Articles about U.Va. Women & Alumnae

Read about the accomplishments of alumnae, female professors, and female students of the U.Va. community and celebrate women who are making a difference today.

Awe Inspiring Alumnae

Colbert Gift to U.Va. Helps Launch New College Arts Scholars Program

Sixteen incoming first-year students will be the first beneficiaries of a new College Arts Scholars program in the University of Virginia’s College of Arts & Sciences, made possible in part by a gift from Evelyn McGee Colbert, a 1985 graduate of the College, and her husband, comedian Stephen T. Colbert. “The program will give us the ability to recruit, retain and educate some of the most exceptional young artists and artist-scholars in the Commonwealth and the nation,” said Bruce Holsinger, associate dean for the arts and humanities.

Remembrances from War Years: An alumna who studied engineering shares memories

I entered Mary Washington College in 1941, but shortly thereafter was the attack on Pearl Harbor. After two years there, I did not want to go back to Mary Washington. …There was a special engineering course to be given at the University of Virginia and if I could get into it I would not have to go back to Mary Washington. Read more.

An Interview with Hannah Pittard

Hannah Pittard, MFA program graduate (2007), a recipient of the 2006 Amanda Davis Highwire Fiction Award and author of The Fates Will Find Their Way, took some time to talk about her life at U.Va., her writing career and her buzz-worthy novel. Read more.

U.Va. Making a Difference

Carolyn Miles (MBA ’88), Executive VP and COO of Save the Children explains how care is delivered in crisis situations such as those in Iraq and Haiti

The Darden Leadership Speaker Series and the Darden Chapter of the National Association of Women MBAs (NAWMBA) present Carolyn S. Miles (MBA ’88). Ms. Miles speaks on “Women’s Roles in International Development” during NAWMBA at Darden’s annual Women’s Leadership Week. View it on YouTube.

Student Spotlight

Social Entrepreneurship Is ‘How You Change the World,’ Graduate Says

When Hebah Fischer arrived on the Grounds of the University of Virginia four years ago, her role model was Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke. “I had my whole life planned out. I was going to study economics and international affairs and I wanted to be the next Ben Bernanke,” she said over coffee on a recent Wednesday. “But I don’t want to be him anymore.” Read more.

Leadership and Health Care Define Nursing Student Katerina Bruner

Katerina Bruner’s decision to become a nurse was easy. She watched her younger sister recover from back surgery when she was 16 and although it was “hard to see a loved one in pain, it was really rewarding to see her get better,” she said. That experience taught her to appreciate life and her health, and instilled in her a desire to help others with health concerns. At UVa.’s Nursing School, “I felt like I was part of something right away.” Read more.

Graduates Hold Variety of Scholarships, Grants, Awards

The University of Virginia’s class of 2011 has received many honors, scholarships, research grants and awards, and includes a Rhodes Scholar, a Udall Scholar, four winners of Davis Prizes for Peace and four Goldwater Scholars. Read more.

A Focus on Faculty

U.Va. Professor is First Woman to Win International Mathematics Prize

Lasiecka, professor of mathematics in the University of Virginia’s College of Arts & Sciences, has been selected by her peers worldwide to receive one of the top prizes in the field of differential equations and control theory. Lasiecka joined “a very distinguished list of winners dating back to the inception of the prize in 1994.” Read more.

‘A True Legend’: Debbie Ryan ends head coaching career after 34 seasons

With a salute at midcourt and a thank you for the support of Cavalier fans, Debbie Ryan ended her tenure March 27 as head coach of U.Va.’s women’s basketball program after 34 seasons and 739 wins. Read more.

U.Va. Nursing Professor Ann Hamric Honored by International Nursing Society

University of Virginia nursing professor Ann Baile Hamric received the Distinguished Nurse Award from the Beta Kappa Chapter of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. The mission of the society is to support the learning, knowledge and professional development of nurses committed to making a difference in health worldwide. Read more.

WLP News

The Women in Leadership Conference 2010

Comments from 2010 participants:

“Great speakers! Each one added something unique to the conversation.”
“Good range of perspectives—generated interesting audience participation.”
“Very interesting to me as the mother of a daughter.”
“Fascinating conversation!”
“Great format. Very provocative.”
“I appreciated the diversity of panelists and their perspectives.”
“I hadn’t been back on Grounds for years—this was an outstanding experience and energized me to stay involved going forward.”
“I am inspired!”

The University of Virginia Women in Leadership and Philanthropy Conference 2010 attracted some 300 attendees who heard alumnae, faculty and student speakers during the two-day event, February 18 and 19. The Women in Leadership Conference was designed to engage more women, especially alumnae, with the University of Virginia and to foster connections between alumnae and the institution’s faculty, students and programs. Featured were session topics of current event interest such as “Women in the Islamic World” and “Business Ethics,” as well as more personal sessions like “Women in Transition” and “Educating Girls for the Future.”

Featured speakers included Sara James (Col ’83), award-winning correspondent for Dateline NBC; Cheryl Mills (Col ’87), counselor and chief of staff to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the 2010 U.Va. Distinguished Alumna; Sherrie Rollins Westin (Col ’80), Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Sesame Workshop; Pattie Sellers (Col ’82), Editor at Large of Fortune magazine.

For more information—including photos, podcasts, and vodcasts—please visit the Post- Conference website.