Alumni Snapshots: Q&A with Anne Sherwood '88

On her last trip to L.A., Alumni Director Carrie MacVean Grimes '91 loved catching up with Anne Sherwood '88 and her husband Otto. Anne is a professional photographer who splits her time between Southern California and Montana. 
What year did you graduate from Severn? 1988

What is your profession? I am a freelance photojournalist.

Where do you live now and how did you end up there? I live in Venice, California with my husband and two kids. My husband and I moved here from Montana six years ago for his work. We didn’t plan on staying more than a year or two, but it’s grown on us. Plus, we are now used to wearing flip flops in January so that might make it difficult to move back to Montana.

What do you enjoy most about the work that you do? I love going places and meeting new people. And, I love telling stories through pictures.

What influence did Severn have on your career path? Severn taught me to be adventurous. Severn taught me to think on my feet. Severn taught me to be open-minded.

What are your favorite things to do in your free time? Ride horses competitively. It was my passion as a kid and I’ve rediscovered it.

If you could give advice to the Class of 2018, what would it be? Let your heart guide your decisions more than your head. Do what you love and you will be happy.

Tell me about two things that bring you joy in your life. My two children bring me the greatest joy. I am an older mom and thought I might never have the chance to have kids. I am so grateful to my kids for making me a mom.

What teacher(s) had the most influence on you at Severn? Doc Heslin had a huge impact on me. He taught me lots about Latin, but also about life and he inspired me to think and to question and to explore. I saw him at our last reunion and had a wonderful conversation with him. He passed away a couple of months later.

What is one of your favorite Severn memories? One of my favorite Severn memories is a day senior year when it snowed and school closed early. We couldn’t get home so we walked to a nearby friend’s house and sledded for the rest of the day.

What is the most valuable asset you believe you inherited from your Severn education? The most valuable asset I inherited from my Severn education is a concern for the world around me. Teachers at Severn asked us to care - whether it was about the Severn River in our backyard or those less fortunate than ourselves.

Did Severn have a lasting impact on who you are today? If so, in what ways? I almost didn’t graduate from Severn. I attended Severn for 7th-9th grades and then went to Kent School - a boarding school in Connecticut - to ride horses. The day before I was supposed to return to Kent for my senior year, I told my mother I didn’t want to go. She said we could go a day later. I replied: “I don’t want to go at all. I want to go back to Severn.” We were on our way to a soccer game at Severn at the time and as soon as we pulled in, she told my friend, Perry Frazer what I had said. If you know Perry, you know he’s a great salesman. Well, Perry saw Mr. Domenech on the sidelines and immediately told him I wanted to come back. Mr. Domenech looked me in the eye and said: “You always have a place at Severn, Anne.” I enrolled the next day for my senior year. 

What are 3 words you'd use to describe Severn School? Creative, fun, challenging.
Back

More Alumni News

Alumni Media

  • Work hard, play hard, eat ice cream.

    Mark Cohen ‘12 and Adam Cohen ‘09: Always Ice Cream

    View
  • Tara Frame '87, Whitney Hopkins Kerridge '88 and Teisha Miles '12

    Tara Frame '87, Whitney Hopkins Kerridge '88 and Teisha Miles '12

    View
  • Carrie MacVean Grimes '91 and Evan Washburn '03 on Zoom

    Carrie MacVean Grimes '91 and Evan Washburn '03 on Zoom

    View
  • Joel Wallenstrom '87

    Joel Wallenstrom '87

    View
  • Cam Bowdren '00

    Cam Bowdren '00

    View
  • Carrie MacVean Grimes '91 with Liz Whitehead '95

    Liz Whitehead '95

    View
  • Torey Cole '11

    Torey Cole '11

    View
  • Dave Wright '69

    Dave Wright '69

    View
  • Ryan Brassel '04 and Jen Presswood '04

    Ryan Brassel '04 and Jen Presswood '04

    View
  • Darshan Kharod '03

    Darshan Kharod '03

    View
  • Darren Smith '05

    Darren Smith '05

    View
  • Bruce Burns '61

    Bruce Burns '61

    View
  • Ann Pailthorp '97 and Carrie Grimes '91

    Ann Pailthorp '97

    View
  • AlumniPodcastMain_mixdown_ep17_MoTerryLisaOFiesh19

    AlumniPodcastMain_mixdown_ep17_MoTerryLisaOFiesh19

    View
  • AlumniPodcastMain_mixdown_Ep16 (1)

    AlumniPodcastMain_mixdown_Ep16 (1)

    View
  • Jim Gibbons '91

    Jim Gibbons '91

    View
  • Ep14 with Cathy Hewitt Carper '81

    Ep14 with Cathy Hewitt Carper '81

    View
  • Jamal Jones '05 and Deon Peters '05

    Jamal Jones '05 and Deon Peters '05

    View
  • Darshan Kharod '03 and Claire Bowersox Vetter '03

    AlumniPodcast_ClaireBowersoxVetter_mixdown_V1 (1)

    View
  • John Royen '73

    John Royen '73

    View

Lower School

Upper School