monitoring for communities. Nakiah designed, assembled and tested an oven for preparing solid materials, so they can be used for collecting volatile organics in air. Materials prepared using Nakiah’s method were used in partnership with DC youth to identify chemicals in Brentwood near an asphalt plant, trash transfer stations, warehouses and an auto body shop.

Claudia Rosa-Rivera, junior biology major, opened the door to future student-led or course-based projects using low-cost environmental sensors. She worked independently to figure out which components to purchase, assemble a low-cost sensor to detect ethanol in air, and — with no prior coding experience — program it to output measurements that could be translated to actual concentrations.

Carla Hernandez-Guerrero, junior biology major and chemistry minor, worked on a research project comparing the diversity and abundance of aquatic microorganisms using three different methods and water samples from two different sources. Understanding how well these methods work will be used to develop labs where ENVS 101 students can use aquatic micro-organisms to develop microscopy skills, assess water quality, and see impacts of human actions on water resources.

Trinity Research Projects through the NASA DC Space Grant

Jewel Joyner, junior Biology major, worked with Luce Professor Dr. Kaitlin Wellens on a research project about the use of citizen science on student perceptions and attitudes about primate conservation.

Maria Solache-Nava (right) is a senior majoring in Biochemistry. During the summer, she learned different microbiology and biochemistry laboratory skills as she explored the efficacy of natural compounds found in herbal medicine as alternative antibacterial drugs. Her project focused on developing the methodology to test natural compounds for invitro efficacy on E.coli bacteria. She also investigated the binding of carvacrol and thymol (two natural compounds found in oregano) to A-site ribosomal RNA using fluorescence experiments.

Cecilia Rivas (left) is a junior majoring in Forensic Science. Her summer research focused on analyzing weight loss tea supplements for undeclared chemicals and caffeine using High Performance Liquid Chromatography. The methodology that was developed during the summer was written into a laboratory activity that will be used in General and Organic Chemistry this semester for students to learn more about applications of chemistry concepts on real-world applications.

Dulce Andrade-Castillo is a senior majoring in Forensic Science with a minor in Biochemistry. During the summer, Dulce developed a game-based activity for a General Chemistry laboratory where students can review concepts learned during the semester in a fun and engaging environment. She was involved in all aspects of game development. Trinity expects to implement the first version of this game, CHEM Land, in general chemistry this semester.

Young Alumnae On the Move

• Sulma Villatoro, Class of 2021 summa cum laude in Health Services is in the MBA program at the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland.
• Jennae Whitted, Class of 2023 magna cum laude in Biology has started her Ph.D. program at Rutgers.
• Cindy Mendez Hernandez, Class of 2015 in Psychology, is in the MS Program for Learning Design and Technology at the University of Maryland Global Campus and she is a Learning Experience Designer with the American College of Emergency Physicians.
• Shaundene Peart, Class of 2018 cum laude in Business, completed her MBA at the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland. Shaundene is a financial analyst with RIT International.
• Rosa Reyes, Class of 2021 magna cum laude in Health Services, earned her MA in Education and Human Development at George Washington University and founded her own wellness company Just Be Well.

Nursing and Health Professions Success!

Trinity’s Nursing Program continues to grow and enjoy tremendous success thanks to great benefactors and partners who support our students and faculty. 100% of the recent Nursing grads who took the NCLEX licensure exam in the spring passed on the first try, a tremendous achievement! And recent data from the U.S. Department of Education on the median earnings of graduates by major 4 years after graduation shows that Trinity Nursing grads earn $92,897, the highest average earnings among all of the Nursing programs in DC!

Not to be outdone by their Nursing colleagues, our students and faculty in Occupational Therapy rejoice at two very successful accreditation reviews for the OTA-Baccalaureate program and the Masters in Occupational Therapy. Both programs received full ACOTE accreditation approval.

October 26 – 28, 2023

The celebration continues as we welcome all alumnae and alumni back to campus for three days of exciting intellectual, academic, social and celebratory events! Our All- Alumnae Reunion takes place on October 26, 27 and 28 with programming for many different interests.Highlights of the full schedule include:

Thursday, October 26 — Alumnae College: Experience Trinity academics today! All alumnae are welcome to sit in on classes and engage with today’s faculty and students across a range of disciplines. The full schedule of classes is posted at www.trinitydc.edu/reunion

Thursday, October 26, 3 pm — Oppenheimer: This lecture with Global Affairs professor Allen Pietrobon will take us back to the dawn of the Atomic Age to explore the Manhattan Project and the people behind it, and the anti-nuclear activism that this birth of the “Atomic Age” spurred, based on Pietrobon’s new book, Norman Cousins: Peacemaker in the A

tomic Age.

Friday, October 27 — Symposium on Artificial Intelligence: A fantastic roster of speakers will engage in teaching about AI, debates about its benefits and risks, and discussion of its impact on everything from education to healthcare to transportation. Visit www.trinitydc.edu/reunion to register.

Friday, October 27, 5 pm — Welcome Reception in Main Hall

Saturday, October 28, 10 am — Cap & Gown Convocation in Notre Dame Chapel: celebrate with our seniors and their families and welcome alumnae to participate in this grand Trinity tradition!

Saturday, October 27, Noon — All-Alumnae Luncheon: Join classmates and friends as we celebrate reunion and salute the 50th Reunion Class of 1973!

Saturday, October 27, 4 pm — Reunion Liturgy: Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala presiding.

Saturday, October 27, 5:30 pm — Farewell Reception on the Front Lawn!

The Campaign for Alumnae Hall Progresses

Vital Support for a Vibrant Campus Center

To date, we have received nearly $10 million toward our $30 million goal for the renaissance of Alumnae Hall. As we are ever so grateful to the benefactors who have already contributed, there is still work to be done!

The plans for the newly re-imagined Alumnae Hall will transform the student/campus experience at Trinity. The vision is to establish a true campus center that is modern, functional, and as vibrant as the amazing classrooms and laboratories of the Payden Academic Center that opened in 2016. It will support all campus constituencies — resident as well as commuter students, faculty and staff, alumnae and alumni, visitors, and conference guests.

Funding for this key institutional priority will ensure that Alumnae Hall becomes the campus center our students and Trinity family so deserve.

To learn more please contact Mr. Patrick Kellogg, Vice President for Development at KelloggP@trinitydc.edu.