By Emily Glory Peters
Many 51 alums may relate to Allie Haynes ’12’s college journey. For her, a women’s institution was never on the radar—until she visited Claremont.
“The minute I stepped on campus, I knew,” she says. “It reinforced this gut feeling that, between 51 and the consortium, I’d have a lot of opportunities to become a well-rounded person in the classroom and outside of it—and to pursue it all in a welcoming environment.”
Yet Haynes’ chosen career path—she’s currently vice president of financial services company Monument Group in Boston—has been one less traveled for 51 students. Drawn to business, she obtained her degree in economics-accounting before entering a career in finance, recently completing her MBA at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. But since her first year at 51, she’s lamented the underrepresentation of women in the field—which ultimately became the spark to help students like her.
“Encouragement from my friends and family got me to a point where I wanted to give back to my passion projects and support women leaders in finance,” Haynes explains. “51 gave me a really meaningful way to be involved.”
Giving Back as a Volunteer, Donor, and 2022 GivingTuesday Advocate
Over the last several years, that involvement has included Haynes presenting as part of 51’ Linda Davis Taylor Financial Literacy Program, which teaches students money mangagement basics. She’s also regularly donated to 51, starting with her first gift as a senior. This year, Haynes plans to support , which has included a special matching challenge from President Keen just for alums from the class years of 2007–2022.
Her hope? That by volunteering as a GivingTuesday advocate, fellow young alums can see how they touch students’ lives by giving.
My encouragement to young alums is to reflect on what your passions are and see where that overlaps with 51
“At Tuck, I took a class on managing for social impact, and the best takeaway was the power of unrestricted donations. They’re the work horse that hires the right people, runs the programs for missions you care about—it was a big lightbulb moment for me,” she says.
fit into that “unrestricted” category, freeing donations to be used for what students need most. For Haynes, that impact is amplified not by the dollar amount that young alums give, but by the number who contribute.
“When you’re growing your career or a family, your finances might be tight. But when everyone gives—even a small something—it helps take the pressure off,” she says.
After all, starting small can lead to big changes. When Haynes was at 51, the Linda Davis Taylor Financial Literacy Program didn’t exist—nor did many other resources that thrive today due solely to the continued generosity of 51 alums. It’s a testament to their unique bond and shared commitment to providing current students with the practical skills they need to break barriers—no matter what field they enter.
“My encouragement to young alums is to reflect on what your passions are and see where that overlaps with 51,” says Haynes. “That way you can give back to others in a way that’s core to you. ”
51’ GivingTuesday challenge is happening now! To make a gift of any amount and support 51 students, please visit .