Going for Gold

Graduates of the Last Decade (GOLD) are annual events hosted by AAVC, which engages alumnae/i from the last decade (currently the classes of 1998 to 2008) to enhance their connection to the college.

“When planning the GOLD panel discussions I envisioned alumnae/i would find them to be informative and might come away having received accurate and helpful information from their peers. All of my expectations were surpassed and these types of networking events are great to gain insider information. This year our panelists were fairly easy to find as Melissa Walker, one of the publishing panelists contacted me with the idea. The Boston Law Panel was inspired by the new program Law Day, which AAVC will be hosting in the fall. The law panelists wanted a trial-run in Boston prior to the coming event. I hope to continue these types of GOLD panels in the future. If you have any ideas please contact me.”
—Mariah Moody, Assistant Director of Alumnae/i Relations for Programs

This year AAVC hosted GOLD parties in three different cites: New York, Los Angeles, and Boston. Formerly a social networking opportunity, we refocused the GOLD events to become a career networking opportunity. In its new format, AAVC has hosted two panels, the first on April 16th in New York and the second on May 14th in Boston.

l to r: Ruff, Stewart, Walker, McMasters

The AAVC GOLD event in New York was a publishing panel with four young alumnae/i: Veronika Ruff ’01, an editor for Rodale and a freelance writer who worked for such magazines as Rosie and the Vassar Quarterly; Melissa Walker ’99; a freelance writer who worked for ElleGirl and is currently working on her own book; Kelly McMasters ’98, a freelance writer who worked for WWD (Women’s Wear Daily) and is currently on a blog tour across cyberspace; and Doug Stewart ’93, a literary agent. They shared their experience and advice with the more than 20 eager alumnae/i and current students who attended this intimate and informative event.

The AAVC GOLD event in Boston was targeted to all those aspiring to a legal career, whether they are in law school, thinking about law school, or just starting out. The panelists included Isaac Fine ’98, an associate at Palmer & Dodge LLP; Eric Parker ’83, partner and co-founder of Parker Scheer LLP; C. Forbes Sargent III ’82, partner at Sherin & Lodgen LLP; and Susan Crane ’80, who has her own practice.

Both GOLD events were well attended, and we look forward to continuing to expand this program with the help of our regional clubs in its new format to the benefit of our young alumnae/i.