Engleberg Fellowhip to Genetics, Advocacy

The Sarah Lawrence graduate program in human genetics has received a grant from the National Society of Genetic Counselors for a project to interview pregnant women. These interviews, where women will discuss their concepts of hereditary and genetic issues, will be distilled into new tools and guidelines for genetic counselors to elicit information from their clients. The $50,000 grant is the monetary portion of the annual Jane Engelberg Memorial Fellowship, honoring the memory of Jane Engelberg MS ’73.

The project was conceived and will be carried out by Caroline Lieber MS ’80 and Marsha Hurst, directors of the human genetics and health advocacy graduate programs, respectively; Rachel Grob, associate dean of graduate studies; and Linwood Lewis, a member of the psychology faculty. “We’re thrilled,” says Lieber. “Looking at how people feel about inheritability prior to genetic counseling will complete the picture.”

Jane Engelberg went on to a career as a genetic counselor; she died in 1988 after nearly 20 years of battling Hodgkin’s disease. Her husband, Alfred, established a foundation in her memory in 1990.

—J.B.