Different Paths, One Start
The stories of four alumni—Margaret Cuninggim ’32, Earl Bishop ’61, Wendell Foster ’81, and Claire Meneely ’00—and their diverse careers.
by: The PDS/USN Alumni BoardFrom its beginnings almost a century ago, graduates of our alma mater have excelled, becoming leaders in a variety of professions. Providing the educational foundation for life and work is the cornerstone of University School. Below are the stories of four such alumni. Each followed a different path, but all made or are making a difference and got their start at PDS/USN.
Advocate for Women’s Collegiate Education:
Margaret L. Cuninggim (Class of ’32), earned degrees from Duke, Columbia, and Northwestern universities.
She would later serve a decade as Dean of Women at the University of Tennessee (Knoxville), where she developed and nurtured leadership, governance, and social opportunities for women.
In 1966, Dr. Cuninggim came to Vanderbilt as Dean of Women. During her tenure, the number of women enrolled grew, and their opportunities on campus were enhanced. Later, she served as Dean of Student Services, overseeing a variety of offices and initiatives that affected both women and men.
Dr. Cuninggim was a member of Mortar Board and a long-time Board Member of Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, which is dedicated to recognizing academic accomplishment of first year of college students.
Because of her lasting contributions to the higher education of collegiate women, the Women’s Center at Vanderbilt was named to honor her legacy.
Internationally Known Fern Scientist:
At PDS L. Earl Bishop (Class of ’61) began a love for plants, birds, and music that lasted his entire life. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Wisconsin (Madison) with a degree in botany and music, then earned a Ph.D. from the University of Hawaii (Honolulu) also in botany.
Ferns were his passion. He did extensive field-work and went on collecting trips to Costa Rica, Alaska, Hawaii, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Brazil, discovering several new species and rediscovering several thought to be extinct. Dr. Bishop taught at the collegiate level and published extensively on his findings.
Earl was a skilled bird-watcher /bander. He held a U.S. Fish and Wildlife master bird-banding authorization and used his talents to band birds in Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Alaska.
An excellent musician, Dr. Bishop was a noted organist. His hobbies included cultivating orchards and lilies.
Media Executive
Wendell Foster (Class of ’81) is Vice President of Multiplatform Program Planning and Scheduling with ABC Entertainment in Burbank, California. Wendell first joined the Walt Disney Company in 1987. During his tenure there, he has held research and scheduling positions for ABC-TV, Disney/ABC Domestic Television, and Disney Channel.
Wendell’s current responsibilities include serving as the liaison between scheduling and other departments including digital media, current programming, affiliate relations, sales, news, ESPN, and research. He is also responsible for working with these areas to
develop future programming strategies.
Mr. Foster earned a bachelor’s degree in mass media from Northwestern University and a master’s degree in communication management from the University of Southern California.
He continues to be involved with University School by serving on its National Alumni Board of Visitors and coming back annually to share his expertise with USN trustees, administrators, faculty, and students (and to visit his parents). He resides in South Pasadena, California with his family.
Cookie Entrepreneur
Claire Meneely (Class of '00) began baking homemade bread and selling it to her friends' parents when she was in middle school. That business venture was short-lived; however, her first entrepreneurial experience convinced her that she wanted to be a professional baker and sell her creations when she “grew up.”
After completing USN, Claire enrolled in the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco and worked in the Bay Area for a few years. She then moved to Paris, France and spent twelve months working in various Parisian bakeries.
Since returning to Nashville, she has established Dozen Bakery, a Nashville sweet shop, located in the farmer's markets of both Nashville and Franklin. She will be opening a retail location of Dozen Bakery in Sylvan Park in the first quarter of 2014. It will feature the artisan breads that she learned to make in Paris in addition to the sweets her bakery currently makes.
Claire is active in the local organic movement. Her products are packaged in eco-friendly materials and her treats are made from fresh ingredients such as milk, cream, butter, and eggs supplied by area farmers.
Claire is active in the local organic movement. Her products are packaged in eco-friendly materials and her treats are made from fresh ingredients such as milk, cream, butter, and eggs supplied by area farmers.
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Janet Noble3/8/2013 @ 6:07 PMAlthough Earl Bishop was two years ahead of me at PDS, we did share a couple of classes together: French and orchestra. I think that being in the orchestra was extra-curricular. Earl was an excellent violinist or violist at that time, and I held him in awe, trying to do my best with lesser talent. He was also a kind upper-classman who shared his quiet sense of humor with me on occasion and was never too busy to be a friend. Ironically he resembled my brother slightly, physically and in his musical talent, and this profile revealed that, like my brother, Earl became an organist. All four profiles helped underscore how PDS/USN has been and continues to be a special place where students can define themselves and develop their special talents.
