Taking Up Space, AADC’s Biennial Women’s Conference
Connects, and Empowers Women to Learn and Lead in 2025 and Beyond
The Alumnae Association Associate Alumnae of Douglass College, “AADC” hosts Taking Up Space: AADC 2025 Women’s Conference on Saturday, March 15, 2025, from 8:00 to 4:00 pm, at the Hilton East Brunswick Hotel & Executive Meeting Center. Early Bird Tickets are available to purchase online through January 31, 2025, or until sold out. Speakers headlining the conference include:
Stacey Abrams, Business Leader, Bestselling Author, and Advocate, to deliver keynote on leadership, moderated by Ashley Sawyer ‘10, Esq.
Jonathan Holloway, 21st President of Rutgers University, and eminent historian on post-emancipation United States history to deliver remarks.
Commemorating National Women’s History Month, the day-long conference is open to all, and brings together women and their allies across industries from finance, healthcare and academia to politics and law to offer a powerful program of general session presenters and eight signature workshops that educates, empowers, and engages attendees.
“From the first 43 New Jersey College for Women graduates who committed to continue life-long learning and networking, and to support the future graduates of the college with their penny-a-day pledge ($3.65 per year or equivalent to $60.00 today), these women entrusted us to continue their pledge to help generations of women build a bright future,” says AADC President Lisa Dorio Ruch, Class of 1989.
“Today, our more than 40,000 alumnae around the world,” Ruch continues, “use our alumnae-created, led, driven, and supported network to continue this legacy with alumnae events, life-long learning opportunities, and networking like this conference, as well as fellowships for graduate studies, and the distribution of funds from the Annual Appeal that support educational and programming opportunities for Douglass and her students.”
Program Sessions and Speakers Line Up
Speakers will address a range of issues facing today’s women as they move forward in all aspects of their lives:
Taking Up Space: The Unapologetic Power of DEIB (Dr. Debra Perez ’84)
Celebrate Your Style Personal Empowerment Session (Karen A. Chambers)
The New Generations Perspective on Women’s Advancement (Channel Jordan ‘19, Dominique Little ‘19)
Women’s Wealth Matters: Grow Your Wealth (Judith Lee)
Disparities in Women’s Health Caused by Social Determinants
Empower Her: Radical Resilience (Tyreese R. McAllister)
Discover Your Life & Leadership Purpose (Patrice Tanaka)
Justice & Leadership: A BIPOC Woman Claiming a Seat at the Table (Abja Midha)
Is Your House in Order?: Estate Planning and Administration (Anne Marie Mazzu ‘85, Esq.)
Breaking Barriers While Protecting Your Mental Health (Karima A. Forbes)
TRHT: Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation (Sharon Stroye)
We are grateful to conference benefactors and sponsors, including:
Georg Albers-Schonberg, honoring the legacy of his wife, the late Joyce Kovatch Albers-Schonberg ’65;
The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation;
Isabel Goll Drzewiecki ’61;
The Janet L. Pegg ’78 Charitable Foundation, Inc.,
About the Women’s Conference:
This biennial conference was established in 2023 to honor the AADC 100th Anniversary, under the leadership of former AADC Executive Director Valerie L. Anderson ‘81, MBA to provide educational and empowerment opportunities and celebrate women’s advancement.
The AADC Women’s Conference 2025 Planning Committee, led by volunteer Chair Caprice R. Jenerson ‘90, Esq., and numerous committee volunteers, brings together a variety of voices, perspectives, and lived experiences that reflects the diverse alumnae and the opportunities to create life-long connections.
