The Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program supports increased diversity in the faculty ranks of institutions of higher learning. This goal is achieved by identifying and supporting students of great promise and helping them to become scholars of the highest distinction. Bryn Mawr is proud to have been a Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship institution since the beginning.

“A vibrant and dynamic democracy requires an educated, engaged, and informed citizenry. …. intentional programs designed to promote diversity are needed to maximize the development of talent, encourage full participation, and secure the benefits of democracy. We remain committed to both diversity and democracy. — Earl Lewis, former president, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

Mary Patterson McPherson ’69 is President Emeritus of Bryn Mawr College (President 1978 – 1997), former Vice President of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation (1997 – 2007); and Executive Officer Emeritus of the American Philosophical Society (2007 – 2012). She received her AB and LLD from Smith College, an MA from the University of Delaware and a PhD from Bryn Mawr College. McPherson holds numerous honorary degrees. Before joining Bryn Mawr College as an assistant and fellow in the department of philosophy in 1961, she was an instructor in philosophy at the University of Delaware (1959-1961). At Bryn Mawr she served as assistant dean of the college (1964-1968), associate dean and lecturer in philosophy (1969-1970), dean of the undergraduate college, deputy to the president and associate professor of philosophy (1970-1978).

She currently serves on the board of directors of the Consortium for History of Science, Technology, and Medicine; the Philadelphia Museum of Art; and the Lepage Center for History in the Public Interest, at Villanova University. She has also served previously on the boards of numerous other institutions, organizations, and companies, including Amherst College, Smith College Central European University; The Agnes Irwin School; Shipley School; The Brearley School; and Exeter Academy; the Spencer Foundation; the Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation; JSTOR; The Brookings Institution; The National Humanities Center; The Carnegie Corporation and The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching; The Teagle Foundation; The Philadelphia Contributionship; Emeriti Retirement Health Solutions; Goldman Sachs Asset Management; and the Dayton Hudson Corporation. She is a member of The American Philosophical Society, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the trustee emerita of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens.

Rachel Jean-Baptiste ’94 is Associate Professor in the Department of History and Faculty Director of the Institute for Diversity, Equity, and Advancement at University of California Davis. Her research focuses on the history of race, citizenship, gender, sexuality, and colonialism in Francophone Africa. She is the author of Conjugal Rights: Marriage, Sexuality, and Urban Life in Colonial Libreville, Gabon and articles that have appeared in leading academic journals, including the Journal of Women’s History, Journal of the History of Sexuality, and the Journal of African History. She has also worked with K-12 schools in the USA and France and non-profit organizations in achieving diversity, equity, and global literacy goals. Jean-Baptiste is a member of the Bryn Mawr College Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellows Cohort 4.

Jomaira Salas Pujols ’13 is a doctoral candidate in the department of Sociology at Rutgers University where she studies race, place, education, and Black girlhood. At the intersection of youth work and research, her work has been funded by the National Science Foundation and the Ford Foundation. Pujols, a Posse scholar, majored in sociology and minored in education. She also served as a Young Alumna Trustee from 2016-2019 and co-chaired the board’s working group on diversity, equity, and inclusion. She will join the faculty at Bard College as an Assistant Professor of Sociology in fall 2022.  Pujols is a member of the Bryn Mawr College Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellows Cohort 22.

Danielle Carr Ramdath is a native of Washington, D.C. Ramdath earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Beloit College and her doctorate in mathematics from Duke University. As a National Science post-doctoral fellow, Danielle studied at the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences at New York University. She then began her teaching career as an Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Bryn Mawr College. From 1999 to 2007, Ramdath served as a Program Officer in Higher Education at The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Her duties included program development in the Liberal Arts College program area as well as directing the Historically Black Colleges and Appalachian Colleges program areas. From 2007 to 2020, Ramdath served as the Associate Dean of the Faculty, Director of Graduate Programs and Associate Dean of the College at Smith College. On October 15, 2020, Danielle assumed the role of Senior Associate Dean for Academic Engagement at Williams College. Danielle has one daughter (a softball player) in high school and loves to walk her dog.

Mary Patterson McPherson ’69 is President Emeritus of Bryn Mawr College (President 1978 – 1997), former Vice President of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation (1997 – 2007); and Executive Officer Emeritus of the American Philosophical Society (2007 – 2012). She received her AB and LLD from Smith College, an MA from the University of Delaware and a PhD from Bryn Mawr College. McPherson holds numerous honorary degrees. Before joining Bryn Mawr College as an assistant and fellow in the department of philosophy in 1961, she was an instructor in philosophy at the University of Delaware (1959-1961). At Bryn Mawr she served as assistant dean of the college (1964-1968), associate dean and lecturer in philosophy (1969-1970), dean of the undergraduate college, deputy to the president and associate professor of philosophy (1970-1978).

She currently serves on the board of directors of the Consortium for History of Science, Technology, and Medicine; the Philadelphia Museum of Art; and the Lepage Center for History in the Public Interest, at Villanova University. She has also served previously on the boards of numerous other institutions, organizations, and companies, including Amherst College, Smith College Central European University; The Agnes Irwin School; Shipley School; The Brearley School; and Exeter Academy; the Spencer Foundation; the Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation; JSTOR; The Brookings Institution; The National Humanities Center; The Carnegie Corporation and The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching; The Teagle Foundation; The Philadelphia Contributionship; Emeriti Retirement Health Solutions; Goldman Sachs Asset Management; and the Dayton Hudson Corporation. She is a member of The American Philosophical Society, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the trustee emerita of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens.

Rachel Jean-Baptiste ’94 is Associate Professor in the Department of History and Faculty Director of the Institute for Diversity, Equity, and Advancement at University of California Davis. Her research focuses on the history of race, citizenship, gender, sexuality, and colonialism in Francophone Africa. She is the author of Conjugal Rights: Marriage, Sexuality, and Urban Life in Colonial Libreville, Gabon and articles that have appeared in leading academic journals, including the Journal of Women’s History, Journal of the History of Sexuality, and the Journal of African History. She has also worked with K-12 schools in the USA and France and non-profit organizations in achieving diversity, equity, and global literacy goals. Jean-Baptiste is a member of the Bryn Mawr College Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellows Cohort 4.

Jomaira Salas Pujols ’13 is a doctoral candidate in the department of Sociology at Rutgers University where she studies race, place, education, and Black girlhood. At the intersection of youth work and research, her work has been funded by the National Science Foundation and the Ford Foundation. Pujols, a Posse scholar, majored in sociology and minored in education. She also served as a Young Alumna Trustee from 2016-2019 and co-chaired the board’s working group on diversity, equity, and inclusion. She will join the faculty at Bard College as an Assistant Professor of Sociology in fall 2022.  Pujols is a member of the Bryn Mawr College Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellows Cohort 22.

Danielle Carr Ramdath is a native of Washington, D.C. Ramdath earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Beloit College and her doctorate in mathematics from Duke University. As a National Science post-doctoral fellow, Danielle studied at the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences at New York University. She then began her teaching career as an Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Bryn Mawr College. From 1999 to 2007, Ramdath served as a Program Officer in Higher Education at The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Her duties included program development in the Liberal Arts College program area as well as directing the Historically Black Colleges and Appalachian Colleges program areas. From 2007 to 2020, Ramdath served as the Associate Dean of the Faculty, Director of Graduate Programs and Associate Dean of the College at Smith College. On October 15, 2020, Danielle assumed the role of Senior Associate Dean for Academic Engagement at Williams College. Danielle has one daughter (a softball player) in high school and loves to walk her dog.

Annual Meeting of the Bryn Mawr Club of New York City (Tuesday, May 25th at 7:00 PM)

Please join the Bryn Mawr Club of New York City for its 2021 Annual Meeting, on Tuesday, May 25th, at 7:00 PM, via Zoom teleconference. The few minutes of business to be conducted consists of a short report on the Club’s activities by the President of the Club, the Treasurer’s Report, recognition of service of Nancy Kirk ’59/’60 and Nicole Huynh ‘06, and the election of Club Officers and Board Members.

The Annual Meeting will be followed by a presentation on the 30th anniversary of the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowships, by President Emeritus Mary Patterson McPherson Ph.D. ’69; Rachel Jean-Baptiste ’94, Associate Professor of History, UC Davis; Jomaira Salas Pujols ’13, doctoral candidate Rutgers University; and Danielle Carr Ramdath, Senior Associate Dean of Academic Engagement, Williams College and former Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Bryn Mawr.

Nominations for 2021 Annual Meeting

The officers and members in bold are nominated for the following positions:

Support the Club with your Annual Membership DUES by clicking on the RSVP link. Dues help support lively programming to connect and celebrate Bryn Mawr alums. If you are not able to attend by Zoom but want the Annual Meeting proxy voting form, click HERE.

WHAT: Bryn Mawr Club of NYC 2021 Annual Meeting via Zoom.

WHEN: Tuesday, May 25th, 2021 at 7:00 PM.

WHERE: Please RSVP HERE. A Zoom Link will be provided upon registration and closer to the date.

HOW MUCH: While the Annual Meeting is free, we encourage you to renew your membership at this time. Tickets for the program and for membership are greatly appreciated and support programing for alums.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: brynmawrclubnyc@gmail.com