Meet Our Alumnae
When it comes to talking about Foxcroft’s influence on their lives and careers, our alumnae have a lot to say. We’ve been asking those who come to the girls' boarding high school — whether it be to make a presentation, to enroll their daughters, or attend a special event — to share their thoughts. Here are a few of their responses:
Betsy Boyd, Class of 1992
Commercial airline pilot (retired)
Hometown: Lexington, KY | Current home: Atlanta, GA
Yale University (BA, History); FlightSafety International (Commercial Multi-engine pilot and Flight Instructor ratings)
My experience: I was always good at academics, but Foxcroft helped me grow into a well-rounded person by encouraging participation. The small classes and living with your teachers and peers didn't leave anywhere to hide for a shy person like myself. You end up being drawn into things you never thought you might try, and liking them! The culture of participation in Fox/Hound spills over into all aspects of life at Foxcroft, where you know you are always supported by your community and teammates.
Bottom line: I firmly believe my confidence to explore, fail, and keep trying came from my time at Foxcroft.
Molly Mosher, Class of 1977
Teacher of children with autism, Loudoun County Public Schools
Hometown: Palm Beach, FL | Current home: Hume, VA
American University, BA, Elementary and Special Education; George Mason University, Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis
My experience: During mini-term one year, Mrs. (Sally) Uhle [then Dean of Student Life] taught a class in child development. I loved it and became fascinated with child development. For my senior project, I volunteered at Children’s Hospital and was the first teenage volunteer in the Burn Unit, I think. The supervisor said, “This is really tough. This isn’t where you want to be.”
Bottom line: Teaching children with autism can be tough, but I love it. I love changing behaviors.
Traci L. Collins, Class of 1989
Director, Strategic Communications, Northrop Grumman
Hometown: Warrenton, VA | Current home: Reston, VA
Indiana University, Bloomington, IN (BA, Criminology)
My experience: Though I believe I came to Foxcroft with a fair degree of independence and confidence, my experiences at Foxcroft certainly bolstered those capabilities. I learned to refine my means of speaking with people to better engage, challenge and learn. I learned to acknowledge other perspectives and find common ground in order to develop closer bonds. The close interaction with teachers deepened my knowledge in areas that I knew I was interested and invested in, and in areas that were more difficult for me to grasp.
Bottom line: These are huge advantages as you enter the world, no matter what path in life you choose.
Rasha Elass, Class of 1987
War correspondent/independent journalist/writer
Hometown: Syria, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom | Current home: Washington, DC
George Washington University (BBS, International Business); American University (MS, Finance); Columbia University (MS, Journalism)
Experience: One of the main ways in which Foxcroft shaped my interests was through English class, even as I struggled with my writing skills at the time. At Foxcroft, academics really pushed me to think and to explore my own creativity. I will never forget sitting in English class, day in and day out, and engaging in conversation with the teacher and other classmates about the latest book that we had been assigned to read. It was the time when I learned one of the most important things about myself: That I love to write and read!
After Foxcroft, I pursued my passion for writing as a hobby, but that quickly bled over into my profession. When I worked in the banking sector, for example, I became a market analyst so that I researched and wrote market reports for a living.
Bottom line: I cannot imagine my life, both professionally and in terms of personal interests, without writing at the center of it. And I give Foxcroft a good chunk of the credit for teaching me this about myself.
Alice Lane Lloyd, Class of 1997
Owner and Innkeeper, Bartlett Pear Inn
Hometown: Easton, MD | Current home: Easton, MD
University of Maryland (BA, Sociology)
My experience: While I still remember some concrete lessons learned in classes, I am most guided by the organizational skills I learned balancing school work, extra activities, study time, and leisure time. I believe Foxcroft is where I became good at multitasking while remaining confident everything would get done, and done to the best of my ability.
Bottom line: I had no idea what I wanted “to be” when I was at Foxcroft! Knowing who you are, what kind of person you want to be, what traits you bring to a job, and how you balance your job with your other duties is what is important. Foxcroft is my foundational life experience.
Whitney Knapp Bowditch, Class of 1999
Visual Artist; Adjunct Art Instructor, Howard (MD) Community College
Hometown: Upperville, VA | Current town: Richmond, VA
Education: Denison University (BFA); The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (MFA)
My experience: It was largely during my time at Foxcroft when I discovered my strengths and was encouraged to pursue them. My classmates and I were inspired to dream big. All accomplishments were celebrated and setbacks felt temporary. There was never a felt sense of limitation — we were led to believe that anything was possible if we were determined. This philosophy, paired with a supportive family, provided my framework for a career as a visual artist.
During my junior year, my art teacher encouraged me to consider pursuing art at the college level. I took her suggestion seriously, and completed a six-week AP art program at Skidmore College that summer. During Interim of my senior year, I interned at an art gallery in Rhode Island. From that time forward, I had complete confidence in my career direction.
Bottom line: Foxcroft’s greatest gift to me was providing a nurturing environment where I developed a strong sense of self. I’m grateful for the confidence that was afforded to me by an all-girls environment during my most impressionable years.
Jillian Cairns Rosile, Class of 2007
Software Engineer at Google
Hometown: Chantilly, VA | Current home: Westminster, CO
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, BS in Mathematics
My experience: Foxcroft prepared me very well to enter an industry that is dominated by men. I was never the one girl who was interested in math and science in a sea of boys, so I learned confidence in my abilities and never questioned my capability due to my gender. Once the ratio was flipped, I could keep that confidence and hold my own in an industry where, often, I am the only woman in the room.
My advisor introduced me to a classmate’s father, who was a mathematician and entrepreneur. A few months later, he thought of me when there was an opening for an intern at his company. I learned a great deal there and made connections that led to future internships and jobs. The specific technical skills that I learned in that internship landed me my first job out of college, too, which started me along the path to my current dream job at Google.
Bottom line: I came to Foxcroft as a painfully shy, scared kid, and by the end of my time there I was leading clubs and even served as Student Head of School.
Sloane Coles, Class of 2007
Owner & Operator, Springledge LLC Farm; Grand Prix rider
Hometown: The Plains, VA | Current home: The Plains, VA
Drew University (BA, Sociology and business)
My experience: Going into college I was ahead with my work ethic because of Foxcroft. Being in a boarding school atmosphere and having had a chance to be more independent made a difference. A lot of students in college had trouble getting their work done and turning assignments in on time. That wasn’t a problem for me.
Riding was a huge help because I had to be so organized to get everything done. I was often doing more — I wanted to get all A’s, because I was gone for these long periods of time and I wanted the respect of the teachers. [A top junior, Sloane participated in the Exceptional Proficiency program at Foxcroft, spending the winter and other time off campus to train and compete.]
Riding was a huge help because I had to be so organized to get everything done. I was often doing more — I wanted to get all A’s, because I was gone for these long periods of time and I wanted the respect of the teachers. [A top junior, Sloane participated in the Exceptional Proficiency program at Foxcroft, spending the winter and other time off campus to train and compete.]
Bottom line: Foxcroft definitely organizes you for college and life afterwards.
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An all-girls boarding and day school in Northern Virginia, Foxcroft prepares young women in grades 9-12 for success in college and in life. Our outstanding academic program offers challenging courses, including Advanced Placement classes and an innovative STEM program. Our premiere equestrian program is nationally recognized, and our athletic teams have won conference and state championships. Experience the best in girls' boarding schools: visit Foxcroft.
