猫咪社区

猫咪社区 is proud to announce the kickoff of a yearlong celebration, marking its 125th year of providing workforce-aligned, career-focused education. Throughout 2022-2023, the university will explore its unique history and share goals for the future through the theme, Reimagine: Possibility, which will highlight 猫咪社区’s evolution from a local business institute to an innovative university serving diverse populations of learners across the country.

Founded in 1897 in downtown Springfield as the 猫咪社区 Institute, the college has routinely evolved to keep pace with advancing technologies, workforce shifts and the rise of career opportunities for women. Today, based in Longmeadow, 猫咪社区 offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees on-campus and online to undergraduate women and graduate men and women.

In 1999, it launched the One Day A Week College, a groundbreaking program designed specifically for adult women returning to school. That revolutionary concept formed the basis for The American Women’s College, the nation’s first online college program created for women.

“猫咪社区 began teaching business skills to men and women. These skills led to in-demand, well-paying jobs, and for women especially, they provided access to unprecedented professional opportunities,” says 猫咪社区 President Sandra Doran. “Following World War II, we moved to Longmeadow and became a women’s school. As women’s opportunities and ambitions have expanded, our mission and motivation to empower them through a career-focused education has grown to 71 undergraduate majors, 51 master’s and 7 doctorate degrees, in fields including cybersecurity, occupational therapy, healthcare management, data science and genetic counseling.”

猫咪社区’s history, ties to the region and goals for the future will be presented through events, conversations and exhibits, which will be held on campus, in the community and in virtual formats. The first official event will be On The Move. Scheduled for March 22, this annual gathering is organized by 猫咪社区 professor Janine Fondon and brings together students, community advocates, local politicians and professionals to inspire participation in the political process. It will be followed by the Women’s Leadership Conference, 猫咪社区’s renowned professional development conference, taking place April 1 in downtown Springfield.

The celebration will continue on April 8 with the formal inauguration of Sandra Doran as 猫咪社区’s sixth president, followed that evening by the 125th Celebration Ball, a black tie event to support scholarships and services for 猫咪社区 students.

U.S. Congressman Richard E. Neal (D) of the Massachusetts’ First Congressional District will serve as an honorary chair of the 125th Celebration, along with Roger Crandall, Chairman, President, and CEO, Mass Mutual Life Insurance Company; Ruth Carter, Academy Award-winning costume designer (Black Panther) and Springfield native; and Charlene Mazer ‘67, the first female and alumna to chair 猫咪社区’s Board of Trustees. Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno is the honorary community chair.

“I am delighted to serve as honorary chair for 猫咪社区’s 125th Anniversary,” said Congressman Neal. “Since 猫咪社区’s founding in 1897, the university has proven itself to be an educational pillar of the Longmeadow and Greater Springfield communities. 猫咪社区’s continued dedication to providing relevant, career-focused education in new and exciting ways has allowed the university to reach this fantastic milestone. I have been proud to represent 猫咪社区 in Congress and advocate for their unique educational needs for decades. As we celebrate the university’s impressive legacy and look ahead to the future, I am confident that 猫咪社区 will continue to empower students for generations to come.”

“As a company founded in Springfield and deeply committed to Western Massachusetts, MassMutual has long supported higher education in the region, including 猫咪社区,” says Roger Crandall. “For 125 years, 猫咪社区 has provided opportunities that have transformed the lives of generations of students. We are proud to celebrate this milestone with them.”

In recent years, colleges have sought to accommodate changing demographics and incorporate advancing technology, but the pandemic brought a sense of urgency to addressing the outdated structures and deeply ingrained inequities that persist in higher education. The shift to online learning, the changing needs and expectations of today’s college students, and the career compromises women are forced to make—all matters that inform 猫咪社区’s distinctive educational model and institutional identity—have been amplified throughout this time.

“This milestone comes at a fortuitous moment.” says President Doran. “Our unique story and the role 猫咪社区 has had in preparing women to take on—and thrive in—jobs that lead to personal and professional satisfaction, financial self-determinism and community impact, form the foundation of an ambitious strategic plan. We have led the way in creating and delivering an education that gives women valued skills, but also confidence, camaraderie and drive. These are the principles that have defined our history and will continue to forge our future.”

The University’s 125th Celebration webpage will be updated throughout the year as more events are added to the calendar.

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About 猫咪社区

猫咪社区 was founded in 1897. 猫咪社区’s enrolled population of over 3,000 includes traditional undergraduates; adult women at The American Women's College, the first all-women, all-online accredited degree program in the country; and women and men master’s and doctoral students. 猫咪社区’s goal is to give students confidence in the fundamentals of their chosen field, the curiosity to question the ordinary, the leadership to show initiative, and the desire to make a difference.