2017-2018

MHC NorCal Board

Hannah Groce, Co-President (East Bay - Alameda)

Hannah attended Mount Holyoke at the urging of her aunt Onie Bussey '84, and is eternally grateful for the bond that their shared alma mater created. Post graduation she began her career as a program manager at college access nonprofit, before transitioning to business development roles. She has been involved with the club as a member since about 2009, and joined the board for the first time informally 3 years ago as the admissions liaison, before becoming an official board member. She's looking forward to serving as Co-President with Eva, and continuing her work as the Alumna Admissions Representative for the East Bay where she gets to meet many of the brilliant applicants to MHC. Her favorite club tradition is the Mary Lyon Tea because it falls around her birthday in February and she is a tea lover. Her favorite MHC tradition would either be Mountain Day or Strawberries & Champagne.

Eva Visscher-Simon ‘06, Co-President (North Bay - Corte Madera)

After several years living in Amsterdam, Eva moved to the Bay Area in 2015.  Not wanting to miss a moment with the amazing MHC alumnae community she took the opportunity to run for a board seat as soon as she could. The Mount Holyoke network is an incredible one and she’s excited to help continue to foster and build relationships through the club.  Eva works at the Berkeley-Haas Center for Responsible Business and puts on lots of interesting, timely and free events which she encourages alums to also join. Her favorite club experience thus far has been kayaking/paddleboarding.  Her favorite MHC tradition is elfing- it’s a tradition that keeps going and it was so fun to elf the kitchen staff of Wilder her first year at MHC. She was even elfed on the morning of her wedding.  

Verity Chegar ‘00, Treasurer (SF - Dolores Park)

Verity currently serves on the board of the Alumnae Club of Northern California as treasurer. Verity is also a member of the Alumnae Association’s Internal Achievement Awards Committee. She was previously president of the club, which she joined in 2003 as young alumnae chair after volunteering for admissions as an alumnae representative for the Bay Area. She received the Young Alumna Volunteer Leadership Award in 2006. Verity’s favorite club events are those where local alumnae share their expertise, such as the San Francisco Parklet Tour and the Passion and Possibility in Life and Work Summit.

Hannah Fairbanks ‘03, Membership Chair (SF - Inner Sunset)

As a young alum, Hannah Fairbanks (Kornfeld) ’03 was active in the NorCal Club as Secretary and Newsletter Editor before taking a break from the Club to attend graduate school--receiving an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of San Francisco in 2008--get married, and have two daughters. She is now working as a freelance writer in San Francisco and was thrilled to reconnect with current alumnae at the 2017 Mary Lyon Tea, and has rejoined the Club Board as Membership Chair. She is looking forward to meeting existing Club members as well as welcoming and cultivating new ones.

Jill Abelson ‘85, Events Co-Chair (North Bay - Mill Valley)

From the griffin Class of 1985, I was a Poly Sci major/French minor + true to MHC form moved straight to Washington DC after graduation to kick start my career in environmental policy + communications. I was active in the DC club and other pursuits (art, dance, yoga) in addition to working F/T for Greenpeace and, for many years, U.S. EPA.  In 2009, we moved to SF to continue work focused on the environment and climate change. I've been with Ketchum West for 4 years, working on sustainability communications for Nestle; I also love + teach yoga in the Bay area.   My husband Jeff (SUNY Albany/UNC Chapel Hill) and I live in Marin with our 2 cats, Panda and Mookie.  

Jessica Fajardo, Communications Co-Chair

Stephanie Corrales ‘16, Communications Co-Chair (North Oakland - Temescal/Rockridge)

Steph is a young alum from the class of 2016. Originally from Miami, she moved her life across the country to pursue a career in User Experience Design (and is seeking mentorship!). Her favorite Moho memories include painting and printmaking all night in the art building, noticing the light on the snow during her walk home to the Rockies after spending all night in the art building, and living within a mile of all her friends and the art building.

Nancy Kenyon ‘56, General Board Member (San Francisco - Haight Ashbury)

Born on a farm in NJ.  Married and had 3 children in NJ.  Moved to CA in 1979 with my son.  Through luck and fun, I now own a 1900 Victorian house in the Haight Ashbury - still can’t believe it!  Worked as Director of a Fair Housing organization (we opposed housing discrimination) in Marin County); now retired - love this neighborhood.  Also loved my MH years and knowing its wonderful graduates in the Bay Area!

Clover Sellden ‘08, General Board Member (San Francisco - Inner Richmond)

Clover is a native to Mill Valley, CA. She joined the Northern California Club after finishing her M.Sc. and moving back to the Bay Area in 2012. Clover is the Communications Chair for the club and enjoys reaching out to alums and making sure everyone is invited to participate in club events. As a first year, she remembers the impact attending the Fog to Foliage event for the accepted students send off had on her, and is excited to help make sure students and alums feel connected on the other coast!

Rhonda Bennon ‘73, General Board Member (as of January 2018)