Alum Panelists Discuss How NMH Shaped Them

To Shari Slate ’90, there’s something “quietly radical” about Northfield Mount Hermon’s purpose: to empower students on their journey of self discovery to make the world more equitable and just.

“It doesn't announce itself loudly,” Slate said recently. “But it exists in everything, from the way we were educated to lead with intellect and compassion, to the way we make decisions, to the way we act, to who we become in this world. You see, purpose is a really, really important part of NMH. It is the reason why it exists.”

Slate shared her thoughts as moderator of a panel discussion, “Deep Purpose: A Compass in Times of Uncertainty,” held on campus on June 5. The discussion was part of a special NMH alumni of color celebration that coincided with the first day of Reunion 2025. The event was a collaboration between Slate and Stacie Hagenbaugh, NMH’s director of alumni engagement, to create community and connection among alums.

At the June event, 50 NMH alums, friends, faculty, and staff gather for a family-style lunch at the Draper Riverhouse, overlooking the Connecticut River. The group also heard from James Greenwood, NMH’s dean of equity and social justice, who spoke about his office’s work and about the school’s founding commitment to offering an transformative education to students from all backgrounds.

Slate, an executive and thought leader who leverages purpose, people and technology to drive transformation, was joined for the panel discussion by Azania Andrews ’96, CEO of Bar Keepers Friend and a member of the NMH Board of Trustees; Vernon J ’05, founder of Equity Platforms, which builds community wealth through real estate and blockchain technology; and S. Michelle Mathai ’90, vice president of operations and people at the Napa Valley’s Brasswood Estate, which includes a winery, restaurant, and retail operation. 

Slate began the conversation by noting the lasting influence of the sense of purpose students gain at NMH. “[It’s] a force that doesn't leave us when we graduate,” she said. “It travels with us. It grows with us.” And as alums, she added, “We get to be the guardians of it. We get to be the champions of it. … We get to help co-create how NMH lives this purpose today and for generations to come.”

But before looking forward, the panelists looked back, sharing how they were personally and professionally shaped by their NMH experiences.Vernon drew comparisons between NMH’s workjob program, which underscores the role every member of a community plays in its successful operation, and Equity Platform’s focus on contributing to and feeling invested in one’s community. Mathai, meanwhile, noted that the welcoming, inclusive community she experienced at NMH is something she tries to replicate in her workplace of 150 employees. “I bring that to my work every day,” she said. 

Andrews, too, took important lessons from NMH’s emphasis on the importance of inclusion. Growing up in the only Black family in a Connecticut suburb, “My belief, honestly, was that success was more about assimilation. I spent a lot of my childhood trying to not stand out, because I was so obviously different. [NMH] was the first place where our differences were celebrated,” she said. “This idea that people from all walks of life could come together successfully to learn, to play, to create, to collaborate, is something that I carry with me in my work. … I believe very much in the idea that I want you to bring who you are to work.”

Each of the panelists pointed to the influence of NMH’s strong academic program, for helping them develop intellectual curiosity, for expanding their understanding of the world, and for encouraging them to embrace challenges. “You can't reach new heights if you don't reach for stars, right?” said Mathai, adding that this mindset helped her achieve an earlier career goal, of being selected for the highly competitive U.S. Foreign Service.

For Andrews, who played field hockey and was on the track team, NMH’s athletics program was another significant influence. “I learned that I really like winning, that it feels really good,” she said. “That sense of competition and desire to get better and work hard is definitely something that I've taken into all kinds of aspects of my life since then.” 

The values learned at NMH have also helped the panelists through difficult times. In his 20 years working in the real estate world, Vernon said, “I’ve seen some ugly things,” from would-be home buyers denied mortgages because of redlining to times when he experienced racism in his own workplace. In such moments, he said, the legacy of NMH founder D.L. Moody has served as an inspiration. 

“The story of D.L. Moody is really ingrained in us from an early age at NMH, how he had the foresight to see that people who might not be able to afford to go to school here still should have the opportunity. That theme has followed me throughout my career,” he said. It also served as an impetus to serve underserved communities, provide opportunities for others — and step away from toxic situations. “In those moments of feeling uncomfortable, you have to make a decision. You have to decide what you stand up for,” Vernon said.

Andrews, too, found her own way to make a difference, following her own path: As an undergraduate at Stanford, she majored in urban studies, with a concentration in community organizing, with an eye on a career in philanthropy. After graduation, she landed a position at a large foundation that funds anti-poverty work. “It was amazing for a whole bunch of reasons, and I learned a lot,” she said. But after a few years, she realized that while the foundation supported good work, it was not creating the kind of systemic societal change she believed was necessary. Instead, she decided to pursue that goal in a perhaps surprising realm: the corporate world. 

“I just decided that I didn't want to be on the side of the table always asking the rich people for money,” she said. “I want to create opportunity for people and get the right voices in the room.” In her corporate roles, she said, “I hire people, and I get to advocate for the young women when we're talking about who gets promoted and who doesn’t. I get to tell them who they need to know to grow and expand in their company. It's a different way to make a difference, but I do think it's a step toward making the world more equitable and just.”

Mathai also found purpose through an unexpected path. Just as she was starting her foreign service career, her family was struck by tragedy: Her parents died in a car accident, leaving her to take on the role of caregiver for her older brother, Tomas, who had brain cancer. The move meant foregoing her foreign service career. For all the challenges of caring for Tomas in his final days, she said, “It was also such a beautiful time, to see the human body and the human spirit just transcend to another level.” Since Tomas’ death, Mathai has run several marathons to raise money for brain cancer research and volunteered with a support group for caregivers.

The celebration ended with comments from Head of School Brian Hargrove, who noted that the panel discussion brought to mind a Toni Morrison quote that a student referenced at the final all-school meeting of the year: “If you have some power, then your job is to empower somebody else.” Hargrove also called on the extended NMH community to continue to embrace the ideal of “radical love” on which Moody founded the school. “So let's love one another and let's do our best,” he said.

For Sara Wilson ’02, one of the enthusiastic attendees, the Alumni of Color event “was a joyful celebration that brought together alums from across many decades whose lives have been shaped by our experiences at NMH. 

“Boarding school is a uniquely intense and formative experience,” Wilson said. “Having the opportunity to share and learn from each other about the commonalities of our experiences as alums of color strengthened my appreciation for NMH and how it has influenced who I've become. I reconnected with old friends and met new ones and was inspired by the panel of alums who are doing amazing things in the world.”

Photos from top: Moderator Shari Slate (left) with panelists Azania Andrews, Vernon J, and Michelle Mathai; guests enjoy the celebration in the Draper Riverhouse; James Greenwood, Shari Slate, Vernon J, Stacie Hagenbaugh, Azania Andrews, Michelle Mathai, Brian Hargrove.

Photos by Matthew Cavanaugh.