Alumni Spotlight - Jacqueline Maisonpierre '05

Name: Jacqueline Maisonpierre

Hometown: Danbury, Connecticut

Graduation Year: 2005

Where are you now? I live on a farm in East Haven and work in New Haven, CT.

What are you doing? I am the executive director with New Haven Farms, an innovative public health non-profit with the mission of promoting health and community development through urban agriculture. www.newhavenfarms.org After ten years working as an organic farmer and environmental educator I transitioned into the leadership position with New Haven Farms last spring.

What is your favorite Wooster memory? Tough to choose just one as I grew up at Wooster. My mom, “Ms. Barbara” taught there for nearly 20 years, and I was there from Kindergarten all the way through graduation. Given that today’s wet weather reminds me of flooded sports field, I’ll choose a lacrosse memory. I enjoy thinking back to running outside in the spring rain. We always had a blast with Mr. Hackett, even though he made us do campus runs in all conditions! We just laughed so incredibly much after school each day; going home muddy and soaked made dinner and a shower feel very well deserved.

What impact did your Wooster education have on you? I attribute Wooster with so much of who I am. The sense of community that Wooster instilled in me has been the foundation for the life I have been privileged in choosing to live. I’ve very grateful for the sense of individual responsibility to a community that I learned from growing up at Wooster.

What advice would you like to share with current Wooster students? I’d like to encourage all students to take opportunities that come up for them, even if they are scary! You learn the most when you are being challenged. I lived in Spain my Sophomore year, choosing to take part in the Study Abroad program offered at the time. It was by far and away the best and scariest thing I had ever done at age 15. The experience shaped who I am in such a profound way. It’s the reason I have the job I have and has opened up countless doors for me.