Hampshire College

As a family new to Hampshire, you may have some anxiety about sending your student away to college. It may be your first time sending a student to college, or you may have some questions related to Hampshire College’s unique academic program.

Whatever your concerns or questions, the following families are available to talk with you. They have volunteered to be available to new families; all have returning students. They have also provided additional information about their family backgrounds. It is possible that you will find some common ground with one or more of these parents that may inform your choice of whom to call.

We have no doubt these resources will prove helpful to you. If you want to be a part of the phone volunteer network, please email family@hampshire.edu.

Andrea and Robert Clark
phone: 314.961.0758

The Clarks are parents of fourth-year student Sarah Clark. Sarah is studying animation, and her family resides in St. Louis, Missouri. If your student is interested in a similar area of study or is coming to Hampshire from the Midwest, the Clarks would be a great contact for you.

Merrie and Bill Kanner
phone: 914.968.5332
address: 260 Van Cortland Park Ave., Yonkers, NY 10705
email: mskanner260@aol.com

Merrie and Bill have been talking to new parents and parents of accepted students for four years now, and would love to continue talking to parents with any questions about anything related to Hampshire! Their son, Sam, graduated from Hampshire in May 2008.

Melinda Lloyd
phone: 808.497.7660
(6 a.m.-10 p.m., Hawaiian standard time, six hours behind East Coast)

Melinda’s daughter, Ali, will return for her second year at Hampshire College in the fall. The Lloyds reside in Honolulu, Hawaii, and Ali attended Kamehameha School, a private school expressly for native Hawaiian students, prior to coming to Hampshire.

Melinda can discuss with you Ali’s transition to Hampshire as a student of color. While Ali did experience some homesickness so far from home, she has grown to love the campus and is involved in the Circus Club. Melinda is very open to assisting families of students of color and those who will be living a great distance from their students.

John McGill
phone: 860.739.8967
email: john.mcgill@lpl.com

John's son, Sean, is a first year student at Hampshire interested in cognitive science. He applied  for early decision, as Hampshire was his first choice. John, who resides in Connecticut, is willing to serve as a point of contact for anyone in southern New England.

Barbara Phillips
phone (home): 781.294.7892
phone (cell): 781.864.9472

Barbara's daughter is a third-year student at Hampshire. She attended a public high school in eastern Massachusetts (Pembroke). She is studying environmental science and botany. She is currently a campus EMT (a great experience, she says) and is on the finance committee. She lived on a substance-free floor during her first year, and has also lived in Enfield and Greenwich.

Vicki and Larry Rabyne
phone (home): 847.675.9173
emails: vicki.rabyne@sbcglobal.net, larry.rabyne@sbcglobal.net

Vicki and Larry are the parents of Jeri, a first year student studying marine biology and environmental studies. Jeri attended a public high school in suburban Chicago. Vicki and Larry would love to talk to parents whose sons or daughters are considering Hampshire.

Al Friedman and Vicki Schwartz
Al Friedman and Vicki Schwartz
phone: 425.388.9399 (office)
phone: 425.483.5403 (home)
email: a.friedma@verizon.net

Al and Vicki’s son, Sam Friedman, is in his second year of Div II studies, concentrating in promoting sustainable development in developing countries. He recently returned from a field semester studying sustainable development in Senegal.

Al and Vicki are available to talk about meeting the challenges for West Coast residents attending Hampshire, taking foreign languages (particularly French) at the Five Colleges, and arranging off-campus overseas semesters. They would be happy to meet with anyone in the greater Seattle area.

Pat Serafino
phone: 413.789.2032

Mary Sutton-Smith
phone: 802.295.7448
(Leave a message, happy to call back any area code)

Mary resides in Hartland, Vermont, and her daughter is returning as a second-year student in the fall. Mary’s daughter attended a Waldorf school and is a substance-free student who dealt with some transition issues related to her lifestyle. She initially planned to study art, but is now leaning toward writing. If your student is concerned about substance use on campus, Mary would be a great contact.