Thanks to the leadership and generosity of Trustee and alumna Scarlett Foster ’79, I am pleased to share that a Women and Leadership weekend has been scheduled for March 20-21, 2015. The focus is to provide an educational leadership and networking weekend for women on campus to meet and to learn from other accomplished women within the wider Bethany College community.
The weekend will begin on Friday evening with a Women’s Leaders Recognition Dinner in which invited female students will be addressed by guest speaker Neile Miller, the CEO of Ultra High Materials and former Acting Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration. SGA officers, along with Ms. Foster, will recognize women who are in existing leadership positions in campus organizations.
Saturday afternoon will begin with a panel discussion moderated by Scarlett Foster ’79, retired corporate officer and Vice President of Investor Relations, Monsanto. Ms. Foster was one of only six female corporate officers in the company’s history, and one of only 15 people to have that title at Monsanto during her time at the corporation. Panelists include:
· Marie DeParis ’83, Vice President, Marketing & Business Development, SNY
· Billie Flaherty ’79, General Counsel, Chemtura
· Kylin McCardle ’03, Vice President, U.S. Government Relations and Public Policy, Barclays
· Kathy Tucker ’85, Division Manager, NVHomes
These alumnae will share their thoughts and experiences with our current female students to help encourage them to excel as leaders on campus and assist them in preparing for their professional careers.
After the panel discussion, invited participants will be given the opportunity to network with members of the Alumni Council and special invitees of the College. Panel members and Board of Trustee members will also be available for discussion. The evening will be capped with a dinner, held in Commencement Hall, featuring invited banquet speaker Sara Laschever, a noted researcher, speaker and co-author (Women Don’t Ask: The High Cost of Avoiding Negotiation—and Positive Strategies for Change and Ask for It! How Women Can Use the Power of Negotiation to Get What They Really Want).
The events are by invitation only. Invited students have already received a save-the-date email, with full invitations to be sent in February. Please join me in thanking Scarlett Foster for planning and underwriting this wonderful educational weekend for our female students as we celebrate Women’s History Month.
