“Government’s for everybody, and it’s really an honor to get to serve for everybody,” said Anne Schuchat ’80, H’05, former principal deputy director at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, during last Wednesday night’s “Fit for Every Possibility: Swarthmore Alumni Shaping Washington, D.C.” event. It was the first of four events this fall celebrating Swarthmore, the liberal arts, and President Valerie Smith, who is concluding her time as the College’s president at the end of the academic year.

Schuchat’s sentiment — of service, of getting to ask the questions and push for change because you’re in the halls of government — was shared by three alumni who joined her as panelists for the evening: Keith Benjamin ’09, vice president and national planning leader for the Cities Initiative, STV Inc; Alberto Mora ’74, H’08, American attorney, former general counsel, Department of the Navy; and Kathryn Zyla ’96, executive director, Georgetown Climate Center. David Bradley ’75, H’11, chairman of the National Journal Group and chairman emeritus of Atlantic Media, emceed the program.

Moderated by Smith, the Roy J. and Linda G. Shanker Presidential Chair, the panelists offered thoughtful reflections on how their liberal arts education generally, and the experiences they had at Swarthmore in particular, prepared them for leadership in policy and the public sector. 

Benjamin was one of the Lang Center for Civic & Social Responsibility’s first Chester Community Fellows. He credits that experience with shifting his perspective. “Today, being in a space where I’m constantly surrounded by engineers and planners, the main question I’m asked is ‘What’s the timeline?’ or ‘What’s the cost?’” said Benjamin. “But because of those initial seeds that were planted [as a Chester Fellow], my thought process is always around who and how: who's benefiting, who's at the table, whose voice is being heard, whose voice is not being heard, and how do we approach this and create convening space to figure out solutions.” 

Zyla, who has a B.S. in engineering from Swarthmore, credits learning engineering in a liberal arts setting and exposure to other fields as part of her success. “I work on a lot of technology policy development, and it helps a lot to not be afraid of numbers and math and systems and how it works. So I bring some comfort with physical discrepancy to that policy world that is not always there. But the main thing I'd say is that I most enjoy working at the intersection of different disciplines.” 

Turnout and enthusiasm were high at the Atlas Performing Arts Center, co-founded by Emerita Manager Jane Lang ’67, P’92, thanks in part to Host Committee members who spread the word and encouraged fellow Swarthmoreans to register and attend. Nearly 150 alumni, Swarthmore families, and guests across generations gathered to reconnect with old friends and make new connections. 

Prior to the main event, members of The 1864 Society and James A. Michener Legacy Circle gathered for a special panel discussion between Lang and Serge Seiden ’85, moderated by Ethan Landis ’84 and introduced by former Manager Kevin Quigley ’74. And afterward, many attendees weren’t quite ready to head home. Dozens of alumni kept the conversation and camaraderie going at a Young Alumni Afterparty, hosted by the Young Alumni Ambassadors Program. 

“As we began planning this event series, we wanted to focus on the remarkable stories and experiences of our alumni,” says Vice President for Advancement Sarah Pearson. “Our alumni tell us that they want to hear from one another, and our goal is to facilitate that in a way that is joyful, engaging, and thought-provoking. The Swarthmore community came together in D.C., and we are excited for what’s in store for San Francisco, New York City, and Philadelphia.”

During the moderated discussion, guests had the chance to ask the panelists their own questions. Among them: In this political climate, what brings them hope that the next generation will find careers that serve the public good?

“I was told that the model is to learn, earn, and serve, in that order. And that's been a really satisfying path for me,” answered Mora. “Even though, in my case, most of my life was in the private sector, I found the most challenging, most satisfying periods of my career in those times in government.” 

Bradley concluded the event by recognizing President Smith and her extraordinary leadership of the College, particularly during a period of intense challenges for higher education. “We have had a president of extraordinary grace who is, at her center, a peacemaker, who has led exactly as our Quaker founders would have wanted. I have come to admire her deeply,” he said, prompting the audience to stand and applaud.  

Learn more about “Fit for Every Possibility: Swarthmore Alumni Shaping the World” and register for future events at swarthmore.edu/possibility.

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