Today's WONDERFUL WCC WOMAN... is Carole Ann Palmer (Zumbrunnen) Ed.D, RD, LDN

Carole Ann Palmer (Zumbrunnen)  Ed.D, RD, LDN

1.     What is your Day Job?

I’m Professor and Division Head of Nutrition and Oral Health Promotion at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and Master’s program director of the combined Dietetic Internship/Master’s Degree program at Tufts Medical Center/Tufts’ Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. Whew, it takes longer to write it than to do it!!!!!! And I commute to Boston on the bus!!

2.     Favorite thing to do?

Wow, I can’t choose one:  walking the beach in Maine is one and being with my 4 darling dogs is another. I also was involved in community theatre for many years and hope to get back into acting and teaching communications skills when (if) I ever get the time.

 3. Family?

I moved to Concord in 1982 when I took up with my husband (Charles Zumbrunnen.) who was director of the State  Bureau of Dental Health and Dental Licensing board for many years.  Although unfortunately he is now in a nursing home, he is well cared for and I have more time to become more involved in the community than I did before. I also have two younger brothers with families. Now that they have gray hair, I tell everyone that they’re my OLDER brothers!!!

4. How did you get involved at the WCC?

I  ask my friend, state representative Mary Stuart Gile’s advice on how to meet people and become more involved in the community when I found myself home alone. She immediately said “you need to join the Woman’s Club”. So I did! I had read the Monitor article a few years ago about how the club was dying off - (kind of like the Quakers)- and brought back by a group of civic minded women in town like Barbara Ruedig. So I’ve been interested for a while but never had the courage to walk in cold!! But I finally did it, and was greeted with a warm welcome.

5. How long have you been a member? Do you hold a Board Position?

I’ve only been a member for a couple of years at the most, but have enjoyed every minute. My friend Elaine Bello (who lives very close to me but wouldn’t have met were it not for the Club) asked me to join her on the Scholarship Committee, which is right up my alley. We award scholarships to outstanding high school senior young women at their schools’ senior awards nights, and we invite them and their guests to  the Club to be honored as well. We also invite past recipients to join us to share their college experiences with the new awardees.  We hope that this aspect of the program will foster meaningful and ongoing relationships between these young women, their predecessors, and the Club. 

6. What's the best part about being in the club?

Again, there are several “best parts”.  The members vary in age and background and as such bring a rich diversity to the group. None of us even remotely resemble the stereotype of the “club lady” (old-hats-gloves!). It is wonderful to get to know all of these great women and work with them on projects that are meaningful and that give back to the community. I love having the Chamberlain House and knowing that it provides housing assistance to some terrific women in need, who also contribute greatly to the Club.

7. Favorite Club Memory?  

Again, too many to mention: Meeting people at our booth at Market Days last summer, learning from the excellent guests invited to speak at Chamberlain House, Doing our recent radio show on WKXL with Mia and Host Paul Brogan.  The list goes on!!

8. Do you have any advice for the ladies of Concord who are looking to get more involved in the community?

           Don’t be timid. Come to First Friday open house. You will be warmly greeted and introduced around. You have many opportunities for involvement to choose from. Our primary mission is service/philanthropy, but oh by the way another goal is to have a lot of fun!!  We do. Come join us.