Alum and Student Vets Tour Their ‘Forever Home’—Alumnae House
The Alumnae House has been a vibrant part of the Vassar community for more than a century. But as Alisa Swire ’84, a member of the Alumnae/i Association of Vassar College (AAVC) Board of Directors, noted during a veterans event there on October 8, not everyone is aware of how it serves the Vassar community. Nineteen student and alum veterans joined in the tour and reception planned by the AAVC, the staff of the Office of Advancement and the Alumnae House, and by Colleen Mallet, Vassar’s Director of Veteran Students Outreach and Support.
Photo by Stockton Photo, Inc.
“The Alumnae House is a hidden gem that some of you, especially undergrads, don’t know about,” Swire said as she addressed those in attendance in the house’s library. “This place is here for all of you.”
Photo by Stockton Photo, Inc.
Alumnae House Manager Martha Barry ’86 and Sharon Parkinson, Director of Multicultural and Affinity Engagement in the Office of Advancement, echoed those sentiments. “Welcome to Alumnae House; it’s a ‘forever home’ for all of you,” Barry said. She said the building has 20 guest rooms, 13 of which had been recently renovated, thanks to a $1 million gift to the College. She said she and her staff host more than 200 catered events each year — weddings, funeral receptions, baby showers, and other occasions for members of the Vassar community and the general public.
Parkinson said she was especially glad to be introducing veterans to the Alumnae House. “You have served others, so we’d like to be able to serve you,” she said.
Photo by Debbie Swartz
Following the remarks in the library, Barry led the group on a tour of some of the guest rooms, and then everyone adjourned to the Pub for snacks and libations.
Two veterans who attended the gathering said they were glad to have learned more about the Alumnae House. “I’d seen it many times while I was here, but I’d never been inside until I attended an event for veteran grads,” said Navy vet Jaco Chery ’25.
Navy vet Lilly Kinney ’28 said it was her first time inside the building since she arrived at Vassar. “I never knew much about the place and didn’t know it was open to all of us,” she said.
Photo by Stockton Photo, Inc.
Mallet called the event a great success. “It was a wonderful way to bring together new students, returning students, and alums who all share a common theme of serving or having served our country,” she said. “They were able to learn about the deep history of Alumnae House and their place in it. When I first came to Vassar, the Pub was a popular place for lunch. It was magical seeing it come to life again; it was really special to see 'my' students enjoying the space. Everyone is asking when the next Pub night might be.”