BARNARD OFFICIALLY OPENS VAGELOS ALUMNAE CENTER, A GENEROUS GIFT OF DIANA T. VAGELOS '55 AND HER HUSBAND, P. ROY VAGELOS

New York, NY, October 31, 2002—More than 175 Barnard College alumnae came together on Wednesday, October 30, to toast the official opening of Vagelos Alumnae Center in the newly restored historic Deanery. Built in 1925 as part of Hewitt Hall, the Deanery was originally a duplex apartment inhabited by Dean Virginia Gildersleeve.

A generous gift from Diana T. Vagelos, a member of the class of 1955, and her husband, P. Roy Vagelos, the Center features tastefully decorated living and dining rooms where alumnae can socialize and hold meetings. Internet access is available through two computer workstations.

Students playing violins welcomed attendees, who included members of Barnard's Board of Trustees, members of the board of the Alumnae Association of Barnard College, class officers and College deans, faculty and staff.

Guests nibbled on appetizers and mingled in the Center and in a heated tent in the adjacent Reunion Courtyard. The Courtyard, which is graced with new plantings and with seating from Indonesia and Thailand, contains plaques that commemorate class gifts to The Barnard Fund.

"We are indebted to the hundreds and hundreds of alumnae who, from the very beginning, have so generously given your time, talent, and financial support to Barnard," President Judith Shapiro said in her opening remarks. "You not only helped the College survive some very tough times in its history, but have also ensured that it is thriving today-to the point where it is the most sought-after women's college in the nation."

"It is thanks to the devotion and foresight of our remarkable alumnae that Barnard continues to graduate young women who are confident, ambitious and eager to make their own contributions to society," President Shapiro said. "We are so pleased to finally have a place on campus that so beautifully recognizes the invaluable role of alumnae in the Barnard community."

"There is so much joy in having this wonderful space that you, as alumnae, can call your own," President Shapiro said. "With meetings held day and night, it is already quite a lively spot. Students and alumnae congregate here to socialize, plan and discuss in their beautiful new home."

Mrs. Vagelos worked in the College archives with Roberta Waterstone Albert '92, director of alumnae affairs; and Joan Snitzer, director of Barnard's visual arts program, to select the historical photographs that decorate the Center. "Diana was involved in the process from the very beginning," President Shapiro said. "She spent hours in the archives, studying photographs and Barnard history. She wanted the space to be invitingly elegant and to reflect the Barnard woman."

"It's really quite clear that Judith Shapiro is doing something right-more students are applying to Barnard, better students are applying to Barnard and more students are happier when they're here than ever before," Diana Vagelos said.

"This was a great project to be involved with," Mrs. Vagelos said. "We felt that this was one of the things that we could do to help students remember that they are connected to Barnard forever. If students don't remember where they came from, private institutions will not survive. We hope that the Alumnae Center will send that message to students and alumnae."

Mrs. Vagelos thanked President Shapiro; Diane Collins, the decorator; Donald Glassman, the College archivist; Roberta Waterstone Albert; the architect, Peter Gilsolfi of Peter Gilsofi Associates; and Joan Snitzer. "It's wonderful to help out when you're still around to see what happens," Vagelos added.

Mr. and Mrs. Vagelos were joined by two daughters, two granddaughters, two sons-in-law, her sister, her best man and his wife, two nieces, a nephew-in-law, and one of her daughter's in-laws. The family has many connections to Columbia, through both undergraduate and graduate degrees, Mrs. Vagelos said.

"We are delighted to have this home for alumnae on Barnard's campus, where alumnae can continue to connect to Barnard, to each other and to students," Roberta Waterstone Albert said.

All of the College's 29,000-plus alumnae belong to the Alumnae Association of Barnard College, which alumnae set up in 1895 to support the College.

Contact: Petra Tuomi, Office of Public Affairs, 212-854-7907
Roberta Waterstone Albert, Alumnae Affairs, 212-854-2005