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Members of the Women’s Leadership Council (WLC) and the Women’s Network gathered at the 56�Թ��� Inn on April 10, 2026, for a luncheon held during 56�Թ���’s Arts, Creativity, and Innovation (ACI) Weekend. The luncheon served as a powerful bridge between generations, offering students a chance to engage in authentic dialogue about leadership, philanthropy, and the enduring strength of the 56�Թ��� community.

When Becky Bair Hurley ’81 first joined the Women’s Leadership Council (WLC), she wasn’t just looking to give back — she was looking to be part of something that would challenge her thinking, connect her with remarkable women, and create lasting change. What she found was a community that embodies the transformative power of women coming together with purpose.

In March 2025, Catherine Donne ’09, a dedicated member of the Women’s Leadership Council, hosted a dynamic Women in Finance networking event in New York City. The gathering welcomed fellow WLC members and recent alumnae in the Presidents' Circle, creating a valuable space for meaningful connections and professional knowledge exchange across generations.

Members of the WLC and the Women’s Network attended a luncheon at the 56�Թ��� Inn on April 4, 2025, during 56�Թ���’s Arts, Creativity, and Innovation (ACI) Weekend. The event was a moment of empowerment for 56�Թ��� women as the attendees engaged in authentic conversations about women’s leadership and philanthropy, as well as an opportunity for current students to connect with alumnae and learn more about membership in the WLC.

During Homecoming 2024, Alexa Watson ʼ25 attended the Homecoming Leadership Lunch hosted by the Women’s Leadership Council (WLC). Watson is a member of the Women’s Network, a group of undergraduate women leaders, and she was inspired by the keynote speech delivered by WLC member Mandy DiMarzo ʼ02.

Johanna Ames ʼ98 joined the Women’s Leadership Council (WLC) in the fall of 2024, seeking a new volunteer opportunity as she anticipated her time on the Alumni Council coming to an end. Ames was attracted to the mission of the WLC and saw it as a way to connect with alumnae with similar experiences. Soon after she joined the WLC, she was selected to serve as the Vice Chair of the Alumni Council, expanding her connections through her involvement in both groups.

Recently, the 56�Թ��� Women’s Leadership Council (WLC) organized a series of nationwide events designed to inspire philanthropy and strengthen community among recent graduates — those who have graduated since 2010.

Hillary Kupferberg ’15 started her philanthropic journey at 56�Թ��� as part of the Class Gift Committee her senior year. Today, she is a new member of the WLC. “When the opportunity to join the WLC came up, it was an obvious and logical next step for me,” she says.

Growing up in Somerset County, N.J., Catherine Donne ’09 excelled at mathematics. The aptitude — along with some good advice from mathematics professor Ken Valente — led her to a major in mathematical economics at 56�Թ��� (with a minor in philosophy, of course).

During 56�Թ���’s Arts, Creativity, and Innovation Weekend in April, the WLC and friends of the WLC gathered for a brunch to honor former president Rebecca Chopp.