An Unspoken Bond

When Wren Manly ’11 walked in the door of the Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland, Maine, Ann Holton Jenne ’78 was unaware of the bond they shared.

“As I was preparing for my interview,” Wren Manly said, “I saw that Ann attended Wellesley College, and I remember thinking she must’ve gone to Dana Hall or is at least familiar with it. I scrolled further down her LinkedIn profile, and sure enough, I was right! At the end of my interview, Ann asked if there was anything else I’d like to discuss. I excitedly mentioned that I saw she attended Dana and added that I did, too. Thankfully, Ann matched my excitement!”

“In that moment, everything clicked,” Ann Jenne said. “It was clear why our connection felt so positive and natural. It’s always inspiring to discover shared roots with someone who values their Dana experience as deeply as I do.”

Ann Jenne grew up watching her parents support organizations that mattered to them and internalized the importance of fundraising at an early age. While at Dana Hall, she participated in Dialing for Dana evenings where students called parents, alumnae and friends to solicit donations. “Sharing my love for my alma mater made fundraising a natural path for me,” she said.

She began working in the arts world after Dana, including as a gallery assistant at the J. Todd Galleries in Wellesley, as an events coordinator for the Vatican Judaica Exhibition in Miami, as director of Special Events at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, and as director of Development at the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Wren Manly, who studied art history at Connecticut College and earned her master’s in art and museum studies from Georgetown University, has worked in various museum development roles, including membership and special events assistant at the Smithsonian Freer|Sackler Galleries (now the National Museum of Asian Art) and advancement associate at the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

The two both cite the ability to develop relationships as some of the fruits of their time at Dana Hall, which has also paid dividends in their professional careers. “Being part of an international community taught me the art of building meaningful connections across diverse backgrounds,” Ann Jenne said. “These experiences have deeply enriched my ability to foster bonds and communicate effectively in my work.”

Wren Manly agrees. As Sophomore Class Co-President, a dorm proctor, All-School Co-President and a varsity captain, she “learned how to connect with people and build strong relationships in these leadership roles. Most importantly, I learned how to listen. Fundraising is all about forging a human connection and listening to your donors.”

While Ann Jenne, who is the museum’s Acting Chief Advancement Officer, has worked with Wren Manly, who serves as Major Gifts Officer, for only the past year, the two already share a special connection, one often found among alumnae.

“It’s the unspoken bond that Dana instills in its students — the camaraderie, shared purpose,” Ann Jenne said. “And now, working at the Farnsworth Art Museum together, we have the joy of sharing the museum’s collection and programs with individuals in Maine, across the country, and around the globe. It’s deeply rewarding.”

“I feel like Ann and I can just give each other a look, and we just know,” Wren Manly echoed. “Fundraising is hard work, but we both have the personality trait of using humor to get through stressful situations. There is a real sense of camaraderie that I am so grateful for.”