Events

View events on: Friday, September 21 | Saturday, September 22 | Sunday, September 23

Schedule subject to change. Attire for the weekend is smart casual.

See a full list of speakers and Mary Talks.

Friday, September 21, 2018

10-11 a.m.
Introduction to Mindfulness
McLeod Tyler Wellness Center
Learn ways to use mindfulness to enhance the quality of your life and to be more present in each moment. Mindfulness techniques help us to manage stress and anxiety, improve memory and develop better emotional and physical health.

10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Bike Tour/Lunch
The Williamsburg Winery
There is no better way to explore or immerse yourself in our beautiful and historic community than by bike. Your ride will start and end at the Williamsburg Winery. Lunch onsite at the Gabriel Archer Tavern will follow the ride. All participants will be shuttled from campus to the winery, where an experienced team of ride leaders await to serve as your guides. You may bring your own bicycle and helmet or we can make arrangements to have them available for you. Please note all riders must wear an approved cycling helmet and complete our waiver form prior to the ride. Ride distances and paces/speeds: 20+ miles at a B pace (14-16 mph) or 12+ miles at a C pace (11-13 mph). Space is limited and program is weather permitting.

10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Meditation Labyrinth
McLeod Tyler Wellness Center
A labyrinth is a patterned path used as a walking meditation. It combines the imagery of the circle and the spiral into a meandering but purposeful path. It represents a journey to our own center and back again out into the world. Spend a few minutes at your convenience to walk the new meditation labyrinth located behind the McLeod Tyler Wellness Center adjacent to the Wildflower Refuge.

10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Women for Williamsburg Community Service
Off-Campus in Williamsburg
Join William & Mary women students in a day of service in Williamsburg. A variety of indoor and outdoor projects will be offered that accommodate mobility and ability. The program will end with a reflection activity led by the Office of Community Engagement and student leaders. Limited roundtrip transportation will be provided and will leave campus at 10 a.m.

11 a.m.-noon
Indoor Stationary Cycling
Campus Recreation Center
This aerobic exercise performed on a stationary bike with upbeat music will keep you motivated the entire class. Come experience the feel of our new Schwinn bikes and enjoy this adrenaline-pumping class! All fitness levels welcome.

11 a.m.-noon
Meet and Greet with William & Mary Athletics
Zable Stadium Hospitality Suite — enter at Gate 1 (behind Sadler, best for ADA access) or Gate 5 (old main gate on east side)
Meet and mingle with the women of William & Mary Athletics! Athletics Director Samantha K. Huge and staff invite you to the beautiful Hospitality Suite in Zable Stadium for light refreshments, engaging conversation and the best view on campus! Samantha will share her thoughts on leadership and mentorship in a short presentation that will begin at approximately 11:20 a.m.

11 a.m.-noon
Mindfulness in Nature
McLeod Tyler Wellness Center
Experience the beauty of the William & Mary campus using mindfulness. Indulge your senses and try out ways to slow down and savor the natural environment on our campus. This practice helps us access feelings of relaxation and gain some freedom from the hectic busyness in our minds.

Noon-1 p.m.
Art and Mindfulness
McLeod Tyler Wellness Center
Participants will be introduced to the concept of mindful art making. We will create hand-drawn individual mandalas using drawing materials on paper circles. Working from the center outward, attendees will learn how art making, in particular mandala drawing, can provide a sense of focus, calm and attention to detail that can be used in daily life.

12:45 p.m.-4:15 p.m.
VIMS Tour: Women in Marine Science
VIMS Campus
Meet the women scientists of W&M’s Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) in Gloucester Point and hear about their current research related to water quality, global change and more. The tour will also include a visit to the Nunnally Ichthyology Collection for an up-close view of preserved fishes from Chesapeake Bay to the deep sea. Reservations are required due to limited space. Limited roundtrip transportation will be provided and will leave campus at 12:45 p.m., but transportation on your own is encouraged. The program will begin at 1:30 p.m.

1-2 p.m.
Moving Meditation
McLeod Tyler Wellness Center
Experience the benefits of calming, centering meditation in a whole new way. Leave feeling peaceful and rejuvenated. Beginning with easy breathing techniques in a seated position, we will slowly begin "breath centered" movement. All levels welcome!

3 p.m.-4:15 p.m.
I Want to be Your Next _______: Getting Women to Run and Getting them Elected (PDF)
School of Education, Holly Room
Do you have what it takes to run for office? Do you know someone who does? Hear from women in politics and public service about how to run for office yourself or recruit other women as candidates and get them elected.
Panelists: The Honorable Viola Osborne Baskerville '73, Jennifer Wilson Tierney '88, P '15, Rep. Harriett L. Stanley ’72

3 p.m.-4:15 p.m.
Women in the Media and Entertainment — Confronting Discrimination in the Spotlight
School of Education, Matoaka Woods Room
#MeToo is a highly visible response to gender discrimination and sexual harassment, but there are many subtle ways it manifests and is combated in the media and entertainment industries. This session will focus on the ways women are portrayed in the media and how news and entertainment both reflect and direct gender discrimination.
Panelists: Jen Chaney ’94, Karen Lynne Hall ’78, Amy Peloff ’94

3 p.m.-4:15 p.m.
Women Who Count: Research at the Forefront of Interdisciplinary Quantitative Science
School of Education, Dogwood Room
William & Mary alumnae are at the forefront of cutting-edge data analysis as it relates to research and discoveries in science, technology and medicine. The ever-increasing amounts of "big data" in these fields requires that investigators acquire and apply a diverse array of skills, particularly in the quantitative and computational realm. Discover how these women navigated a traditionally male-dominated field and hear their insights and advice for women pushing the boundaries in science.
Panelists: Nancy Ellen Podger ’81, Karen L. Maples '76, M.B.A. '78, Professor Mary C. Fabrizio

2 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
Registration
School of Education

4 p.m.-8 p.m.
Registration
Sadler Center

4:45 p.m.-5 p.m.
Commemorative Photo
Sunken Garden
Join W&M women for an aerial photo in the Sunken Garden to commemorate the 100th anniversary of coeducation. The photo will be taken by drone overhead.

5:30 p.m.-6:15 p.m.
Opening Remarks
Sadler Center, Commonwealth Auditorium

6:15 p.m.-7:15 p.m.
Opening Performance: Anna Deavere Smith, "Snapshots: Portraits of a World in Transition"
Sadler Center, Commonwealth Auditorium
Actor, playwright and author Anna Deavere Smith will present a blend of characters and social commentary in "Snapshots: Portraits of a World in Transition," a groundbreaking solo show that blurs the lines between theater and journalism. Smith has been listening to people across the country from all walks of life for decades, using Walt Whitman’s idea “to absorb America” as an inspiration. To illustrate her goal of bringing “people across the chasms” of what she calls the “complex identities of America,” Smith performs portrayals of people she has interviewed during the course of her presentation, recreating a diversity of emotions and points of view on controversial issues.

7:15 p.m.-9 p.m.
Reception
Sadler Center
Join us for a strolling supper and view an exhibit commemorating 100 years of coeducation at William & Mary.

Poster sessions presented during the reception include:

Tricia Thibodeau '72, Emily Rivest and Sarah Pease '16: Promoting women in the marine science community through the Society for Women in Marine Science at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Johanna Weech '20: Moments of active engagement
Leslie Davis '21: Words as data: Investigating the language of the women’s liberation movement at W&M
Caitlen Macias Hentze '20: Gender regulations and expectations in coeducation
Doreen Frempomah '20: Faculty diversity at William & Mary
Joseph Nguyen '21, Serina Wittyngham ’23: Spartina alterniflora chemistry along the York River
Stephanie Do '21, Xiangyi Fang '21, Jessica Laury '19, Lillian Parr '21, Julia Urban '21 and Yashna Verma '21: Building synthetic genetic circuits to interpret dynamic cell signals

Saturday, September 22, 2018

7-8 a.m.
Yoga Meditation
The Martha Wren Briggs Amphitheatre at Lake Matoaka
Yoga is a wonderful way to release tension and reconnect with the mind, body and spirit. This program, led by Lisa Butler ’94, systematically works the entire body, incorporating strength, balance and flexibility. The breath work and static poses will stimulate your mind and restore your body. An extended meditation will be included at the end for extra relaxation. All fitness levels welcome. Please bring your own mat. A limited number of extra mats will be available for those who do not have a mat. If you don’t have a mat, please arrive 10 minutes early to borrow a mat. Mats are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

7-8 a.m.
PumpYoBody™
Campus Recreation Center
Join us for this body-pumping, mind-relaxing, soul-fulfilling combo class! We start off with 30 minutes of BODYPUMP™ for a great strength training workout, followed by 30 minutes of yoga for some deep, muscle-lengthening stretches. All fitness levels welcome.

8-9:30 a.m.
Legacy Breakfast
School of Education, Holly Room
The bond among grandmothers, mothers, daughters and aunts who have attended W&M is strong. This breakfast will bring together women with two or more generations of William & Mary graduates in their families. Pre-registration is required.

9:30 a.m.-1:45 p.m.
Morning Session
In registration, you will be able to choose the Green, Gold, Platinum or Teal track for your morning session. A keynote lunch is included in each track.

Green Track - Sadler Center, Chesapeake Rooms

All Aboard 101: Boards Need YOU! (PDF)
William & Mary women have the drive, initiative and intelligence to make a positive difference on boards of all kinds. Find out how our alumnae are volunteering on boards in their localities and serving alma mater on William & Mary boards. What is involved? What skills are needed? How does one get started? Climb aboard and find your fit!
Panelists: Sue Hanna Gerdelman ’76, P ’07, P ’13, Anna Dinwiddie Hatfield ’96, Cynthia Satterwhite Jarboe ’77, P ’11
Powering Possibilities in the Nonprofit Sector
Nonprofit organizations are increasingly meeting unmet societal needs, breaking down barriers and making change happen in their local communities and on the national and global scene. William & Mary women are founding nonprofits, serving as executive directors and volunteering as trustees on nonprofit boards. They are leading with passion as well as skill and business acumen. What does it take to make an impact? How do you bring the needed skills to the table? Hear first-hand how our alumnae have positioned themselves to power possibilities. Panelists: Lynn Buchanan Miller ’72, M.Ed. ’73, Krystal Nicole Clark '05, Michelle Kang '96, Marcy Levy Shankman '90
Keynote Lunch — Engaging the Next Generations of Explorers — Ellen Stofan ’83, D.Sc. ’16, P ’10, P ’14
Ellen Stofan ’83, D.Sc. ’16, P ’10, P ’14, is the first female director of the Smithsonian’s Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. Previously, Stofan was a consulting senior scientist at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory. She served as NASA’s chief scientist from 2013 to 2016, during which time she was the principal adviser to NASA Administrator Charles Bolden on the agency’s science programs and science-related strategic planning and investments. Her broader career includes more than 25 years of space-related experience.

Gold Track - Sadler Center, Tidewater Rooms

How Women Physicians are Changing Health Care
The share of medical school students who are women has increased from approximately 10 percent in 1970 to exactly 50 percent today. This session will explore the impacts of the dramatic growth in female physicians for patients, health care professionals and the health care system in general.
Panelists: Assistant Professor Elyas Bakhtiari, Dr. Michelle Whitehurst-Cook '75, Lauren Gyungah Yi '17, Dr. Marcelyn Hawkins Molloy '92, Petra H. Steinbuchel '94
The Family as Caregiver: How Changing Policies, Norms, and Practices Around Aging and Disability Affect the Whole Family
Aging and disability brings a number of challenges for the family as a whole. This session will examine the ways aging and disability can impact family members and the types of resources available to them.
Panelists: Emmeline Cenizal Gasink '99, The Honorable Helen Elizabeth Hoens ’76, Helena S. Mock J.D. ’00, Lindsey Marie Thaker ’17
Keynote Lunch — Engaging the Next Generations of Explorers — Ellen Stofan ’83, D.Sc. ’16, P ’10, P ’14 (Sadler Center, Chesapeake Room)
Ellen Stofan is the first female director of the Smithsonian’s Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. Previously, Stofan was a consulting senior scientist at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory. She served as NASA’s chief scientist from 2013 to 2016, during which time she was the principal adviser to NASA Administrator Charles Bolden on the agency’s science programs and science-related strategic planning and investments. Her broader career includes more than 25 years of space-related experience.

Platinum Track - School of Education, Matoaka Woods Room

We Broke the Glass Ceiling — Now Let’s Work on the Walls (PDF)
Women are constantly advised to “try harder” and “lean in,” yet structural barriers prevent true equity in the workplace. How can these barriers be overcome and removed? This session focuses on strategies to change organizations from the inside out. We'll examine hiring, retaining and promoting, as well as maternity, childcare, eldercare and more.
Panelists: Elizabeth Nieto P ’14, Megan B. Dorward ’07, Allison Faucette Dunn ’98
Daily Work of Leadership: Building Five Practices for your Toolkit (PDF)
Successful women use a number of leadership strategies. In this panel discussion, women leaders in a variety of sectors and places in their career path will share what they've learned on their journeys to success. You'll leave this session with specific techniques to improve your leadership.
Panelists: Virginia Miller Ambler ’88, Ph.D. ’06, Amy Catherine Barnes ’97, Ed.D. ’07, Cathie J. Vick M.B.A. ’17, JoAnn Gora
Keynote Lunch — Leadership Opportunities and the Inherent Challenges — E. Clorisa Phillips ’77

Dr. E. Clorisa Phillips ’77 is retired from a career of some 35 years in higher education in which she took on difficult assignments. Phillips started her career at the University of Virginia in the early years of coeducation and was charged with recruiting students in cities with large male alumni chapters. Among her subsequent leadership roles at UVA, she directed the institution’s initiative to establish a coeducational college in the Middle East. Later as president of Virginia Intermont College, Phillips led the institution through an imminent closure. Phillips has recently launched a “second chapter” as a writer and historian. She will share her thoughts on leadership during some of the most challenging of circumstances.

Teal Track - Alan B. Miller Hall, Brinkley Commons

Rule-Breakers, Job-Makers, Risk-Takers — Women Entrepreneurs and Innovators (PDF)
Women entrepreneurs and innovators are making a difference. Find out why these women have deviated from a more traditional path in corporate America to take on the exciting and challenging work of starting their own business. Listen to their advice about how to overcome the obstacles that exist for female entrepreneurs and be inspired as they recount their breakthrough moments.
Panelists: Julie A. Dobson ’78, P ’17, P ’19, Laura Mooney Markley ’07, M.Acc. ’08, Molly McFarland Pieroni ’90, Pocket Sun ’13
The Competitive Advantage — What Women Bring to the Table (PDF)
Growing research suggests that companies with gender-diverse leadership are more profitable and exhibit a higher degree of organization, above-average operating margins and higher valuations. Learn from women who have risen to the top.
Panelists: Elizabeth A. Hall ’95, Jennifer Thomas Engelhardt M.B.A. ’97, Kathi Parkinson Lentzsch ’77, Janet McNulty Osborn ’85
Keynote Lunch — Why Chumbawamba's "Tubthumping" Should Be the Soundtrack for Your Life – Kathryn L. Carter '91
Kathy Carter spent the last 25 years building the sport of soccer in the United States and until April 2018 was the President of Soccer United Marketing, the commercial subsidiary of Major League Soccer, of which she was a founding member. Carter and her team were responsible for all development and monetization for some of the premier soccer properties in North America, including MLS, U.S. Soccer, the Mexican National Team and multiple CONCACAF properties.

Change happens in stages and sometimes in frustratingly small increments. What lessons can we learn from Billie Jean King, the Notorious RBG and others that will allow us to see progress as opposed to obstacles? And most importantly, why should Chumbawamba’s Tubthumping be the soundtrack for your life?

2:15 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
Afternoon Sessions
Please choose one of the following sessions.

Making Informed Health Care Decisions Across the Lifespan (PDF)
School of Education, Holly Room
Making sound health care decisions as a patient or family member requires processing and evaluating increasing amounts of information. In this session, speakers will share their go-to sources for up-to-date and unbiased information on a range of health care topics across the lifespan.
Panelists: Rene Roark Bowditch J.D. ’82, Dr. Camilla Marie Buchanan ’66, P ’11, MiQuel L. Davies J.D. '17, Amy Sander Herr ’97
Amplifying Marginalized Voices (PDF)
School of Education, Dogwood Room
How can we better understand and engage underrepresented and disenfranchised communities? How do we respectfully amplify marginalized voices so that that their stories can be heard, acknowledged and incorporated into public policy? Explore these questions and more in a panel discussion with alumnae.
Panelists: Camilla Lee Hill ’11, Joanna Xochitl Hernández ’16, Ruth Jones Nichols ’96
Alumna Author Talk & Book Signing: Michelle Gable ‘96
Swem Library, Ford Classroom

Meet Michelle Gable ’96, New York Times bestselling author of "A Paris Apartment," "I’ll See You In Paris" and "The Book of Summer." Her fourth book, "The Summer I Met Jack," is based on the real-life romance between Jack Kennedy and Alicia Darr. Michelle grew up in San Diego and attended William & Mary, where she majored in accounting. After a 20-year career in finance, Michelle now writes full-time. The W&M Bookstore will have copies of her books available for purchase at a customer discount.
Flourishing in a Relentless World
School of Education, Matoaka Woods Room
Along with many demands of our work, we are often managing important life issues, either directly or in support of loved ones. How do we attend to these issues effectively, be productive and fulfilled in our work and be healthy along the way? This conversation led by R. Kelly Crace, associate vice president for health and wellness and the director of the Center for Mindfulness and Authentic Excellence (CMAX), will focus on a few key strategies for flourishing during times of hardship and handling life's relentlessness.

4 p.m.-6 p.m.
Wine and Cheese Reception
School of Education
Join us for a reception featuring the Wham Bam Little Band to mingle and network with others before we split off on our own for dinner. The Wham Bam Little Band is a student jazz combo made up of Charlie Balaan ’19, Sarah Grace Frary ’20, Ian Wright ’19, Bennett Atwater ’20, Patti O'Meara ’20 and Riley Ward ’21.

6-10 p.m.
Society of 1918 Dinner
Mason School of Business, Brinkley Hall
Invitation only.

Sunday, September 23, 2018

7:30-8:30 a.m.
Yin Yoga
McLeod Tyler Wellness Center
Yin practice targets the deeper connective tissue with the aim of increasing circulation and improving overall flexibility. Poses are held for 3-5 minutes to allow time to settle into deep stretches for meditative practice. This is a great practice for beginners and athletes as it aims at cultivating inner awareness. All fitness levels welcome.

9-10:15 a.m.
Mary Talks - Round 1
Integrated Science Center (ISC), Rooms 1127, 1221, 1280
Mary Talks are short 15-minute talks on big ideas from fellow W&M women. Come with an open mind and be inspired by new perspectives.

10:15-10:45 a.m.
Networking Break
Integrated Science Center (ISC)

10:45 a.m.-noon
Mary Talks - Round 2
Integrated Science Center (ISC), Rooms 1127, 1221
Mary Talks are short 15-minute talks on big ideas from fellow W&M women. Come with an open mind and be inspired by new perspectives.

Noon-1 p.m.
Farewell Lunch
Sadler Center, Tidewater and Chesapeake Rooms
Come together for lunch and one last chance to gather with old and new friends. Soak up the collective energy of W&M Women!

Noon-1 p.m.
Ultimate Frisbee Demo
Jamestown Field
Watch an Ultimate Frisbee demonstration by W&M student players, with a special appearance by President Katherine Rowe. Want to play? Join the game!

12 p.m.
Tribe Field Hockey vs. University of Connecticut
Busch Field
No additional ticket necessary.