8-26-2026 8:23pm

Goucher Family Mourns

Jeff Barto Editor

We are heartbroken to announce the loss of Anna Carmichael ‘16. Anna was a beloved teammate and student, National Champion and deeply committed alumna, who was inducted into the Goucher Athletics Hall of Fame in 2023.

Here is an excerpt from the Hall of Fame induction speech made about Anna in 2023: “Words that come to mind when I think about Anna: grit, determination, focus, brilliance. Anyone in this room that has been a coach can attest, these are qualities that can be taught, but gosh it’s a gift when they just show up with them!

I had the honor of being Anna’s coach for the latter part of her time here at Goucher and I was constantly impressed by her. I’d never met someone like Anna, and even now, I don’t believe I ever have. If you know her, you know exactly what I mean.

She is the hardest worker in every room, and when she wants to accomplish something, it’s really only a matter of WHEN. To say she’s determined, is not strong enough. To call her “brilliant,” – not strong enough.

She was the first Goucher rider in history to be asked to “test” over fences at the National Championship. The challenge with jumping at this level -- is that you breathe wrong, and it’s over. One millisecond of a mistake and you are out of the game. The pressure is indescribable. When Anna went in -- nobody was breathing.

All that build up and pressure and stress, and she just attacked the course with complete confidence. I think it’s a great example of who she is.She manifests her own success. She did it then, and she still does it now, and I am so honored that she lets me be a part of it.”

- Director of the Equestrian Program, Jen Smith

Thank you, Anna for all you have done for the Goucher Equestrian Program. You will continue to inspire us every day. You will be tremendously missed.

Adrianna Carmichael Obituary

Adrianna James Carmichael, known to all as "Anna," passed away due to complications from a brief illness on August 23, 2026, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, at the age of 32.

Anna was born in Colorado Springs on October 27, 1993. She graduated summa cum laude from William J. Palmer High School in Colorado Springs in 2012, went on to graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor's degree from Goucher College in 2016, and earned a Masters of Business Administration degree from Georgetown University, from which she graduated magna cum laude in 2025.

While at Goucher, she was a national equestrian champion, and she was later inducted into the Goucher Sports Hall of Fame. Before returning to school for her MBA, Anna was already building a career defined by sharp thinking and a ferocious passion for justice. She started political canvassing at the age of 10, was a staffer for Hillary Clinton in 2016, and then worked as a data and analytics professional at Civis Analytics.

She took time off from her studies at Georgetown to serve as Chief Analytics Officer for the Kamala Harris presidential campaign. After leaving the East Coast a year ago, Anna worked with the Colorado Springs non-profit We Fortify, where she applied her organizational talents to creating tiny-house villages that help young people transition from the foster care system into adult life.

Anna is survived by her mother, Perrin Cunningham; her father, Chris Carmichael; her step-father, Rex Welshon; and her step-mothers, Paige Carmichael and Sarah Carmichael. She leaves behind a large and loving family of siblings: brother Calvin Welshon, brother Connor Carmichael, sister Vivian Carmichael, brother Keane Murphy, brother Brendan Murphy, brother Ryan Murphy, her dog Coconut and her horse Bert. Anna's very "modern" family was a source of joy and grounding to her.

Anna was as smart as a whip, driven, dedicated to the people and causes she cared about, and practical. She was in her element spending a morning creating multiple spreadsheets and just as delighted to spend the afternoon painting her closet. She carried that same intensity, warmth, and pragmatism into her relationships, showing up fully for all the people she loved.

Colleagues knew her as someone who brought rigor and emotional acuity to her work; family and friends knew her as someone who insisted on honesty and who showed her love and affection both in small acts of kindness and in more far-reaching expressions of compassion, insight, and understanding. She also had a life-long love of animals, horses and dogs in particular. She will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

A celebration of Anna's life will be announced at a later date. In honor of Annaâ€™s passions, the family suggests donations to We Fortify (https://wefortify.org/) and the Goucher College Equestrian Program (https://www.givecampus.com/s/xgawwf).

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.