Mount Holyoke Global Alum Alliance

Sylvia (Xue) Bai is a dedicated art entrepreneur, with galleries and exhibitions in both Asia and Europe. In this In the Spotlight interview, Sylvia describes how she ended up working in art after studying economics at MHC, why the art world is safe from AI, and how playing the cello links to something larger.

Maria Socorro Gochoco-Bautista, or Corina for short, has led an inspiringly international life, living, studying and working across Europe, the US and Asia. She has worked as a senior economist in multiple fields, from academia to NGOs to international financial institutions. She is also the Mount Holyoke Country Head for the Philippines! In this In the Spotlight interview, Corina describes why the study of economics is so important and how Mount Holyoke has impacted her life

MHC supported me in discovering myself, expanding my horizons, and embracing who I was becoming, without fear of the outcome or the pressure to conform. In fact, it was only in my thirties, after a career in fashion in the US, that I took to creative writing and now live in Paris. After my father passed, I was inspired to write FATHER, THE MORE LOVING ONE. He was a Greek barber with little formal education, unknowingly making a profound impact on his daughter's life, simply b

Having lived in many countries as a child and an adult, I have come to call Paris the home of my heart. I enjoy writing about real life. A true story well told is one the greatest healers and role models for anyone struggling to understand their own life. If I could turn back time, I would re-do my MHC years to take advantage fully of everything the school had to offer. As I write about in my most recent book, OBJECT, I arrived at MHC just six years after the major crisis of

MHC helped me figure out not only who I was, but how to build bridges with people who are different from me. It was my first 'international tribe'. Having lived in ten different countries, and now in Portugal, where my latest novel THE GUILTY CAN'T SAY GOODBYE is set, I enjoy writing about global living. It complements my journey as a global citizen, helping me to make sense of my ever-changing identity, home and sense of belonging in the world.

Nadia Heath, a proud Mount Holyoke alum, class of 1980, is the Super Winner of the Uncommon Cameras photography competition. Read more about what inspired her to enter the competition & the influence of Mount Holyoke on her life in this latest interview in our ‘In the Spotlight’ series.”

Ioli is a proud Mount Holyoke alum with a strong passion for environmental protection. This passion led to the co-founding of The Green Tank, Greece’s first environmental think tank. Learn about her professional life, think-tank and environmental work in this latest interview in our ‘In the Spotlight’ series.

The 2020 Venice Film Festival saw the triumph of “Nomadland”, a film directed by MHC alum Chloé Zhao ’05. While Chloé could not attend the festival, another MHC alum, Laura Aimone ’04, was very much present on (and behind!) the Venetian red carpet, using her professional talents and expertise to ensure the success of the event. Laura, a talent handler, festival organizer, and film director, has been working in the film industry for many years. Read more about her exciting pro

In late March 2020, as lockdowns & social distancing began, Corinne Morgan ‘13, President of the Mount Holyoke Club of Britain set up a weekly virtual Milk & Cookies to help stay connected. This weekly Zoom call has been running ever since! Learn more about Corinne and this inspiring project in our next In the Spotlight interview.

FOUGARO is a centre for crafts, arts and culture in Nafplion, Greece, founded by Florica Kyriacopoulos ’76. It holds the unique mission of being rooted in its history of place and focusing on local artists as well as a more global reach. Florica shares how she created FOUGARO and her vision for its future.

Arzu Gürz Abay ’94, from Turkey, grew up in Germany because of her father’s role as a Diplomat. She now lives back in Cologne raising two children in a multilingual, multicultural household, and authors bilingual childrens books.