Adrianne Singer ’64 brings savvy and heart to serving hometown and Skidmore
Adrianne Spevack Singer ’64 is a veteran community builder and consummate leader. Over the years, she has used a wealth of personal and professional know-how to transform the quality of life in Greenwich, Conn. From enhancing and expanding a nationally recognized domestic violence agency to digitizing local government services, Adrianne’s leadership has earned accolades. Selected 2019 “Greenwich Town Champion,” she is featured in the current issue of Fairfield County’s Look.
For Adrianne, the role of community leader is one of several “second acts.” The Skidmore English major retired in 2001 after a successful 23-year career at IBM. As director of communications, she led IBM’s global sales and business partner communications and marketing. She went on to spend two years in local Greenwich government before signing on as President and CEO of the YWCA in 2003. Over her 13-year tenure there, Adrianne brought the nearly insolvent community hub back to life.Through record-breaking fundraising and financial discipline, she turned the YWCA into a strong, financially viable, debt-free organization. In addition to renovating the facility, she added programs for children and families and expanded its most critical services. Her pioneering efforts to educate Greenwich citizens about the devastating effects of domestic violence were coupled with dramatically increased free victim services. Vice President Joe Biden recognized Adrianne for leading one of the country’s preeminent domestic violence agencies.
Somehow, amid this busy swirl of civic and professional commitments, she has managed to champion Skidmore as an alumna volunteer.
As president of the Boston Alumni Club in the mid-1960s-‘70s, she spearheaded one of its most successful fund drives and oversaw a spike in membership. After she and her family moved to Greenwich, Conn., Adrianne became active in the Fairfield Alumni Club. Her involvement deepened in 1978, when she was elected vice president of the Alumni Association Board of Directors, a key advisory body to Skidmore’s President and Board of Trustees. Adrianne returned to the board in 1993 as a member of its Nominating Committee and two years later, was elected to a three-year term as trustee. In this role, she helped shape the direction of the College as it transitioned to a fully co-educational institution and laid the foundation for its interdisciplinary curriculum. Adrianne has also served as chair of the Friends of the President Committee and class fund chair. A longtime class agent, she celebrates her 55th as reunion chair and class president.
Scope recently chatted with Adrianne to find out more about what has kept this energetic alumna engaged with the College for more than half a century.
Which volunteer role has been the most meaningful to you?
“I would say “alumna trustee.” During those years, I gained a tremendous understanding of the direction the College wanted to go and I participated in some key decisions that affect Skidmore today. Those early discussions led to fully integrated co-education and today’s heavy focus on science and scientific literacy, mathematics and a strong business department. These key areas ensure Skidmore’s competitiveness.”
What was the most influential aspect of your undergraduate experience?
“I think it was the many philosophy courses I took. Because registration favored the beginning of the alphabet and my last name was Spevack, I was closed out of most English freshman courses. This situation resulted in my getting the go-ahead to take advanced English coursework, which ultimately freed up my time to study philosophy. Classes with Eric Weller and others taught me the power of logic and systematic analysis, which I use to this day in all my decisions.”
What events are indelibly etched into memory from those days?
“In 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated while I was a Skidmore student. I was one of three lead editors of the Skidmore News. We thought it was very important that we attend the funeral so we drove to Washington, D.C. to participate in the proceedings. On our return, we wrote an editorial about our very memorable and moving experience. I don’t think any of us will ever forget our trip.”
Why have you devoted so much time and energy to Skidmore?
“I credit Skidmore with providing the opportunity for me and other women to develop leadership skills, competence and the confidence to stand up for what we believe in.”
Adrianne will return to campus May 30 – June 2 to celebrate Reunion with classmates. In the meantime, she enjoys traveling around the world and in the U.S. and Canada with husband David. They visit family, which includes two children and five grandchildren. Adrianne remains engaged with issues of the day as a member of the United Nations Women’s International Forum and Off the Record, the longest running women’s foreign policy forum in the country. There is no doubt that Adrianne will continue to stand up for what she believes in and help others do the same.
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