Conversations were the medium at this fall's Boston College Women's Summit, which brought together alumni, students, faculty, and special guests for talks on life, learning, career, and many other topics. The summit aspires to empower women of all backgrounds to realize their individual and collective potential to rise together and enact change, according to organizers.

Speakers representing fields including media, politics, business, and STEM filled an agenda of keynote remarks, main stage conversations, and small seminar sessions.

Five scenes from the day follow; for more information, visit the summit website.

Photos by Yiting Chen

 

BC faculty members Regine Jean-Charles and Rhonda Frederick
BC faculty members Regine Jean-Charles and Rhonda Frederick spoke about feminist friendship, particularly the difficulties of navigating the relationship between academia and the world, as well as balancing work and non-work lives. They also explored the racial and cultural challenges that can affect the choices women make.
Attendees at a seminar with alumna, actor, singer, and actor Patricia Noonan titled 'Redefining Weird: The Art of Turning Limits into Thresholds.'
Attendees at a seminar with alumna, actor, and singer Patricia Noonan—titled 'Redefining Weird: The Art of Turning Limits into Thresholds'—learned empowering ways 'to look at the limits and labels others place on us and that we place on ourselves.'
Alumna and talent consultant Su In Park's seminar focused on 'Zigzagging Your Career Life: It's Almost Never straight and Narrow.'
Alumna and talent consultant Su In Park's seminar, 'Zigzagging Your Career Life: It's Almost Never Straight and Narrow,' focused on navigating career decisions and workplace issues.
Seminar with alumna and singer-songwriter Lovely Hoffman
Alumna and singer-songwriter Lovely Hoffman, a teacher in the Boston Public Schools, led a seminar on 'The Power of Self-Determination: What It Is, What It Looks Like, and How to Claim It,' sharing how her philosophy and belief in self-determination has helped her live a fulfilling and meaningful life.
Kathleen McGillycuddy, Akosua Opokua-Achampong, Rachel DiBella
A main stage conversation on 'Being the First' with alumna Kathleen McGillycuddy (left), founder of the Council for Women of Boston College and the first women to chair the University's board of trustees, and Akosua Opokua-Achampong '18 (center), who with fellow BC student Tt King represent the female duo to be elected president and vice president of the Undergraduate Government of Boston College. The event was moderated by Boston College Women’s Center Assistant Director Rachel DiBella.