The College’s first-ever Women’s Conference will bring together hundreds of alumnae for a historic weekend of dialogue, inspiration and celebration from Oct. 23-25.
The conference will feature dozens of female leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs — from former diplomat Bridget Brink ’91 to artist Ann Hamilton — for conversations and other events that are open to the entire campus community.
Coming together to celebrate “The Middle Path We Share,” attendees will explore issues facing women and the world today while showcasing the expertise, experiences and perspectives of Kenyon alumnae, said Annie Gordon, director of alumni engagement.
“We’ve seen such great enthusiasm,” she said, noting that more than 350 alumnae and guests have registered for the weekend. “This has been a beautiful project to work on. It is allowing people from across generations to come and build bonds, network with each other, and build new relationships.”
Planning for this inaugural conference has been ongoing for two years, led by a committee tri-chaired by Lydia Winkler ’13 and Kenyon trustees Marian Block ’75 and Emily Kunze ’96.
“This conference furthers Kenyon's commitment to make community a continuing part of the student and alumni experience. It gives us a chance to get together across classes and interests,” Block said. “But more importantly, we have an amazing group of female alumni. Highlighting their achievements through sessions presented by alumni, faculty, students and outside speakers allows the broader community to share in their expertise and accomplishments.”
The result is a weekend packed with activity that is drawing guests from across generations, ranging from those who just received their diploma in May to a member of the Class of 1973.
The first cohort of women arrived on the Hill in 1969, expanding the student body and transforming the College forever. By 2001, the College began consistently enrolling more female than male students. These facts and others about the history of women at Kenyon will be highlighted during the Women’s Conference with signs around campus.
About 40 women will be spotlighted in events throughout the weekend — and there could have been many more, Gordon said.
Among the highlights will be a special version of Professor of Political Science Pamela Camerra-Rowe’s “Democracy in Crisis” seminar on Friday at 1:30 p.m. in Oden Hall’s Archon Auditorium. It will feature Brink, former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine and Kenyon’s first expert-in-residence this fall; Jenny Mallamo ’08, senior director for communications and public affairs at The Brookings Institution; and Rebecca Shoot ’06, co-convener of the Washington Working Group for the International Criminal Court and the ImPact Coalition on Strengthening International Judicial Institutions. It will be moderated by Camerra-Rowe and David Rowe, Harry M. Clor Professor of Political Science.
Hamilton, a Columbus artist known internationally for her large-scale multimedia installations, will give a distinguished lecture on Saturday at 1:40 p.m. in the Community Foundation Theater as part of The Gund’s 15th anniversary program. Attendees can view nine photographs from her “body object” series at The Gund as part of the exhibition “Where Ideas Begin.”
And the keynote address, “Never Ever Give Up,” will be given by Nyad on Saturday at 11 a.m. in Rosse Hall. A world-renowned endurance swimmer who was portrayed by Annette Bening in a 2023 biopic, she will talk about her historic 110.86-mile swim from Cuba to Florida in 2013.
There will be numerous other learning opportunities in which alumnae experts, including Colette Pichon Battle ’97 H’18, team up with past and present Kenyon faculty and staff to discuss everything from climate activism to happiness to the meaning of death. Writers will discuss and read from their work at the College Bookstore, and President Julie Kornfeld — who became the College’s second female president when she was hired in 2023 — will moderate a panel on public health.
Reunions will take place for Sisterhood; the sororities Theta Delta Phi and Zeta Alpha Pi; and the women’s swimming and diving team, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Legendary retired coach Jim Steen and Lords and Ladies Alumni Head Coach, Owls Swimming and Diving Jess Book ’01 will appear together Saturday morning at the Lowry Center.
Other events will focus on connection. There’s a special night featuring music, s’mores and a food truck at the Gund Commons patio beginning Friday at 7 p.m. And current students can seek mentorship from conference participants during a networking reception hosted by the Career Development Office on Friday at 9:30 a.m.
“Finding a spot where alumni can have interactions with current students is an important component of this, too,” Gordon said.
The Women’s Conference program costs, as well as the keynote speaker, were underwritten by generous gifts from alumnae, permitting a reduced registration fee of $50 per participant. All programming is open to the campus community with the exception of the the kickoff celebration Friday, the lunch recognizing the impact of women at Kenyon on Saturday, and the gala dinner Saturday night, which will be curated by Elizabeth Poett ’03, host and star of the Magnolia Network cooking and lifestyle show “Ranch to Table.”
