Distinguished Speaker Series

Join Women of Excellence and the Williams College of Business for the Distinguished Speaker Series event on Thursday, March 25, featuring Karen Wells, vice president of strategy and menu for McDonalds USA. Wells, a 1986 graduate of Xavier's Williams College of Business, will talk about her journey and the role inclusion and diversity play in her career. Wells develops plans to drive long-term growth for McDonald's domestic business. As a member of the McDonald's leadership team in the United States, she also works to shape the fast-food chain's menu that caters daily to 26 million consumers nationwide. The event in the Duff Banquet Center at Cintas Center starts at 8:00 a.m. Breakfast is included. Read more about Wells.

WOX Giving Circle

Grants Deadline: March 1

The deadline for the next round of Giving Circle grants is Monday, March 1. Student clubs, organizations, faculty and staff members may apply to fund special initiatives during the 2010-2011 school year. The grants are not restricted to programs involving only women. Projects that benefit the educational experience of Xavier students are eligible for consideration. Read more about the Giving Circle grant application process.

Let the Circle be Unbroken

Take advantage of the opportunity to contribute to the 2010 Women of Excellence Giving Circle. Donations are used to fund grants, which are given to faculty, staff and student groups for educational projects and programs. For more information, contact Leigh Ann Fibbe at fibbe@xavier.edu or 513-745-3969. Read more about the Women of Excellence Giving Circle and how to join.

Save the Date for Spike Heels on
Feb. 18

You'll want to keep your Jimmy Choos out after Valentine's Day for this one. Young alumnae are invited to a pre-show wine and cheese reception before the Thursday, Feb. 18, opening of Spike Heels, a contemporary comedy performed by the Xavier Players at Gallagher Student Center Theater. Cost is $5 and includes the reception at 6:00 p.m. and show at 7:30 p.m. Look for an e-mail invitation coming soon. For more information, contact Erin Swietlik at 513-745-2081 or swietlike@xavier.edu.

Women in Psychology Speaker Series

The Xavier University chapter of Psi Chi, the National Honor Society in Psychology, invites you to its winter speaker series on women's issues. The series, funded by a Women of Excellence Giving Circle grant, features psychologists Ann Kearney-Cooke on Jan. 27, Robin T. Arthur on Feb. 2, and Nadine J. Kaslow on March 15. Each will lead informative, compassionate discussions on their respective topics of expertise. Read more about the speakers and details about each lecture.

We (hope we) are the Champions

Xavier University is proud to host the first and second rounds of the Division I NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at the Cintas Center on March 21 and 23. We're so confident the Lady Musketeers will be part of the tournament, plans are underway for a pre-game event on March 21. Look for more details to come. Check out how to purchase tickets.

January is National Mentoring Month

January is National Mentoring Month
It's not too late to sign up to serve as a mentor to an undergraduate student at Xavier. Mentors are being encouraged to select their student match the week of Feb. 8. Complete the quick, online application and encourage other Xavier alums you know to become a mentor as well. The XU Mentoring Program, sponsored by the University's Career Services Center and Women of Excellence, is designed to help students learn about career and networking opportunities in jobs associated with their respective majors. Read more about it or contact the program's director, Bethany Kilgore.

Home Page Highlights
Any mentor who wants to be featured on the home page of Xavier's mentoring web site should e-mail Bethany Kilgore with your information. The deadline to submit materials has been extended to Friday, Jan. 29.

Goal: Expand WOX nationwide

The Women of Excellence has enjoyed some great successes since its founding, prompting alumnae outside Cincinnati to express interest in developing similar programs in other cities. Staff members Norah Mock, Erin Swietlik and Dianne Fisk recently travelled to Washington, D.C. to meet with Xavier alumnae to discuss how to bring WOX to that chapter. This includes encouraging mentoring relationships with students, providing events and programs of specific interest to women and growing the Giving Circle in their chapters. If you're interested in Women of Excellence having a presence in your city, please contact Norah Mock at 513-745-3573 or mockn@xavier.edu.

Recap: Women's Issues in the Workplace Summit

Cincinnati news anchor Cammy Dierking kicked off the Women's Issues in the Workplace Summit last month with an invigorating keynote address, followed by breakout sessions featuring such topics as "Women for Others" and "Achieving Work/Life Balance." The half-day program was funded by a Women of Excellence Giving Circle grant. Read more about the summit and view photos from the event. Summaries of summit sessions are available at www.xavier.edu/wox.

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