Alumnae, current families, and friends gathered at The Whittemore House for the opening event of an itinerary that will take Karen across the country and abroad to continue getting to know Emma Willard School’s extended community. Regional events provide an opportunity for those unable to travel to Mount Ida to gather with other Emma Willard alumnae, families, and friends, while also meeting our new head of school. Karen has carefully arranged her time to ensure she is also fully present with the current school community as the school year unfolds on Mount Ida.

The space was filled with energy as Karen introduced herself to those gathered, most of whom were meeting her for the first time. She fielded questions about her experiences and observations of Emma Willard thus far—a wonderfully accepting place filled with excitement and energy, Karen says. 

Among the questions from the DC audience was an inquiry about the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in education. Karen described how she’d already seen a unique approach in practice at Emma Willard, recounting a ninth-grade Classical Mediterranean History class, taught by History Instructor Dr. John Riley. Students were focused on a section from Thucydides about the Melian Dialogue—a debate over the fate of the island of Melos under threat of invasion by Athens. On the day Karen visited the class, students had a debate with an AI chatbot to see if they could “win” using their knowledge of Greek history, culture, and Thucydides.

Karen will continue this journey to connect with alumnae, families, and friends, hear stories, and learn more about what matters most to our unique Emma community. Next up: Boston on November 13!

Visit the events page to find out more about each upcoming venue and RSVP for an event near you. 

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See photos from the DC event on our SmugMug.