Wyckoff Center Art & Displays
Tribute to her Legacy, 2024 by Winosha Steele
Portrait of Linda Jackson Chalmers '73
Oil paint on canvas
For decades, Linda Jackson-Chalmers ’73 has been a champion for diversity and inclusion at Skidmore College. A studio art major and member of Skidmore’s first Opportunity Program (OP) class, Linda helped shape campus life through political and cultural activism. She played a key role in establishing Grove House as a Black Cultural Center in 1970, an early foundation for what would become the Wyckoff Center.
Linda served as a dedicated Skidmore trustee from 1992 to 2023, chairing the DEI Committee and contributing to numerous capital campaigns, including the most recent presidential search. Her service was recognized with a Skidmore Outstanding Service Award in 2008 and the 50th Reunion Service Award in 2023.
Beyond Skidmore, Linda’s career spanned nearly four decades in the City School District of Albany. She began as a teacher and rose to assistant superintendent for human resources and community relations, retiring in 2012. Her commitment to education and the arts extended into the broader Capital District, where she has held leadership roles with The Albany Promise, the African American Cultural Center of the Capital Region, and the American Institute of History and Art.
A proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and the Albany District Chapter of The Links, Linda continues to be a force for positive change. She and her husband, Bill Chalmers, remain active in the community, leaving an enduring impact on education, culture, and equity.
This portrait reflects Linda at three significant stages of her life - as a student, as an educator, and as a trustee - honoring her lifelong dedication to learning, leadership, and service. It also celebrates her love of gardening and art, passions that have enriched both her personal and professional life.
For more information about the artist:
More about this the portrait unveiling: /news/2024/0926-linda-jackson-chalmers-portrait.php
Pieces From My Past, 2024 by Kevin Nomu Langyintuo '24
Ink on Mulberry Paper
This piece reflects Kevin’s artistic influences and connection to his African heritage,
which shaped his work throughout his time at Skidmore. Kevin donated this piece in
gratitude for the support he, and the three other Skidmore siblings who preceded him,
Melvis ‘12, Bernice ‘17, and Stanley ‘21, received from the Skidmore community.
This gallery features three trailblazing women in Skidmore's history.
Feliza Berrera Gonzalez, Class of 1914
Feliza was the first woman of color to earn a degree from Skidmore. Originally from
Aguascalientes, Mexico, she graduated from the Skidmore School of Arts in 1914 with
a diploma in voice and public school music.
Satoye Kumasaki, Class of 1923
Satoye, from Tokyo, Japan, was the first international student to graduate from Skidmore.
Referred by Columbia University’s Teachers College, she earned a degree in general
studies.
Mia McCoy Mouzon, Class of 1947
Mia Mouzon McCoy was the first U.S.-born student of color to graduate from Skidmore
College. She played a vital role in establishing Skidmore’s chapter of the NAACP.
Raised in the house that now operates as the Mouzon House restaurant in downtown Saratoga
Springs, the space is named in her honor.