03/17/2021
Alumna Spotlight: Gloria Harrison-Hall, Class of 1993
By Gloria Harrison-Hall with Benjamin Cushing
“Raise your hand if you received reduced lunch as a child. Raise your hand if you are on your way to becoming a first-generation college student.” As an Emmy-nominated Supervising Producer at NBC, these are the questions I’ve asked an audience of Black and brown high school students who filled the studio for a career fair day. As they saw my hand raised, those who were reluctant realized that I understood their journey. And then I told them, “I am living proof that you can succeed.” What they didn’t know is that the successful Producer they saw dressed up in a black blazer and a green shirt grew up in Dorchester, an inner-city of Boston.
My success began before I was born; my mother signed me up for the METCO program with the hope of giving me a better opportunity by providing me an education in an affluent suburb. Growing up, I attended schools in Wayland, Massachusetts, from first grade through high school. I was one of eight Black students in my graduating class of about one hundred seventy kids.
My experience at Pine Manor College was transformational. One of the most important aspects of my Pine Manor College experience was meeting my allies – mostly other Black women – Britt Despenza-Green, Jennifer Brooks, Sheila McKay, Robin Cain-Strickland, and Esther Mateo-Orr, with whom I would build a sisterhood that has continued over thirty years. I am thankful to my Educational Angels, professors who went beyond their job descriptions to help me, including Professor Bob Owczarek, professor of Theatre and Director of Communications, and my Philosophy Professor Stephen Thompson, who pushed me to think more critically and independently. I also spent quality time with my Educational Angels in the Learning Resource Center who helped me produce my best work. While that support was available to everyone, I was a student who took advantage of it, and that is why I succeeded at Pine Manor College. I was on the Dean’s List, a proud member of the Pine Manor Singers, a Residential Advisor, and Editor for the Pine Manor Post. One of the most rewarding opportunities was having the privilege of speaking at my Commencement in 1993!
In 2020, I created along with my classmate from Wayland Public Schools, actress and writer Carrie Clifford, the podcast Hard Candy & Fruit Snacks to start brave conversations about systemic racism and inequality in America. Anchored in our childhood experiences, we reflect on growing up together while feeling apart, and tackle hot topical and timely issues. Carrie and I have partnered with the Office of IDEaS at Brigham and Women’s Hospital to launch the Social Justice Scholarship. One hundred percent of donations will provide funding for two Wayland METCO seniors as well as two high school seniors from Boston Public Schools to attend college.
I invite you, the Pine Manor College community of students, faculty, administration, and alumnae to stand with me in supporting first-generation low-income students who are motivated to achieve what I did by graduating from college. This is how we change lives. This is how we fulfill the vision of achieving success in America. Let’s pay this forward so we can have more Glorias.
https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/social-justice-scholarship
You can listen to the Hard Candy & Fruit Snacks podcast here:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hard-candy-fruit-snacks/id1532914761
