Pingry was honored to welcome Dr. Antonia Novello, former Surgeon General of the United States (1990–1993), for the Gilbert H. Carver ’79 Memorial Lecture, which focuses on themes of self-esteem, acceptance, mental health, and well-being. Dr. Novello, the first woman and first Hispanic to serve as Surgeon General, is the author of Duty Calls: Lessons Learned from an Unexpected Life of Service. Co-author Jill Tietjen, an electrical engineer and an advocate for women’s achievement, joined her for the lecture. They met with fourth- and fifth-grade students on the Short Hills Campus, then visited Basking Ridge for the main event.

Anne DeLaney ’79, whose family established the lecture series in Gibb’s memory, explained to students in Basking Ridge that her family could not keep his struggles quiet after he took his life in 2008; in the 1970s, he struggled with his sexuality because he was gay, and his mother was sick and died, and nobody talked about either one at the time. Ms. DeLaney said she continues to be amazed by Pingry’s desire to reduce the stigma around mental health and take care of students’ and employees’ mental health.

Dr. Novello’s visit to Pingry stemmed from an event last fall, when Dartmouth College hosted all seven living Surgeons General for a panel discussion on the future of mental health and wellness. After that panel, Pingry administrators traveled to Dartmouth to learn more about the event and met Dr. Novello—and believed she would be an ideal speaker for the Carver Lecture Series.

Her medical training is as a pediatrician, so she cares deeply about the health of children and adolescents, and she has dealt with her own health struggles. Joining her onstage on the Basking Ridge Campus were Peer Leaders who engaged in a Q&A about topics including what she would prioritize today as Surgeon General (good health for everyone and good messaging), why she wrote a book (people can learn from her experiences and mistakes), her habits (“I study. I am a ‘freak-o’ for details and facts and numbers.”), the importance of service (“You will be remembered for your good deeds”), and people who inspired her while growing up (the Girl Scouts; her mother, who pushed for education). She left the students with important messages:

- “Mental health is no different than physical health.”
- “I did things because people told me I couldn’t.”
- “Don’t let anyone deter you in your dreams.”
- “Treat yourself, always, as if you were your best friend.”
- “Disregard the negative.”
- “I believe, as a minority and as a woman: don’t ever be afraid that you cannot get to the top. And when you get to the top, you owe something to your community. Give them the same opportunities.”

And her parting comments to Pingry: “Don’t weaken your values and don’t weaken your message or vision. Character is what this country needs for the future…Pingry is an example of what the United States’ schools should be, for the future of children in this country.”

The Gilbert H. Carver ’79 Memorial Lecture was established in memory of Gilbert Carver, Class of 1979, by his father Calvin and stepmother June Carver, his sister Marcey Carver, his brother Chip Carver, Jr., Class of 1977, and Chip’s wife Anne DeLaney, Class of 1979. This lecture series supports open dialogue on self-esteem and acceptance and—thanks to its supporters—will continue in perpetuity.


Contact: Greg Waxberg ’96, Communications Writer, Editor of The Pingry Review