Clubs and Organizations

Beyond academics, life at Mary Baldwin College is enriched by involvement in a wide variety of clubs and organizations – or students may decide to spearhead a group of like-minded students in the creation of a new organization!

Student Government Association

African Student Kollective -- Three words: Explore, articulate and celebrate! The ASF wants women willing to discover the rich diversity that is African culture. The Kollective is all about promoting unity at MBC and other colleges.
Advisor: Joanne Harris

American Chemical Society is for the beaker babes — those into chemistry and related disciplines. Scienceheads mix social functions and educational opportunities to great advantage.
Advisor: Karl Zachary

American College of Health Care Executives / ACHE (MBC Student Chapter) has an MBC chapter of health(care) nuts interested in healthcare policy, administration, and wellness with opps for networking top executives at MBC, state, and national levels.
Advisor - Dr. Steven Mosher

Anointed Voices of Praise is MBC’s student-directed, traveling, music ministry of traditional and contemporary gospel music. These ladies know how to bring the house down in a way you won’t forget! This music mission has also formed an exchange with a gospel choir in France — AVP went to France in 2004, the French visited us in 2005.
Director: Rev. Andrea Cornett-Scott

Baldwin Charm is prime habitat for songbirds that fly a cappella and specialize in a light touch with popular tunes and a spirit of fun.
Director: Melissa Sumner
http://www.geocities.com/baldwincharm/

Baldwin Christian Ministries (BCM) connects interdenominational Christian students in prayer and play, Bible study, and community service. BCM hosts a faculty colloquium called the Mars Hill Lecture Series about connections between faith and learning.
Advisor - Melinda Brown

Baldwin Program Board (BPB) The BPB are the gals who pull off the cultural coups. Every year the board fills up the MBC social calendars with movies, entertainers, dancers, and other artistic events. The front line of talent scouting for campus entertainment.
Advisor: Marie Mainard O'Connell
http://academic.mbc.edu/bpb/

Black Student Alliance is made up of any students who wish to join, including awesome African American sisters in support of one another, with a willingness to share their culture with the MBC community.
President: Tiffany Jackson '07
Advisors: Amy Tillerson and Joanne Harris

Bluestocking, the MBC yearbook, is a great org for students with creative interests in writing, photography, and graphic design. Student staff works to capture the spirit of each school year.
Advisor: Morgan Alberts Smith ’99
bluestocking@mbc.edu
http://www.mbc.edu/student/studentmedia.asp

Campus Comments, the student newspaper, represents the student voice of a student—run college with student staff who are into writing, journalism, and/or print media, and who encourage all students to submit articles and opinion essays. It’s ALL about students!
Advisors: Dr. Bruce Dorries & Dawn Medley
campuscomments@mbc.edu
http://www.mbc.edu/student/studentmedia.asp

Campus Crusade is all about sharing the faith. This all denominations welcome Christian group seeks opportunities to study and discuss the Bible, worship, and pray in a group setting. Fellowship and encouragement are the paybacks.
Advisor: Melinda Brown

Caribbean Student Association — More than just blue water and reggae, this group tells the stories and shares the tradition of Caribbean, South American, Central American, and African culture.
President: Tene Young '08
Advisor: Rev. Andrea Cornett-Scott

Circle K (sponsored by Kiwanis International) has an active MBC Chapter for those who believe in random — and defined — acts of kindness (i.e. community service) through volunteer service on campus and in the community.
Advisor: Diane Kent

College Democrats and College Republicans give members opportunities to work for their party or to learn about a party and the political process. Members meet with similar clubs from surrounding colleges, and others from party headquarters in Washington DC and the local/state Committees, as well as host events on campus.
Democrats Advisor: Dr. Laura van Assendelft
Republicans Advisor: Dr. Carey Usher

Colleges Against Cancer’s MBC Chapter is made up of just the right kind of passionate women dedicated to educating the MBC community about American Cancer Society initiatives, research, and advocacy.
Advisors: Christina Daniel & Dr. Roderic Owen

COSMOS: International Club for MBC students from around the globe and any student interested in world cultures — this group hosts the must-do Culture Fest and other events. True to their global nature, they also travel.
Advisors: Dr. Alice Araujo & Dr. Daniel Metraux

Fellowship of Christian Athletes meets for fellowship and a shared belief in Jesus Christ in the MBC huddle (chapter).
Advisor - Donna Miller

Fencing “Hallllo! My name is Inigo Montoya!” Princess Bride fans a nd sword enthusiasts take up arms! The Fencing Club is for newbies and the more experienced swordswoman. The club is open to all students, faculty, and staff and competes in USFA tournaments and intercollegiate matches.
Advisor: Val Gangwer

Greater Things Dance Ministry A truly, and literally, moving experience. This student choreographed and directed liturgical dance ministry seeks to promote spiritual growth through movement. The choreography embraces African-American dance expression.
Advisor: Rev. Andrea Cornett-Scott

Habitat for Humanity is all about home. The MBC chapter rallies to help families build or renovate homes in the area and raise funds for Habitat projects. You don’t have to be Builder Bob to participate; you just need a heart of gold.
Advisor: Dr. James Gilman & Dr. Carey Usher
540-887-7065/540-887-7064

Kuumba Players Kuumba — Swahili for “Creativity”! This theatre group explores, expresses, and celebrates African-American life. Thespians and non-thespians welcome!
Director: Barbara Jackson '08
Advisor: Rev. Andrea Cornett-Scott and Joanne Harris

Lacrosse Crosse your heart and take the field. This MBC team lets you learn the fundamentals. No experience necessary and all equipment is provided!
Advisor: Donna Miller

Latinas Unidas is just the place for uniting Latina sisters and other students interested in Latin American culture.
President: Chantel Brace '08
Advisor: Rev. Andrea Cornett-Scott

Libations is the literary megaphone for the African-American voice at MBC. This annual publication allows African-American students the chance to show off their stuff through poetry, prose, short stories, photography, and art.
Editor: Barbara Jackson '08
Advisor: Rev. Andrea Cornett-Scott and Dr. Sarah Kennedy

Kappa Delta Pi is an international honor society in education that is dedicated to scholarship and excellence in education. The Alpha Gamma Delta Chapter at MBC encourages members to take active roles in promoting worthy educational ideas and practices. GPA requirements for membership are a 3.5 for undergraduates and a 3.8 for graduate students. Induction ceremonies are held in spring. More information can be found at http://www.mbc.edu/kdp/.

Madrigal Singers is for those who enjoy “a polyphonic part-song originating in the 14th century, which is marked by secular text and a freely imitative style and counterpoint” (per Webster’s). AKA: beautiful madrigal or chamber music by select members of the college choir.
Director: Jolene Flory

Mary Baldwin College Choir sings. A lot. And beautifully. As a collective of soloist-caliber vocalists, the choir shares the joy of music in concert, at major campus events, and on tour.
Director: David Tate

MBC Dance Company Tappin’ toes and dancin’ souls unite! The MBC Dance Company explores many different dance forms and participates on and off campus year round. These events include the fall pep rally, holiday parades, performances at basketball games, and a spring show.
Advisor: Irene Sarnelle

MBC Theatre. Consider this your audition call! All thespians — experienced or not — have a shot at being cast in one or more of five productions (one of them a musical) each year, and sometimes experimental shows.
Advisors: Dr. Virginia Francisco & Theresa Southerington
http://academic.mbc.edu/theatre/

Miscellany proves we are quite literary and oh-so-artsy in this annual publication devoted to poetry, prose, short stories, photography, drawings and paintings by students and faculty. (These students also know where the best coffee houses in Staunton are located!)
Advisors: Richard Plant & Molly Petty

President’s Society is for students who’ve distinguished themselves as all-around achievers and are selected to host prospective students overnight and support certain special events, phonathons, and marketing activities.
Advisor: Roberta Palmer

Psychology Club is for MBC students who are interested in Psychology as a profession. The club provides opportunities for MBC students to get involved and volunteer in the Staunton community.
Advisor: Dr. Chadwick Blackwell

Residence Hall Association (RHA) RHA brings excitement into life on the halls! These ladies are all about community – from planning fun social events to keeping tabs on repairs needed in the halls, these gals are at your service!
Advisor: Melinda Brown

Riding Club members canter to a different beat with opps for riding at qualified stables and learning more about the art and athleticism of riding.
Advisor: Irene Sarnelle

ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) proves that women make great leaders and soldiers, and are ready to commit to one of the nation’s armed services upon graduation. The ROTC program is based in Lexington at VMI. Mary Baldwin students in the VWIL corps of cadets may or may not also be in ROTC.
ROTC Coordinator: Brig. Gen. Mike Bissell

S.O.U.L.S. (Sisters Out Understanding and Loving Sisters) know the value of having a safe, accepting, confidential place to give/receive unconditional acceptance about feminist and gay/bisexual/lesbian issues. All members join the discussion and share leadership.
Advisor: Kathy McCleaf

S.V.E.A. (Student Virginia Education Association) networks future educators with those already in the profession through projects in the local community, membership in several professional organizations, and more.
Advisor: Dr. Lowell Lemons

Soc. Club The Soc. (sōsh) Club is for MBC gals with an interest in Sociology/Social Work. They are all about service activities, community involvement, and peer mentoring opportunities. The (sōsh) club also works to provide opportunities to gain hands-on graduate studies and occupational information.
Advisor: Dr. Carey Usher

Student Fine Arts Association — SFAA is a student run organization whose purpose is to promote interrelation between the fine arts departments, develop and maintain ties to the artistic community both on the MBC campus and within the Staunton/Augusta community, and fundraise for campus beautification projects. SFAA is open to all students of MBC who have an interest in the arts.
Advisor: Jim Sconyers Jr.

Student Government Association is the grand dame of all campus organizations and requires its own set of pages on officers, senators, Honor Council, Judicial Board, lots of committees, and more. Bodacious numbers of leadership opps. Dive into more info online, then join up!
Executive Council Advisor: Velma Carman Bryant '01

Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) is all about go-to-it and get-it-done gals into learning about free enterprise. These gogetters learn to lead, collaborate as a team and communicate within business models.
Advisor: Janet Ewing

T.E.A.R. (Together for the Earth and Animal Rights) seems like an org for every living thing to freely join at birth. Yet it takes these special women to make us aware of threats to planet earth and the animals who inhabit it — and what we can do about it. TEAR into it with this group.
Advisor: Dr. Daniel Stuhlsatz

The Spencer Society Get ready to dial ... it’s The Spencer Society — a select group of MBC women who raise money for the Annual Fund. These students call alumnae/i during fall and spring phonathons. All members are interviewed and chosen by the Annual Fund staff.
Advisor: Jennifer Moriarty

Umoja Chronicles embrace topics from students, faculty, staff, and organizations that celebrate the cultures of American ethnic minorities. This newsletter is edited by the Office of African-American and Multicultural Affairs.
Advisor: Joanne Harris