Alumni from all classes are invited to attend a celebration on Sunday, October 22 from 2PM-5PM honoring the pioneering women from the Fall of 1969 who became the first class of female students at Stuyvesant. These brave “first girls” made it possible for over 10,000 women to graduate from Stuyvesant.

The event will open with Principal Eric Contreras giving his perspective on issues impacting Stuyvesant’s girls: past, present, and future. This will be followed by two panels highlighting challenges and success encountered by the “first girls” and subsequent classes. (Please refer to below for panel details)

Tickets are $10 for dues-paying members of the Alumni Association and are $20 for other alumni and attendees.

If you are not a Stuyvesant High School Alumni Association (SHSAA) dues paying member and would like to become one, you can also purchase a membership directly with your ticket. For a limited time, we will give out a free copy of Stuyvesant’s Centennial Book with your purchase of membership.

In 1969, Stuyvesant’s first class of 12 girls entered the school as either incoming freshmen or sophomores. This panel will discuss their experiences breaking the gender barrier at Stuyvesant and how their years at Stuyvesant impacted their life trajectory.

Celia Kuperszmid Lehrman ’75 (Moderator)
Celia is a Former Deputy Content Editor of Consumer Reports. Celia earned her Bachelors of Arts in Writing and English Literature from Queens College.

Eve Berman ’72
Eve entered Stuyvesant as a sophomore in 1969 and later graduated from State University of New York – Binghamtom with a Bachelor of Arts in Geography. Eve also has a Masters in Computer Science from Binghamton.

Elizabeth (Betsy) Cantwell ’72
Betsy entered Stuyvesant as a sophomore in 1969. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Human Behavior from The University of Chicago, a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Masters of Buiness Administration (MBA) in Finance from The Wharton School – University of Pennsylvania.

Ruth Haber, Esq. ’72
Ruth entered Stuyvesant as a sophomore in 1969 and later graduated from State University of New York – Stony Brook with a Bachelor of Arts. Ruth earned her Juris Doctor (JD) degree from Hofstra University’s Maurice A. Deane School of Law.

Alice (deRivera) Haines, MD ’13 (honorary degree)
In 1969, Alice deRivera filed a lawsuit against the Board of Education (BOE) and the State Supreme Court charging discrimination on the basis of sex. Alice won, though her family left New York City before she could enroll. 13 other girls, who passed the test for Bronx Science, enrolled in September 1969, becoming Stuyvesant’s female pioneers. Alice earned her Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Clark University, and her Doctor of Medicine from University of Massachusetts Medical School.

Evelyn Horn, MD ’72
Evelyn entered Stuyvesant as a sophomore in 1969 and later graduated from Brown University with a A.B. in Mathematical Economics. Evelyn earned her Doctor of Medicine from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine at New York University.

Judith (Judy) Levy, Esq. ’72
Judy entered Stuyvesant as a sophomore in 1969 and later graduated from Brown University. Judy earned her Juris Doctor (JD) degree from Cardozo School of Law.

Laren Herman Lynn ’72
Laren entered Stuyvesant as a sophomore in 1969 and later graduated from Connecticut College with a Bachelor of Arts in Zoology.

Paula Marcus, MD ’72
Paula entered Stuyvesant as a freshman in 1969 and later graduated from City College of New York with Bachelor of Science. Paula earned her Doctor of Medicine from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

Kathryn (Kathy) Parks ’72
Kathy entered Stuyvesant as a sophomore in 1969 and graduated from the school in 1972.

Abigail (Abby) Scheck ‘72
Abby entered Stuyvesant as a sophomore in 1969 and earned her Bachelor of Arts from Sarah Lawrence College.

Suzanne Rose Shapiro ’73
Suzanne entered Stuyvesant as a freshman in 1969 and earned her Bachelor of Arts in History from University of Pennsylvania.

Deborah (Debbie) Leong-Yep ‘72
Debbie entered Stuyvesant as a sophomore in 1969 and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences from State University of New York – Stony Brook. She later also earned a Masters of Social Work from Hunter College.

The second set of panels examine a wide cross section of Stuyvesant women from different graduating classes and industries. The two panels will discuss how their Stuyvesant experience has prepared them for their current career as well as some of the existing gender barriers they still face in their respective industries.

Valentina Zarya ’09 (Moderator for both panels)
Valentina is an Associate Editor for the Most Powerful Women channel on fortune.com. After graduating from Stuyvesant in 2009, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics from The Wharton School – University of Pennsylvania.

Panel 2A – Stuyvesant Women in Medicine

Tara Allmen, MD ’82
Tara is a Board Certified Gynecologist, Expert in Midlife Women’s Health and Author of Menopause Confidential: A Doctor Reveals The Secrets to Thriving Through Midlife. She is also a proud Stuyvesant alumnus from the Class of 1982.

Tani Sanghvi, MD ’85
Tani is a board-certified Obstetrician/Gynecologist. After graduating from Stuyvesant in 1985, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in French Language and Literature from Amherst College. She also has a combined MD-MPH (Masters in Public Health) degree from Tufts University School of Medicine.

Mimi C. Lee, MD ’87
Mimi is an Associate Director – Medical Affairs at BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. After graduating from Stuyvesant in 1987, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry and East Asian Languages and Civilizations from Harvard University. She also has a combined MD-PhD degree in Medical Scientist Training Program (MTSP) – Neuroscience from Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

Panel 2B – Stuyvesant Women Across Multiple Industries

Lisa A. Bing ’77
Lisa is a strategy and leadership expert and author of a forthcoming book targeting senior leadership teams. As president of Bing Consulting Group, Inc. she works with executives to accelerate business strategy. After graduating from Stuyvesant in 1977, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education from Boston University.

Susanne Rhow ’84
Susanne is a Real Estate Broker with Brown Harris Stevens Residential Sales, LLC. Before joining the Real Estate industry, Susanne has also held senior level positions at Saks Fifth Avenue, Estee Lauder International, and Sotheby’s Auction House. After graduating from Stuyvesant in 1984, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Georgetown University.

Marisa Biehl ’91
Marisa is Vice President of Development and Communications at Children’s Health Fund. After graduating from Stuyvesant in 1991, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from University of Pennsylvania.

Diana Tsao ’00
Diana is the Founder & CEO of PARTNER Productions, an event production company, and Branded Bold, a branded merchandise & e-commerce consultancy. After graduating from Stuyvesant in 2000, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Haverford College.

Stephanie Bazell, Esq. ’06
Stephanie is an Assistant Counselor to New York State Governor, Andrew Cuomo. After graduating from Stuyvesant in 2006, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Duke University and her Juris Doctor (JD) degree from New York University School of Law.