Dear Supporters:

By now you have undoubtedly received Tulane University’s very expensive four-color glossy “brochure” outlining its position on the lawsuit to restore Newcomb College.

While The Future of Newcomb College, Inc. cannot afford to produce a similar brochure – nor would we find it ethical to spend our limited resources (for which we owe you our thanks) on a slick propaganda publication such as that – our board believes Newcomb College alumnae and supporters need to understand that Tulane’s clever “wordsmithing” has distorted the truth about Mrs. Newcomb’s intent, the state of Newcomb College prior to the university’s decision to dissolve it, and the status of the new lawsuit to restore Newcomb College. (The new action, Montgomery v. Tulane, has been filed by Mrs. Susan Henderson Montgomery, a great, great grand niece of Mrs. Newcomb, who fits the Louisiana Supreme Court’s definition of “successor” and who is dedicated to ensuring that Tulane honors the intent of Newcomb’s founding benefactor.)

Below are the facts:

Tulane’s Version of the Truth: Mrs. Newcomb did not impose any conditions upon Tulane as to how it should further the higher education of women.

The Truth: Mrs. Newcomb’s bequest was subject to both a condition and a charge, or an expectation of performance. When she made her bequest, Mrs. Newcomb made it clear that her intent was for Tulane to use her donations “in establishing the H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College [not Institute] … for the higher education of … girls and young women” and “for the present and future development” of Newcomb College.

What Tulane Says: The Newcomb endowment was created by Tulane.

The Truth: Tulane did not donate the Newcomb endowment. Instead, in 1923, the university took money that Mrs. Newcomb had restricted in her will and used it as the basis for the H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial Fund, designated as funds “functioning as endowment.” Between 1974 and 1979, Tulane University continued to take and use the funds intended to maintain and support Newcomb College because the university had “financial needs.” By 1996, Tulane returned more than $15 million in Newcomb-designated money that it had taken in the 1970s. (See “Endowing Newcomb Forever” on on the upper right corner of this page.) This was money repaid, not money donated as endowment.

What Tulane Says: Today, the Newcomb endowment funds provide the programs of the H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College Institute.

The Truth: That is true and it is beside the point. The H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College Institute is not a college. It is an umbrella organization with no academic standing at the university, no dean, no degrees, no advisors, no campus, no student body, and no alumnae association, and the endowment funds were intended for the support of Newcomb COLLEGE and not the Newcomb Institute. Tulane is overstepping its authority in using the funds for this purpose.

What Tulane Says: Degrees have always been awarded by Tulane University.

The Truth: This is yet another example of the deceptive use of semantics by Tulane. Newcomb College graduates received a degree that was granted by Tulane University for fulfilling the requirements of the H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College or on the recommendation of the Newcomb College faculty. The diplomas were signed by the dean of Newcomb College. The H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial Institute has no degree requirements, nor faculty, nor a dean, because it exists in name only.

What Tulane Says: Newcomb College classes became coed in 1972.

The Truth: Newcomb College students had been able to attend Tulane University classes and vice versa for many decades. The faculties were not combined until the late 1980s. After the faculties were combined, however, the Tulane Board of Administrators passed a resolution reaffirming the unique and historic mission of Newcomb College.

Here is the language, from 1987:

“The Board of Administrators of the Tulane Educational Fund hereby affirms that Newcomb College has been, is now, and will continue to be a viable and vital college of Tulane University. Newcomb has a special mission to educate women; this will continue to be its primary goal. In order to ensure the integrity of this mission, Newcomb College will continue to function as a distinct collegial entity within the University. It will retain a separate clearly defined identity comprising features that enable and enhance the fulfillment of its academic mission and are consonant with the goals of the University.”

The fact that Tulane and Newcomb shared faculties is not relevant to the donor intent litigation involving Newcomb College.

What Tulane Says: Tulane is an attractive destination for women students.

The Truth: Many universities, including Tulane, are attractive destinations for women today, but that is irrelevant. When Tulane University officials voted to dissolve Newcomb College on December 8, 2005, Newcomb College was an especially attractive destination for women because of its unique position as a women’s coordinate college. In fact, more than 2,300 women had chosen to enroll in and were attending Newcomb College at the time.

What Tulane Says: Newcomb College was not financially self-sufficient.

The Truth: When Tulane University dissolved Newcomb, the college’s endowment was worth more than $45 million. Had the university properly managed the monies donated by Mrs. Newcomb – rather than raiding the funds during the 1970s – the endowment would have been worth much more. Besides, the Tulane administration has maintained consistently throughout this controversy - until now that is - that there was no financial reason to dissolve Newcomb.

Next Steps: Tulane says that three courts have ruled in its favor. While we can quibble with Tulane’s premature “victory” count, the important fact is that the Louisiana Supreme Court overruled the lower courts and made it clear that Louisiana state law supports efforts by donors’ “successors” to enforce the terms and conditions of their predecessors’ designated gifts. No Louisiana court has ruled yet on whether such conditions or charges were imposed on Tulane in Mrs. Newcomb’s will. The Civil District Court will rule on this substantive matter of law when it hears the newly filed Montgomery v. Tulane case.

We believe this ruling will not go well for Tulane, because the judge who will be hearing the Montgomery case already has ruled that “a clear reading of Mrs. Newcomb’s will shows that she intended for Tulane … to use the balance of her estate to maintain a women’s higher education college.”

All of the legal “stars” are now aligned for a successful resolution to the fight to return Newcomb College to its proper standing as a full, degree-granting college within Tulane University. Glossy sales brochures notwithstanding, we are confident that the alumnae and supporters of Newcomb College will prevail.

Sincerely,

The Board of The Future of Newcomb College, Inc.

Last week, TFONC announced the celebration of NEWCOMB FLAG DAY on November 9th to recognize the day on which Tulane and Mrs. Newcomb agreed for Newcomb College to be established within Tulane University for the education of women in memory of Mrs. Newcomb’s daughter, Sophie. We encourage all of our readers and supporters to fly the Newcomb Lives Flag on November 9th, not just to celebrate Newcomb’s founding, but also to demonstrate our determination to re-establish Newcomb as an integral part of Tulane’s future as well as its past. Newcomb College always made Tulane special and set it apart among its peers, and it will again!

If you do not have a Newcomb Lives Flag, you can purchase one for just $25 online by clicking the flag photo on the right. Do it NOW so you will have your flag in time to fly it high on November 9th. Make your own flag and fly it high! With or without an actual flag, do something special on November 9th in celebration of Newcomb’s birth. Remember, take a photo of you, family and friends flying your flag or celebrating wherever you are and send it to info@newcomblives.com so we can capture the celebration on our website.

TFONC NEWS & NOTES

VANCE LYNNE SCHULTZ, M.A., N ’58, writes: I have lived in the Lake Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico area for about 6 years, having continued to teach, at several schools, after a long stateside career in New Orleans, Texas and Oklahoma. Currently, I tutor privately and teach Prepa level English and Social Studies in English at Instituto Loyola, and also volunteer for an English class at a new Christian school in the area.

Although Homecoming was officially celebrated three weeks ago, the Class of ’53 did their own thing (why should we not be surprised that Newcomb grads are independent-minded). BABS BARTLETT HADDAD, of Lookout Mountain, TN, and CYNTHIA MILLER FARBER, of Atlanta, GA, 1953 class agents, submitted the following report, which resonates for us all, without regard to the year of our graduation. For those of you who had to miss your reunion this year or who are looking forward to next year, this is synopsis of the special time they spent with each other. We are sure that Babs and Cynthia will make available a more detailed summary of their reunion to their classmates who were unable to attend.

Seventeen members of the Newcomb class of 1953 held their 55th reunion in New Orleans on the weekend of October 24-26, to celebrate not only Newcomb College and the education it provided for us, but also to acknowledge the wonderful friendships born many years ago that are still maintained to this day. It was a wonderful occasion!

From the initial cocktail buffet hosted by Barbara Cohn Marcus in her lovely home as a gift to the class, to a luncheon at Ralph’s on the Park at which Margaret Kelly, N’58, explained the progress of the new lawsuit, which resulted in an enlightened discussion and an agreement by the class to make a contribution to TfoNC, class members reveled in being together again and sharing life experiences that provided laughter and tears and a remembrance of 60 deceased members.

After the luncheon and the next day, separate groups took a tour of Katrina damaged areas of New Orleans, spent a day in the French Quarter enjoying the food and art that make New Orleans so special, took a Mississippi river boat cruise or visited the National WW II Museum. One group went to the old Newcomb campus to see what the Newcomb Institute is all about. Well, it may be housed in the Dean’s Residence, but it is NOT Newcomb College and IN NO WAY can it replace it.

As we parted, we noted that our hugs were stronger, realizing that some of us may not be here for a 60th reunion. However, our memories of a wonderful College and the great friendships that began there will always be with us. It is so important now for all of us to give to TFONC so that donor intent may succeed. Mrs. Newcomb gave her money as a memorial to her daughter - the establishment of the women’s college that was a tremendous success as a coordinate college of Tulane for 120 years! Tulane agreed to maintain it in perpetuity, and we must see that Tulane does just that!

In 1886, Josephine Louise Newcomb wrote a letter to the Board of Administrators of Tulane University to indicate her “design” to donate $100,000 to establish within Tulane University the H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College for women as an “appropriate and lasting memorial” to her daughter.

On November 9, 1886, the Tulane Board of Administrators literally wrote the text of Mrs. Newcomb’s letter into its minutes and accepted both Mrs. Newcomb’s contribution and her conditions for establishing Newcomb College. With this acceptance, Newcomb College was officially established almost 122 years ago by the mutual agreement between Mrs. Newcomb and the Tulane Board.

As we endeavor to re-establish Newcomb College, we take pride in declaring November 9th as “Newcomb Flag Day” in honor of Newcomb’s founding and of Mrs. Newcomb’s vision. To quickly spread the word of the inauguration of this new tradition around the globe, we ask all readers of The DaisyChain to fly their Newcomb Lives flags on November 9th.

If you do not have one, click on the flag photo on the right, and order your Newcomb Lives Flag for $25. Fly your flag high in one of your favorite places on or before November 9th. Take a picture of your flag waving, and send it to us at info@newcomblives.com. We will post all submitted photos on the website for the world to see our global celebration of Newcomb Flag Day!

For years to come, we will fly the flag for Newcomb Flag Day on every November 9th to celebrate the founding of Newcomb. After Newcomb College has been revived, we will look back at our 2008 photos with pride and nostalgia for what we started in honor of Mrs. Newcomb’s gift.

FUNDRAISING IS THE LIFEBLOOD OF OUR MISSION — PLEASE MAKE A CONTRIBUTION NOW TO MEET IMMEDIATE NEEDS!

It bears repeating: WE MUST HAVE FUNDS TO SUCCEED IN REACHING OUR GOAL TO SAVE NEWCOMB! Our fundraising has exceeded all expectations, but we cannot rest until we have crossed the finish line. We need funds NOW in order to move forward with Montgomery v. Tulane. Litigation costs money. A check in the same amount as your last pair of shoes, or your last dinner out, or your last trip abroad will be most appreciated! And remember, it all counts toward our Major Donor Campaign. See www.newcomblives.com for details.

TFoNC NEWS & NOTES

PAT SCHONWALD, the mother of a Beth Schonwald, N’06, wrote from Oklahoma City to express her support for the efforts to save Newcomb. Pat knows the value of her daughter’s Newcomb education and wishes the same for other young women. Believing that Tulane made a big mistake in dissolving Newcomb, she backs the position of “NO NEWCOMB, NO MONEY.” ART HURME in the Washington, D.C., area concurs and emphasized in his note, “Only an H. Sophie Newcomb undergraduate degree-granting college for women would be consistent with Mrs. Newcomb’s wishes.”

JANET ZERLIN FAGAN, N’77, a second-generation Newcomb woman, interviewed her mother, 79-year-old Helen Zerlin Sperling, about her experience evacuating New Orleans during Katrina. Janet recently posted the interview on the website “Katrina’s Jewish Voices,” which was created by the Jewish Women’s Archives in Brookline, MA, and the Institute of Southern Jewish Life. Helen’s poignant and often humorous story, and those of many others, may be found on the website of the Jewish Women’s Archives: www.jwa.org. Feel free to write to Janet at jzfagan@aol.com with questions or comments.

ANNE HADLEY BEHREND, N’53, of Lynchburg, Virginia, missed Homecoming because she is back in school studying for a Ph.D. in Education at Liberty University. After 25 years of teaching experience in Charlottesville, Virginia, Ann was delighted to be able to resume her goal of a doctoral degree after a move to Lynchburg.

Thanks for all of your recent news items for the News and Notes section of the DaisyChain and also for the responses we have been receiving for our articles. We are eager to hear from you and to know what you are doing and what you are thinking of our efforts and progress, so that we can report them to our readers.

Send your comments and news to info@newcomblives.com. Please be sure to state that you give your permission to have your news items posted in the newsletter and on the web site.

Susan Henderson Montgomery v. Administrators of the Tulane Education Fund is the case pending in the Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans, State of Louisiana, Section I, Division B, No. 08-8619.

Mrs. Montgomery, the great, great, great niece of Mrs. Newcomb, is asking the court to enforce the terms of Mrs. Newcomb’s will and to reinstate Newcomb College as it existed before its dissolution in June 2006. In response to Mrs. Montgomery’s Petition, Tulane filed its Answer in the case on October 13, 2008. The parties are now primed for the discovery aspect of the case in advance of proceeding to trial. A date for the trial has not been set.

As previously reported, this case builds upon the precedents set in the Howard v. Tulane case. Please, refer to Legal Q&A for more details.

DONATION TIPS FOR YOU!

TFoNC exists to support the legal action that is required to “Bring Newcomb Home.” Without the contributions of our supporters, we would not be able to succeed in our mission.

We love to hear your suggestions! Two alums have offered the following creative ideas for lending support to TFoNC at this critical time:

• A ’79 Newcomb alum in Florida has set up an automatic pay plan on her credit card account so that TFoNC receives $25 each month. (Thank you!!)

• Peggy Jo Abraham, N ‘72, an executive producer for entertainment news at E! Entertainment in Santa Monica, CA, writes: “And don’t forget to remind people - when they get requests for donations for Tulane (like I did last week) they need to return an empty envelope with the words - ‘No Newcomb, No Money!’ “

As Peggy Jo reminds us, we cannot now support Newcomb College, but we can support the effort to bring Newcomb College back.

Making a contribution to TFoNC is as easy as clicking on “Donate” on the righthand side of this page.

As we enter a new phase of supporting the return of Newcomb College, we are redoubling our fundraising goals. We need your help and expertise. If you have experience in development (fundraising) or grant-writing and want to support our mission, please get in touch with us at info@newcomblives.com.

TFoNC NEWS & NOTES

TFoNC is proud to announce the election of the newest member of its Board of Directors, LAURA ANNE SPRIGGS, N ’95. Laura lives in Atlanta with her husband and 3-month-old daughter, Eleanor (“Ellie”.) Taking a leave of absence from the working world, Laura is eager to lend her time and talents in support of restoring Newcomb College to its rightful place within Tulane University. Welcome Laura! (Laura’s mom, Sara Jane Reynolds, is the Charleston painter of “Newcomb Hall, the Dawning of a New Day” that graces our website.)

The Class of ’53 held its Class Reunion in New Orleans this past week to celebrate its 55 years of friendship. In our next edition, we will bring you an update from classmates, Babs Haddad and Cynthia Farber.

On the bright and beautiful afternoon of Friday, October 3, 2008, some 60 supporters of TFoNC and of Newcomb’s future as a college within Tulane University gathered in New Orleans for the Bring Newcomb Home reception. Many were Newcomb women representing classes from 1933 to 2009, who were there to reacquaint with old friends, meet new friends from other classes, and to hear about what is happening to save Newcomb.

We thank the following alumnae for hosting a most enjoyable and informative gathering: June Roepe Aiken ’44, Anne Delery Comarda ’79, Nan Newton Cummins ’65, Winifred Kelly Delery ’49, Diana Dymond Earhart ‘63, Regan Alford Forrester ’71, Wendy Delery Hills ’75, Jane Cheney Victory Redmon ’63, DeeDee Breuer Roussel ’62, Betty Magee Schmitt ’48, Betty Barkdull Schneidau ’51, Charlotte (Bunny) Habliston Thomas ’75, and Marianna Flowers Tomeny ‘53.

Diana Earhart introduced the program, and Wendy Hills presented a fascinating account of the genealogy of Mrs. Newcomb’s family. Wendy explained the four lines of collateral descendants of Mrs. Newcomb who qualify as successors, and therefore as plaintiffs under the Supreme Court’s rule, in the lawsuits to enforce the conditions in Mrs. Newcomb’s will.

John Shreves, one of the lawyers representing the plaintiffs in the two key cases, explained the importance of the Louisiana Supreme Court’s ruling in Howard v. Tulane and its implications for the Montgomery v. Tulane case. For the first time in Louisiana history, the court ruled that successors have standing, i.e. the legal right, to bring an action regarding the obligations and charges in a predecessor’s will and to require that they be enforced.

Linda Muir emphasized our determination to bring Newcomb College home to Tulane - where it belongs - to ensure that Newcomb alumnae at future Homecomings will have a college to come home to. Tulane is our university and Newcomb is our college, and we want to be able to share homecomings at both with future generations of Newcomb graduates. Linda noted that continuing the legal action, which is necessary to restore Newcomb, will require continuing fundraising and that the Major Donor Campaign and the Thousands Upon Thousands Campaign are key to our success.

Lively discussion followed as many in attendance went shopping for their favorite NewcombLives merchandise, which is also available on our Website. Fannie Kyker, a member of the Class of ’38 from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, summed up the program by proclaiming, “Let’s put Sophie back into Newcomb!”

FROM THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

Supporters at the reception expressed anger at a letter in the New Orleans Times-Picayune from Tulane’s communications officer attacking the credibility of Mrs. Newcomb’s great, great, great nieces, plaintiffs in Howard v. Tulane. (As we have reported, plaintiffs withdrew the original lawsuit based on the Supreme Court’s definition of who has standing to enforce conditions in a testator’s will.)

On Wednesday, October 6, 2008, the Times-Picayune published the following reply from TFoNC under the headline, “Stars Align in Fight for Newcomb”:

Tulane University Vice-President Debbie Grant’s letter misconstrues the reason for the dismissal of Howard v. Tulane, the lawsuit charging Tulane with violating the intent of one of its biggest benefactors, Josephine Louise Newcomb, when it dissolved the H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College and seized its endowment.

All of the legal “stars” are now aligned for a successful resolution to the fight to bring back Newcomb College. The correct plaintiff has the legal right to enforce the clear condition on Mrs. Newcomb’s will.

HOW IS OUR FUNDRAISING?

Please, join the Thousands Upon Thousands campaign by signing up online at www.newcomblives.com.

If the latest economic news has gotten you down, look for the silver lining in the recent extension by Congress of the opportunity for those over 70 ½ to make a tax deductible contribution out of their IRA accounts again this year just as they did last year.

Raise awareness of our cause by purchasing a NewcombLives flag online at www.newcomblives.com and have your photo taken with it when you go traveling. We will feature our traveling flag in photos posted on the website. Buy your flag, take a photo, send it in, and we will build support and funds to save Newcomb!

NEWS AND NOTES

VIRGINIA LITTLEJOHN N ’63 is the president of Quantum Leaps, Inc., a non-profit organization currently focused on bringing female entrepreneurs into the mainstream of the global supply chain and building their role in the U.S. economy by the year 2020. Virginia recently delivered a presentation at the United Nations on the role of female business owners around the world in overcoming poverty and in building communities. For more information see www.quantumleapsinc.org.

Let us hear from you, too! Send your news to the following e-mail address: info@newcomblives.com.

If you plan to be at Homecoming during the weekend of October 3-5, be sure to tell all of your friends and classmates to come to the

“BRING NEWCOMB HOME” RECEPTION

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2008
3:30 – 5:30 P.M.
5005 ST. CHARLES AVENUE, corner of Robert St.

On behalf of TFONC, a group of Newcomb College alums including, June Roepe Aiken ’44, Anne Delery Comarda ’79, Nan Newton Cummins ’65, Winifred Kelly Delery ’49, Regan Alford Forrester ’71, Wendy Delery Hills ’75, Jane Cheney Victory Redmon ’63, DeeDee Breuer Roussel ’62, Betty Magee Schmitt ’48, Betty Barkdull Schneidau ’51, and Charlotte (Bunny) Habliston Thomas ’75, invite you to attend the “Bring Newcomb Home” Reception to network with fellow Newcomb alumnae and to hear more about our efforts to revive Newcomb College. Members of the TFONC Board look forward to meeting you and to telling you more about our activities and plans. Please, let us know if you will attend the reception by sending an email to info@newcomblives.com.

Responses to The DaisyChain have been great! Many alumnae have replied that they will attend the BRING NEWCOMB HOME Reception, and we hope to hear from more of you.

MARY ASHLEY GREENE OSTERHOUS, N’38, writes from Virginia Beach, VA, that she can’t make it to New Orleans for her 70th reunion, but would love to know who is still “around my class since we don’t seem to have the Newcomb alumna news any more.” (If you know any of Mary Ashley’s classmates who do not have e-mail, send a note to info@newcomblives.com, and we will put them in touch with her.)

Fallout from Hurricane Ike prevents JUDY STEWART McENANY, N ’63, from joining classmates at Homecoming. Judy is music director of Revels Houston, www.revelshouston.org, a community-based performing arts organization. Judy writes that the hurricane cut into the organization’s rehearsal schedule, so the October 3 weekend is a critical practice time. She wishes her classmates well and hopes to plan a New Orleans trip in late winter or spring.

Five months after the September 11th terrorist attacks, MADELINE JOHNSON, N ‘77, initiated and built Global Communities, an all-volunteer organization that created a global Rolling Requiem (RR) tribute. On the first anniversary of the attacks, 205 choirs in 28 countries sang Mozart’s Requiem, time zone by time zone. Each choir began singing at 8:46 AM, the moment when the first plane hit the World Trade Center. Now, Madeline is launching a company to build global communities around specific calls to action. She asks that you visit the Website at www.globalcommunitieswork.com and send the link to friends.

On October 6, 2008, DR. CAROLYN GILLMAN N’ 88 (Founder & Director of No Matter What!) will embark on a twelve-month tour entitled, KATRINA’S CHILDREN NO MATTER WHAT!

KATRINA’S CHILDREN is a multi-faceted portrait of nineteen children, ages 5 through 13, from different neighborhoods of New Orleans. Told entirely from the children’s point of view, the film captures with vivid poignancy the tragic ramifications of the greatest man made and natural disaster in modern American History. This educational tour will travel nationwide visiting universities, conferences, schools, bookstores, art galleries and theaters. The film, KATRINA’S CHILDREN, is a compelling, haunting and critical documentary, featuring the children of NEW ORLEANS. The tour will include a presentation of the film followed by a panel discussion on the current status of children in New Orleans and the far-reaching educational implications of the aftermath of disaster.

Learn more about dates and locations of this critical tour at: www.no-matter-what.org

Let us hear from you, too! Send your news to: info@newcomblives.com!

News and updates posted below are all dated September 21, 2008. If you’d like to see past updates, click on the News & Updates button to your left, and then select the category of news you’d like to view:

What’s Happening: Montgomery v. Tulane (includes updates to status and information about the lawsuit)
What’s Happening: Alumnae News (includes homecoming updates, feature articles, and Remember the Oaks)
What’s Happening: Fundraising (includes information about merchandise sales and fundraising campaigns)

This new lawsuit has raised some new questions. Who is Montgomery? Are the same lawyers handling the case? When will the case go to trial?

Susan Henderson Montgomery is the new plaintiff in a case against Tulane seeking to reinstate Newcomb College (see DaisyChain dated 8/20/08), and she is Mrs. Newcomb’s great, great, great niece. Mrs. Montgomery is also her “successor,” which means that a theoretical line of legacy or inheritance exists between Mrs. Newcomb’s sister and her. Therefore, the right to enforce the conditions or charges in Mrs. Newcomb’s will has passed down to her. She maintains in her suit that this right makes her a “would-be heir,” in the words of the Louisiana Supreme Court, with standing to seek enforcement of the terms of Mrs. Newcomb’s will. Yes, the New Orleans law firm, Simon, Peregine, Smith & Redfearn, has been representing the Howard plaintiffs and is also representing Mrs. Montgomery. The trial date for the case has not been set and is likely months away.

Newcomb Alumna Shapes Women’s Lives

Laurie Ann Goldman, who attended Newcomb in the early ‘80’s, would not be here today if it weren’t for Newcomb College—literally. Her would-be grandparents had a chance meeting at Newcomb’s graduation ceremony during the 1920’s when two of her would-be great aunts, Amelia Levy and Lenora Sack, were graduates.

More than just her reason for being, Laurie Ann, CEO of Spanx, Inc., and a native of New Orleans, was also attracted to Newcomb because of the opportunities it provided to driven women from generations past, particularly to her two great aunts.

“Newcomb College was ahead of its time in inspiring and educating successful business women even before women were allowed in business,” says Laurie Ann.

As a career-oriented woman, Laurie Ann felt a sense of accomplishment and pride sitting in class with such highly competent women. Now Laurie Ann works to reshape the intimate apparel industry with the same kind of women—risk takers who challenge themselves every day to solve problems that every woman can relate to.

“Giving women a place to excel and lead is a cornerstone for Newcomb, and the mission of Spanx is to help women feel great about themselves and their potential. Both encourage unbridled confidence in women,” says Laurie Ann.

“I know that my passion for creating products that support women was influenced by my experience at Newcomb,” says Laurie Ann, “and by ensuring that Newcomb lives, the lives of future students will, undoubtedly, take great shape.”

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News about what you are doing now and what Newcomb means to you will be featured in this space in weeks to come.

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