“When our students sit down to write, they begin a process whereby they are learning to hear and appreciate their own voices, sharing their unique lens on the world, and claiming their own perspectives,” Head of School Dr. Karen Lassey notes in her “In the Lede” message to open the magazine. “Writing teaches young women that their ideas have weight, their feelings matter, and using their voices can and will help shape their worlds.”

Over the years, Emma Willard School has produced many writers, and what better way to feature them than to let you read their work! In the first of what we hope will be a regular department in the magazine, we hear from poets Page Hill Starzinger ’76 and Hanna H. ’27 in their own words. We catch up with student writers who have spent their summers writing at intensive workshops, underwritten by the Beth Leonard and Evans Starzinger Writing Center Opportunity Fund. And, in keeping with the theme, we explore a few of the writing-focused Jestermesters that add a new dimension to experiential learning at Emma.

In addition to our features, we hear from Science Instructor Dr. Devin O'Brien on bringing his entomology expertise to the classroom in a new Advanced Studies course, and from Director of Learning Support Amber Towne on balancing rigor and resilience with this generation of learners. As we approach the close of the Infinite Horizon campaign, we celebrate the completion of the first phase of the faculty housing project, and look forward to the final grand total to be announced later this summer. And, finally, we get a glimpse into the family ties of three generations of Emma women: the Gordon-Lupo family.

We invite you to explore the Spring/Summer 2026 edition of Signature…