Around the Upstate
Clemson women’s studies program to host women’s leadership conference Oct. 25-26
By Molly Collins
CLEMSON, SC - October 25, 2012 - Clemson University’s women studies program will host W.E. Lead: Women Empowered to Lead Leadership Launch, a series of events to take place both on and off campus Oct. 25-26.
The events mark the 25th anniversary of women’s studies at Clemson and will focus on leadership and mentoring the next generation of women. Both events are free and open to the public. To register, go to www.clemson.edu/caah/womens_studies or send an email womenlead@clemson.edu with the subject line “Event Registration”
Guest speaker Nell Merlino will present “Leadership Lessons from the Queen,” the inaugural W.E. Lead event from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Oct. 25 at the Poinsett Club on East Washington Street in downtown Greenville. Merlino is founder and president of Count Me In for Women’s Economic Independence, a not-for-profit provider of resources for women to grow micro businesses into million-dollar enterprises. Merlino is also the founder of Take Our Daughters to Work Day and several other projects focused on the involvement of women in business.
Diane Perpich, associate professor of philosophy and director of women’s studies at Clemson, hopes that the event will inspire networking among businesswomen in Greenville that will lead to an ongoing relationship with Clemson University.
“I want women in Greenville to start participating in ways that connect them to Clemson students,” she said.
On Oct. 26, W.E. Lead on Campus: Mentoring the Next Generation will take place in the Self Auditorium at Clemson’s Strom Thurmond Institute. The program will begin at 9:30 a.m. and will conclude with lunch on the Strom Thurmond Institute Plaza at 1 p.m. The event will also celebrate the anniversary as well as new leadership initiatives on campus.
“We are celebrating by looking to the future and mentoring the next generation,” said Perpich.
Aimed at undergraduate and graduate students,
the event will feature a plenary address by Merlino as well as guest
speakers from SistaDoctas and the White House Project and Department of
Transportation STEM Mentors, all mentoring programs.
