Welcome to the Summer 2025 issue of Your Connection - now in a new digital format!

Your Connection has long been a treasured resource for our alumni, and this shift marks the beginning of exciting new possibilities. Our new digital format allows us to bring you information and tell our stories in richer, more dynamic ways—with videos, photo galleries, and extended content. Most importantly, it allows us to stay connected with you, our beloved alumni, wherever you are!

We hope you enjoy this enhanced experience!

Dear Converse alumni,

There’s nothing quite like the energy and joy of being back on Converse’s beautiful campus. Walking familiar paths, seeing old friends, and reliving the moments that shaped us during Reunion 2025 was a powerful reminder of how deeply connected we are—through memories, experiences, and a shared legacy as Valkyries. 

A heartfelt thank you to our incredible Alumni Relations Team and Alumni Association Board. Their commitment and leadership helped make this reunion such a meaningful success. 

As your AAB President, my vision is to celebrate and elevate the remarkable talent, ties, and reach of our alumni network. We are everywhere, and we are essential to ensuring the Converse experience continues to transform the generations to come. There are so many ways to stay engaged: giving to the Converse Fund, planning a reunion, volunteering your time, or mentoring the next generation. Your involvement not only strengthens Converse—it inspires our students and reinforces the value of our community beyond the gates of 580 East Main.

Every gift, every hour of service, and every story shared helps carry our legacy forward. Together, as proud Valkyries, we ensure that Converse continues to be a place where voices are lifted, dreams are ignited, and leaders are shaped.

With gratitude and Converse pride,

Valerie Dowling ’07

Alumni Association Board President

More than 200 Converse alumni gathered on campus for Reunion Weekend 2025 on April 25-26.

It was quite the celebration for the Class of 1975, who were inducted into the Golden Club during Founder’s Day. This was the first class to have the Red Devil as a mascot, and they certainly brought that spirit to Reunion Weekend!

This year’s Class Act Gift award winners are the Class of 1959, raising $102,817 for the Converse Fund. Our Participation Award Winners are the Class of 1975, with a total of 63 gifts from their class and exceeding their fundraising goal of $50,000!

Save the date for next year’s Reunion on April 23-25, 2026 where we will welcome the Class of 1976 to the Golden Club! You can also get a head start on the "It's a Class Act" Challenge by making your gift to the Converse Fund today!

The Converse Legacy Club is an esteemed group of graduates with a family Converse legacy. Graduates whose parent, grandparent or great-grandparent, aunt or uncle, or sibling attended Converse are considered part of this group, and are given the unique opportunity of being hooded during the Commencement ceremony by their legacy relative. 

Congratulations to our 2025 Legacies!

Gretchen Elise Berry - Gretchen was hooded by her mother, Ms. Sharon Simmons Berry, Class of 2001.

Damihje Jieru Ferguson - Damihje was hooded by his aunt, the Honorable Stinson Woodward Ferguson, Class of 2007.

Madison Nicole Gardin - Madison is the daughter of Mrs. Nicole Gardin, Class of 2018.

Brianna Brooke Genoble - Brianna is the niece of Mrs. Amy Rohring, Class of 2006.

Claryn Ivy Greenway - Claryn was hooded by her mother, Mrs. Pamela Lancaster Greenway, Class of 2024.

Shelby Anne Kincannon - Shelby was hooded in honor of her grandmother, Mrs. Barbara Wrightson Bobotes, Class of 1965.

Brianna Marie Tucker - Brianna was hooded by her grandfather, Mr. Aubrey Tucker, Class of 1979.

Makensie Elizabeth Wilson - Makensie is the niece of Vicki Wilson Davidson, Class of 1988.

Claryn Ivy Greenway ’25 was hooded by her mother, Mrs. Pamela Lancaster Greenway ’24.

Gretchen Elise Berry ’25 was hooded by her mother, Ms. Sharon Simmons Berry ’01.

MEET YOUR 2025-2026

ALUMNI BOARD

VALERIE DOWLING ’07

President

CARY PERKINS ’96

President-Elect

Recognition Chair

KATY KLINE TYNDALL ’13

Secretary

GWEN STEMBRIDGE ’10

Connecting Alumni to Converse (CAC), Chair

MYLES LAWTER ’13

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee (DEIC), Chair

LAURA MASSEY ’01

Converse Alumni Recruitment & Retention Effort (CARRE), Chair

SUSAN MISKELLY ’97

Communications Strategist

Allison Benton ’21

Wallis Crum Bond ’87

Kerry Easler ’96

Yolanda Escudero ’24

Cimone Francis ’16

Shenna Gaines ’13

Jessica Case Holland ’03

Caitlynn Jarvis ’20

Addie Ledbetter ’17

Chunsta Miller ’02

Amanda Newell ’12

Diane Pickens O'Connell ’77

Jackie Jones Putnam ’75

Robbie Moseley Richards ’92

Cassidy Rindge ’19

Sandy Kopp Roberts ’75

Maria Sellers ’91

Kay Stricklin ’73

Ashley Thomason Whitt ’11

Nina Sullivan Williams ’77

Members At-Large

SUMTER, SC

January 2025

Hosted at the home of

Karen Sansom McCreight ’88.

GREENVILLE, SC

January 2025

Hosted by Kim Varnadoe Kent ’97

at the Greenville Country Club.

HARTSVILLE, SC

January 2025

Hosted at the home of Rhonda Tedder Coker ’84.

ASHEVILLE, NC

March 2025

Hosted by Liz Harkins Biosca ’64, Sarah Greene Butrum ’70, and Millie Bitter Elmore ’68 at the Biltmore Forest Country Club.

NASHVILLE, TN

April 2025

Hosted by Amanda Newell ’12 and Sarah Martin Scott ’12 at Corsair Distillery and Taproom.

SPARTANBURG, SC

May 2025

A Spartanburg Chapter Event hosted at Fifth Third Park - the new home of the Hub City Spartanburgers! 

CLASS NOTES ARE ONLINE!

Class Notes are an important part of the Converse connection, and we want to make it even easier to stay engaged with your classmates!

Finding Class Notes:

• Visit converse.edu/ClassNotes
• Email alumni@converse.edu for the password.

Submitting Class Notes:

Click on the purple button labeled "Tell Your Story" and share your news with us! You may be featured on our social media pages or in the next issue of Your Connection!

Stay connected with your fellow alumni by following the Converse Alumni Association social media pages:

And, be sure to follow the official Converse University social media pages: