News Archive
April 26, 2021
MOHO OSCAR WINNER
Chloé Zhao has made Oscar history.
On Sunday, Zhao became the first woman of color and the first woman of Asian descent to earn Best Director at the 93rd Academy Awards.
The Nomadland director is also only the second woman to win the award. The first was Kathryn Bigelow, who won the award in 2008 for her film, The Hurt Locker.
"This is for anyone who has the faith and the courage to hold out to the goodness in themselves and to hold out to the goodness in each other, no matter how difficult it is to do that," she said in her acceptance speech. "You inspire me to keep going."
But Chloé’s victory didn’t stop there. She also took home a second Oscar when her film, Nomadland won for Best Picture.
We could not be any prouder of Chloé, and we look forward to her next film projects such as, Marvel's upcoming Eternals and Universal Studio’s sci-fi Western of Dracula.
MAJOR CONGRATS!!!
April 11, 2021
HISTORY IS MADE (AGAIN!)
Chloé Zhao, the Nomadland helmer becomes the second woman ever to win the Director's Guild of America's highest competitive category.
Zhao beat out Hollywood mainstays like David Fincher (Mank) and Aaron Sorkin (The Trial of the Chicago 7) as well as new filmmaking forces Lee Isaac Chung (Minari) and Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman).
This key victory for Chloé puts her one step closer to winning an Oscar. The 93rd Academy Awards will be held on April 25.
Mark your calendars!
March 24, 2021
Boston Makes History!
Earlier today, Kim Janey, a former education advocate turned city councilor, was sworn in as Boston’s new mayor.
The historic ascension arrived on the heels of former mayor Marty Walsh’s resignation to become the U.S. secretary of labor and placed Janey, the District 7 city councilor, as acting mayor — the 55th chief executive in nearly 200 years to hold the office, previously only held by white men.
Janey is the city of Boston’s first Black, woman mayor, and graduate from Smith College.
Inheriting a city facing the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic and longstanding racial and economic disparities, Janey, vowed to deliver “bold, courageous leadership,” beginning with “an unrelenting focus” on the once-in-a-century health crisis.
CONGRATULATIONS KIM!!!
March 22, 2021
MoHo Enters the Oscar Race!
Major congratulations are in order for film director, Chloé Zhao (Class of ‘05).
Last week, the 2021 Oscar nominations were released. After Chloé’s historical win at the Golden Globes, her film, “Nomadland” is now nominated for six Oscars including Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Picture.
In addition, for the first time ever in Oscar history, two women were recognized for directing: Emerald Fennell and Chloé’ Zhao - Zhao being the first woman of color to be nominated in the category.
We’re all rooting for you Chloé!!!
Bring home that Oscar Gold!!!
March 1, 2021
MoHo Success!
On top of Andra Day’s historic win for best actress in The United States vs Billie Holiday, the movie’s screenplay was written by Mount Holyoke College Alum, Suzan-Lori Parks.
Parks (Class of ’85) is a Pulitzer Prize winning playwright who studied under James Baldwin.
Baldwin encouraged her to become a playwright, and Parks noted that her writing was inspired by Wendy Wasserstein (a 1971 Mount Holyoke graduate), and credited Mount Holyoke professor, Leah Blatt Glasser, with her success.
We cannot wait to see what she comes out with next!
March 1, 2021
MoHo Makes History!
Chloé Zhao (Class of ’05) whose drama Nomadland offered an intimate portrait of itinerant Americans, won the Golden Globe for best director on Sunday, making her the first Asian woman ever to win that prize.
Zhao's film also won for best motion picture - drama.
Zhao was nominated alongside Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman), Regina King (One Night in Miami), David Fincher (Mank) and Aaron Sorkin (The Trial of the Chicago 7).
Congratulations Chloé!!!
February 4, 2021
MoHo Nominated for Two Golden Globes!
Major congratulations to Chloé Zhao (Class of ‘05) for her TWO Golden Globe nominations: Best Director of a Motion Picture (Nomadland) and Best Screenplay - Motion Picture (Nomadland).
With these two nomination nods, Chloé became the first director of Asian descent to receive a Golden Globe nomination.
Chloé film, Nomadland starring Frances McDormand (who was also nominated for her performance in the film) has already garnered critical praise.
This can be a great setup for Zhao to finally nab an Oscar nomination. Congratulations Chloé!!!
January 11, 2021
MoHo in the Biden-Harris Administration!
Kathleen Hicks (’91) has been named as President-Elect Joe Biden’s pick to be Deputy Secretary of Defense. If confirmed by the Senate, she will be the first woman to serve in the role.
Hicks served in the Obama Administration, and was confirmed by the Senate in 2012 as the Principal Deputy under Secretary of Defense for policy.
She currently leads the Biden-Harris transition team’s defense agency review team.
Congratulations Kathleen!!!
January 7, 2021
Boston MoHos meet your New Mayor!
We have a fellow Seven Sister Sibling running this town.
Major congratulations to Smith College alum Kim Janey to be interim Boston Mayor. She will be both the first woman and first person of color to lead the great city of Boston. She will be filling the role that stands to be vacated soon by Marty Walsh, who President-elect Joe Biden has picked to serve as his Secretary of Labor.
Janey will hold office until a new mayor is inaugurated, either in November, when the city’s mayoral election is scheduled, or in a special election held before that date.
We look forward to Janey’s leadership and charisma as she takes the reins to lead Boston into the new year.