Who Opens
Her Mind

McGehee graduates are open-minded, tolerant and empathetic.

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Who Chooses
Us Over I

McGehee graduates are empowered as active citizens and leaders, skillfully communicating and advocating for themselves and others.

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Who Stays
True to Herself

McGehee graduates are honorable, acting with integrity and courage and holding themselves accountable for their actions.

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Who Never
Stops Learning

McGehee graduates are curious learners, engaged in intellectual pursuits, and eager to understand and explore the world around them.

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Who Transforms the World

Heather Labadot Smedstad

Heather Labadot Smedstad '88

Vice President, People Experience & Technology, Amazon

“When I think of McGehee, I first think of the strong women and wonderful friends I met. I also learned many lessons that have served me well throughout the school, work and life experiences that followed, especially to try new things and not take myself too seriously.”

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Paige Sentino

Paige Sentino '17

MPH Student, Health Policy and Management, Columbia University

“Going to an all-girls school allowed me to find confidence in my voice and to never doubt myself. That, combined with the incredible faculty who always encouraged me to reach my full potential, is why McGehee has played a major role in the intellectual I am today.”

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Carroll Gelderman

Carroll Gelderman '11

Entrepreneur, Co-Owner The Garden District Book Shop and The Chicory House

“During my 14 years at McGehee I developed a real sense of duty and a strong work ethic.  Our teachers always made me feel like my work really mattered and even if it didn’t directly apply to the real world, the process would teach me something I could use later on. I came to deeply value community and teamwork at McGehee—no woman left behind, ever. McGehee students and faculty are so supportive of one another and this holds true even after you’ve graduated. I’ll never forget all of the support I’ve received from McGehee these early years of running a business (or two!).”

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Elizabeth Kukla

Elizabeth Kukla '12

Founder @Fully Stacked

“The ideal that has most resonated and carried into my life, from how I interact with friends to how I run my business, is the Honor Code; it demands that we hold honesty of conscience in the highest regard.”

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Beverly Ogden

Beverly Ogden '75

Pathologist, Medical Director of Research Woman's Hospital, Chief of Cancer Services, Woman's Hospital, Medical Director of Office of Public Health State Laboratory

“McGehee was a wonderful educational, nurturing and supportive environment that helped me to become the best person I could be.”

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Mary Kim McDougal

Mary Kim Mcdougal '80

Senior Government Affairs Advisor at GrayRobinson, P.A.

“McGehee is no ordinary school as exemplified by its extraordinary impact on all McGehee students, including myself.  I learned early on that my future rested solely with me—McGehee absolutely taught me that if you work hard enough, and put the effort into what you want to accomplish, you can and will achieve it. McGehee was my school family as the students, teachers, coaches and staff genuinely cared about each other’s life journeys.”

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Kathryn Rydberg

Kathryn Rydberg '15

Content Manager, Cint

“At McGehee, it was impossible to be just one thing. All of my classmates knew me too well to think of me as one-dimensional, and I think that helped me become more confident to pursue different interests. To this day I resist pigeon-holing others because of the experiences I had watching my classmates grow in unexpected ways.”

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Margot Koch

Margot Koch '17

Master of Health Administration Candidate at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health

“With all the confidence in the world, I can say that I would not be the person I am today without McGehee. McGehee instilled confidence, bravery, determination, resilience, and kindness in me.”

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Madeleine Duvic

Madeleine Duvic '69

Academic Medicine:  Professor of Internal Medicine and Dermatology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.  The Blanche Bender Professor of Cancer Research

 “Our McGehee education prepared us to enter the world on equal footing.”

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Gabrielle Lemonier

Gabrielle Lemonier '12

Editor, Animalz

“McGehee taught me that critical thinking mixed with a moral compass is invaluable. I graduated knowing that evaluating and questioning information isn’t just okay—it’s the right thing to do.”

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Breon Wise

Breon Wise '12

Medical Student - LSUHSC

“Attending McGehee allowed me to experience many opportunities I would not have the chance to experience anywhere else.”

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Rebecca Brooksher

Rebecca Brooksher '96

Actor and real estate agent

“I work in an industry where I have witnessed many colleagues make compromises to ‘land the role’. I make choices staying true to myself, which means I don’t get every role. And that’s just fine with me. Going through life boldly hoping to say ‘yes’! yet also knowing when ‘no’ is the appropriate answer. That’s all McGehee."

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Jessica Hernandez

Jessica Hernandez '15

U.S. Diplomat, U.S. Agency for International Development

“I’ve been a McGehee girl since kindergarten. Growing up in an environment that not only empowers girls and young women, but instills in them the tools and values to be great leaders, I learned to have confidence in myself and my actions, to never doubt the value I add to any room, and to pursue my dreams in the face of any and all obstacles.”

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Kinsey Schell

Kinsey Schell '11

Senior Engineer at Salesforce, Paris, France

 “If you traced my path from where I am today, it’s so clear to me that at the source you’ll find the gates of McGehee. It’s the perfect environment for girls to learn that the world is theirs.” 

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Emily Steele

Emily Steele '14

Strategic Accounts Manager, Ekotrope

“Having served as Student Council President my senior year at McGehee, I still carry the lessons I learned with me throughout my professional and personal life. I strive to see all sides of a situation, listen thoughtfully, and reach a consensus with a team. At McGehee we often issued letters of reflection, and to this day, I remind myself that mistakes can provide us with the greatest learning opportunities.”

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Marlee Jackson

Marlee Jackson '17

Software Developer, General Motors

“While at McGehee I was able to find my passion for technology through the classes and extracurricular clubs I was able to join. With that I was also able to find and understand the importance of using my voice in a male-dominated field. I brought this with me through college, and into the workforce.”

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Naya Gros

Naya Gros '18

Student-Athlete at The University of Minnesota

"McGehee taught me to be confident, bold, and independent. Not letting social norms hold me back from what I want."

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Grace Lyman Caudill

Grace Lyman Caudill '10

Director of Communications, Wellspire Center

“My 14 years spent at McGehee set the course for the rest of my life: working with women and for women.”

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Olivia Primeaux

olivia primeaux '14

Disaster Recovery Project Manager, The Sulzer Group

“McGehee taught me how to be a good student in and out of the classroom. I learned to ask questions and have meaningful conversations. Being forced to speak up in small class sizes really helped me find my voice.”

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Clare Harpham Hall

Clare Harpham Hall '02

Director of Business Development at Creative Communication Associates (CCA)

“I can think of no better environment for a young woman than McGehee. It wasn't until I left McGehee and went to college that I fully appreciated my unique education. The confidence and poise that McGehee gave me is something that I'll carry with me throughout the rest of my career. Not only that, but I have McGehee to thank for some of my dearest friendships.”

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Darian Harris

Darian Harris '12

Infectious Disease Epidemiologist

“Attending McGehee helped me develop a voice and grow as a woman; it gave me the confidence and skills to lead beyond the gates.”

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Zoë Alexander

Zoë Alexander '13

Registered nurse

“It still surprises me when I talk to my friends I’ve met since graduating from McGehee to find that they don’t still have a close relationship with someone they went to high school with. I don’t think I go more than a few days without talking to someone from the McGehee family, whether it’s a former classmate, a teacher, or another alumna who graduated years before or after me.”

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Taylor Schmidt Pospisil

Taylor schmidt pospisil '02

Human resources, certified shrm-cp professional for broadmoor, LLC

“The time I spent at McGehee helped me develop into a strong female leader. I work in a male dominated environment and McGehee instilled the confidence in me to be able to mold my career into what it is today. I am not afraid to speak up and have a voice.”

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Lynn-Chi Nguyen

Lynn-Chi Nguyen '21

Rice university, class of '25

“Though I am currently keeping an open mind as to what in medicine I specifically want to pursue, I am ready to use the education I gained at McGehee and will gain at Rice to provide a helping hand and expand research for marginalized groups-- such as women and minorities-- hopefully as a practicing physician one day.”

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From Here, to There & Beyond

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