Carrie Pelzel ’70

Broadening Access to a Worldly Education, from One Alumna’s Backyard

Having grown up near Perry Pond, located on the Northfield campus, Carrie Pelzel ’70 did not have to travel far for her education. However, Carrie’s education transported her thousands of miles away “socially, intellectually, and emotionally,” she recalls.

Upon first arriving as a four-year day student at Northfield, Carrie remembers feeling “out of [her] league.” She credits her teachers for encouraging and challenging her, trusting that she could rise to every occasion and meet the rigorous standards of a Northfield education.

“Northfield changed the course of my life and my engagement with life,” reflects Carrie, who went on to work in educational advancement. “It led to my career choice and desire to broaden access to education.”

Carrie has given back to NMH since her graduation in 1970. “My Northfield experience was made possible by alumni who had done the same,” she says. Carrie gives out of desire to pay that support forward and provide access to education for future students. In honor of her 50th reunion, Carrie has made a bequest intention to endow a scholarship fund supporting female students. “I hope their world will be transformed as mine was,” she says.