About

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New York, like Vassar, is thrilling. Its spirit is eclectic and electric. New York, like Vassar, is a cultural and intellectual epicenter. It’s diverse and global, local and limitless. And like Vassar, one belongs to New York instantly—as much in five minutes as in five years. It’s a place where ambitious, inventive people can accomplish the extraordinary.

It should be no surprise, then, that thousands of Vassar alums live and work in the five boroughs. Founded in 1922, the Vassar Club of New York (VCNY) connects these many graduates both to one another and to the College they love. The Club hosts a wide range of innovative programs throughout the city. We bring members of Vassar’s esteemed faculty to New York for readings and lecture series. Perhaps most importantly, the Club organizes career discussions with Vassar alum leaders in various industries, giving VCNY members valuable networking and professional development opportunities.

In short, the Vassar Club of New York advances the mission of the College by fostering a lifelong desire to learn and sustaining enduring bonds among graduates.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Vassar Club of New York (VCNY) is to cultivate connection to Vassar amongst the alums who live or work in the five boroughs and its surrounding areas. VCNY will be relevant to Vassar College alums by fostering connections, sustaining a sense of community, maintaining traditions, sharing resources, and encouraging a lifelong desire to learn.

Club Organization


What We Offer

Events

The Vassar Club of New York provides social programming, professional networking and lifelong connections for alumnae/i living and working in New York City. We offer a number of signature programs throughout the year, attracting alumnae/i of all classes. These include:

  • The Fall Fête: An elegant autumn evening with your fellow Vassar graduates, featuring a selection of cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, live music, and more. The Fête is a chance to meet Vassar alumnae/i, faculty, administrators and current students and see what the New York community has to offer.
  • The Annual Meeting: An evening each May featuring a lecture from a distinguished Vassar graduate or Vassar faculty member over drinks and hors d’oeuvres.
  • Frequent Meet-Ups (“Schmoozes”): Each month or two, the Club hosts an informal “Schmooze” in a different bar around the five boroughs. Complete with drink and food specials, the Schmooze brings vibrant Vassar activity to all of New York’s many neighborhoods.
  • Volunteering Opportunities: An important part of being a Vassar graduate and a New Yorker is giving back to our community. We organize several volunteering events throughout the year, from park cleanups to book drives. VCNY participates Vassar Serves, an initiative by Vassar College to inspire alums around the world to honor Matthew Vassar’s spirit of service and support their communities.
  • Book Club: Our Book Club meets regularly to discuss new publications by local alums, often welcoming the author themselves to read excerpts and join the conversaion.
  • Career Networking Panels: Each year, the Club organizes 3-4 panel discussions with distinguished Vassar graduates on hot topics in various industries. We have recently hosted panels on intellectual property licensing, children’s publishing, the New York real estate market, and digital media. The panel discussions are followed by networking receptions, and invariably attract graduates of all class years.

Beyond these core signature programs, our annual calendar varies each year with new ideas from members of our Programming Committee. For example, the Club has organized historic walking tours, excursions to baseball games, and guided museum visits. Have an idea for a future event or want to get involved? Contact the Programming Committee.

VCNY Scholarship

Did you know the Vassar Club of New York partners with Vassar College to award scholarships to qualifying students? Every year, our endowed fund helps provide the best liberal arts education to the newest Brewers who call New York City home. Our yearly gift is around $15,000, and with your help we can do even more!

Give Now

Admissions Interviews

We coordinate with Vassar College to conduct interviews with applicants in the New York City area. These conversations take place from October through early March and are an excellent way for applicants to learn more about Vassar and for Vassar to learn more about them.


Leadership

Board Executive Committee

Stephanie Goldberg ’14
President

Nicolette (Lettie) Harley ’14
Vice-President

Dan Leslie ’01
Treasurer

Jane Bender ’67
Secretary, Admissions Chair, & Club Historian

Danielle Scher ’03
Programming Co-Chair

Maya Sterling ’20
Programming Co-Chair

Eric Estes ’11
Communications Chair

Board Members at Large

Audrey Aller ’17

Sam Hammer ’17

Lynn Janovsky ’86

Alejandro Montoya ’12

Sharim Sohail ’21

Emma Tanner ’22
Young Alum Chair

Programming Committee

Danielle Scher ’03

Maya Sterling ’20

Audrey Aller ’17

Eric Estes ’11

Stephanie Goldberg ’14

Lettie Harley ’14

Lynn Janovsky ’86

Miguel Restrepo ’24

Young Alum Sub-Committee

Emma Tanner ’22

Sam Hammer ’17

Ashley Roberts ‘22

Sharim Sohail ’21

Maya Sterling ’20

Charlie Waltz ’20

Communications Committee

Eric Estes ‘11

Stephanie Goldberg ’14

Sam Hammer ’17

Miguel Restrepo ’24

Maya Sterling ’20

Emma Tanner ’22 

Sharim Sohail ’21