Class Note 1996
The spring of 2019 has been awash with exciting achievements for multiple members of the class of 1996 across many spectra.
To begin, our own Jacquelyn Chappel exhibited at AERA Toronto in April, where she was promoting her recently published book, Engendering Cosmopolitanism Through the Local: Engaging Students in International Literature Through Connections to Personal Experience and Culture. Her work presents a “critique of multicultural education” in which she argues modern education does a “disservice by imparting lessons in international culture and history through multiculturalism, which can perpetuate insularity even as it claims to promote global coverage.” Jacquelyn completed her Ph.D. in curriculum studies at the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 2017, and has most recently been teaching at Kapiolani Community College in Honolulu.
Making big waves of her own was Betsy Miller, who on April 18 was keynote speaker at Tuck’s Women Symposium. Betsy, who is a partner at Cohen Milstein in Washington, D.C. (and co-chair of the firm’s public client practice), spoke on topics of authentic leadership and inspiring tomorrow’s leaders. Shervyn von Hoerl was able to attend the session, where he summarized Betsy as handling the speech “like a [expletive redacted for family friendly reading] boss!” As co-chair of the public client practice, Betsy represents state attorneys general in enforcement investigations and litigation that protect government interests and vulnerable communities against consumer and healthcare fraud. In particular, she has played a major role in promoting national opioids litigation against manufacturers and distributors of prescription narcotics. She was recently honored by the National Law Journal as one of nine “Elite Women of the Plaintiff’s Bar.” Trial Lawyer Magazine has also named her as one of America’s “50 Most Influential Trial Lawyers.” As if not busy enough, Betsy has also served since 2001 as an adjunct professor at Georgetown Law School, where she teaches courses on negotiation and mediation.
In other exciting classmate news, Gwyn Prentice has been making some equally impressive waves this year. Her company, Helen Jon, unveiled a dual swim collection with Draper James (a brand founded by actress Reese Witherspoon). Gwyn and her partner, Missy Neville, founded the company in 2012 with the intent of creating sophisticated and flattering swimwear designs for women. The joint collection features 20 designs that include everything from swimwear to beachside dresses. It “presents a modern twist on timeless style” and features Draper James’ “signature Southern aesthetic” paired with the “classic design and supportive fit” of the Helen Jon brand. Reese Witherspoon herself stated, “We are thrilled to offer this staple [for our customers] with Helen Jon, a brand known for its excellent quality and fit.”
Lastly, a salute to two ’96s completing graduate degrees many years removed from our time in Hanover. Holly Parker met the day of her Ph.D. dissertation defense (in public policy and educational leadership) at the University of Southern Maine with both aplomb and hilarity. She started that day with a Facebook post asking, “How much coffee is too much coffee on dissertation defense day?” She then concluded her day with a photo that suggested, “So that giddy look says, ‘Somehow, I just convinced these three people to give me a Ph.D.’ ” Congrats, Dr. Parker!
Our other pending ’96 graduate is actually me (Garrett Gil de Rubio). As I write this column, I am mere hours away from completing the final exam in completion of my M.B.A. at Auburn University. I can assure you it has been no easy feat given a demanding full-time job, a busy family life, and with 20 years removed from the world of academia—but with graduation mere days away, it is done!
—Garrett Gil de Rubio, 1062 Middlebrooke Drive, Canton, GA 30115; ggdr@alum.dartmouth.org
