Fourteen Stetson staff and students traveled to Jacksonville to attend the one-day Women’s Leadership Conference: Generation W, where Wendy B. Libby, president of Stetson, was a speaker. This conference celebrates women and encourages them to be leaders and change makers whether they are a stay-at-home mom or a leader in industry.

Generation W represents women who care deeply about the world in which they live, who are seeking knowledge, desire self-improvement and are motivated to make a difference in their communities, their country and their world. They are geared to improving and motivating women and inspiring women’s leadership.

Women from across the country took part in the conference and contributed their experiences and expertise on a wide range of topics in a dynamic and entertaining format. Libby was a featured speaker during a breakout session entitled “The Learning Curve on Education,” and talked specifically about liberal arts education and how it is more of an option than many people realize.

Staff and students who attended the conference include Stacy Collins, Yolany Gonell, Debbie Tate, Jennifer Merrell Certo, Tara Formisano, D’Andra Williams, Katherine Tonner, Audriana Law, Natallie Faria, Alyssa Collins, Sasha Pesci, Viviana Vasiu, Reema Daas and Danielle Marszal.

“At Generation W some amazing female student leaders and I were able to hear from some incredibly accomplished women, including Dr. Libby, who are change makers in fields still dominated by men,” said Stacy Collins, director of the Academic Success Center. “Listening to the stories of their journeys, their diverse opinions about everything from female sports, to the big question right now—can women have it all—to issues facing women in the military, and their hopes about where we can go from here, led to great conversations for all of the students and staff that Dr. Libby sponsored to go.  Ultimately it was an inspiring and thought-provoking day for me, and I am very grateful that I was able to experience it with such awesome Stetson women!”

“I was very proud to be part of the Generation W experience,” said Libby. “The speakers, all leaders in their fields, were inspirational and accomplished.  I was so pleased to be invited to speak at a breakout session. But the best part was having a group of our women professionals and students attend the meeting itself. I am thankful Generation W founder Donna Orender and Stetson were able to support their attendance.”

For more information on the GenerationW Conference, please visit their website.

by Sarah Taylor