At Mount Holyoke, programs such as The Lynk allow students to connect their academic work with practical applications. In addition to a liberal education, experiential learning through internships, research, community-based projects, and more offer high-impact experiences for students, giving them a leading edge in a competitive world. In a recent interview with The Chronicle of Higher Education, Carol Geary Schneider '67 explains how there's a new design for learning now, and there's evidence it works:

More than 600 graduates and certificate recipients celebrated Mount Holyoke's 179th Commencement this past weekend. Gettel Amphitheatre filled with exuberant cheers as they listened to the inspirational words of Joia Mukherjee, chief medical officer for Partners in Health, who challenged the class to "disrupt this place with me."

It started out with a quick email between two classmates who work in the same office building: "Could we take a lunchtime photo together for FebruMary? and invite some other MHC alums who work for the Commonwealth?" A few more emails and a quick LinkedIn search later, and our group had grown to nine. FebruMary meet-up accomplished!

We had a terrific time getting together. We found that our work for the Commonwealth couldn't be more varied—we address issues that range from uniquely local to global; that cover the human lifespan from birth to workforce participation to death. We work for three different Constitutional Officers (Governor Charlie Baker, State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg, and State Auditor Suzanne Bump) and three State Representatives (one of whom, Representative Ellen Story, kindly arranged for our use of the House Chamber for this photo). Even with this range, we found overlap—it was a nice surprise to find that three of us are on the Special Legislative Commission on Post-Partum Depression, and three of us are mothers of MHC alums. The biggest overlap—every day, we look forward/give back.

Art law, civil rights law, environmental law, international law...the legal field spans a broad range of industries and expertise, enabling people to pursue their passions and make an impact. But where can an MHC student go to learn more? Thankfully, the Mount Holyoke College Pre-Law Association is there as a resource and network. Comprised of students considering pursuing law school or a legal profession, the association aims to increase awareness about this vast field and to create a peer community where students can gain inspiration and foster their passion for law. Through collaboration with the Career Development Center (CDC), the association helps guide students through the law school application process, preparing for the Law School Admission Test, and choosing suitable schools. The association also works at educating members on various fields of law and career exploration.

Women in Business is a student-run organization that celebrates women’s leadership and prepares its members to actively participate in today’s business world with confidence. The club serves as a platform for students to develop their business skills and encourages them to take initiative as leaders. Through activities, workshops, and a new series of talks with alumnae, and other supporters of Mount Holyoke, Women in Business aims to educate women about the diverse range of opportunities in various industries. In addition, members have the chance to attend business conferences where they can be inspired by others’ experiences and participate in networking events.

Mount Holyoke alumnae are no strangers to success in the business world. Barbara Moakler Byrne ’76, vice chair of investment banking at Barclays Bank and current Mount Holyoke trustee, is one alumna looking to change the landscape of the business world for women around the globe. Named the fourth most powerful woman in finance by American Banker, Byrne’s new initiative, the Barclays Women in Leadership Index, aims to catalogue American companies with either female CEOs or boards of directors comprised of at least 25% women. The index acts as a vehicle for socially responsible investment and includes such major companies as General Motors, PepsiCo, General Electric, Google, AT&T, and Monsanto. The creation of this index reflects a growing trend of companies reporting greater success when their leaders include women. “Mount Holyoke was a tremendous education for me,” says Byrne, who was an economics major at MHC. “It was very expansive and broadening. It allowed me to ask the question ‘what if?’—what if we were to measure what matters by creating this index? And ‘what if’ is the most powerful question women can ask.”

What an incredible year it's been! Over 10,000 in the MHC community have joined our movement, strengthening the global impact of an MHC education. Throughout the year, we've celebrated those who are making change in their communities and beyond, sharing stories of the power of women (and one chicken) here on campus and around the world.

Watch the New York Times video "Leymah Gbowee: The Dream" from filmmaker Errol Morris.