Women’s Network

WOMEN'S

NETWORK

connect | support | engage

WOMEN’S
NETWORK

connect | support | engage

The University of Rochester’s new volunteer-led Women’s Network has a mission to harness and celebrate the rich contributions of women around the globe who are part of the University of Rochester family. Through dynamic programming and engaging conversations, the Network will help members connect and support one another.

Guided by the spirit of Meliora and open to all, our values are strong, our community is vibrant, and our commitment to each other runs deep. We know we can achieve great things—together.

Making mental health a priority

5 funds. $27,000.

As societal pressures continue to grow, and the complexities, stresses, and expectations of everyday life affect success at school, on the job, and in relationships with loved ones and friends, the need for mental health and counseling services has increased dramatically. Help Rochester address the growing need for high-quality mental health services with a gift to the Psychiatry Annual Fund, Suicide Prevention, the Mobile Crisis Team Support Fund, or the CARE Network.

Learn more

Upcoming events

Explore more events

September 12

NY Metro Women Summer Picnic

Global Days of Service 2024: Flower City Pickers with the Rochester Women's Network

Global Days of Service 2024: Get Out the Vote with the New England Women's Network

Fall virtual breakfast with the Metro NY Women’s Network – October

Fall virtual breakfast with the Metro NY Women’s Network – December

Global Days of Service 2024: Get Out the Vote with the New England Women's Network

2 - 4 p.m. ET

Needham, MA

See event details

What we can do, together.

We invite you to take an even more active role in our community. Together, we can do more, change more, and inspire more. With your support, we can:

• Harness ideas and actions that will foster the personal and professional growth of our members

• Develop programs, events, and activities that will inspire and enrich us all

• Create distinct opportunities to hear more women’s voices, to engage the leadership of women, and to foster equitable and inclusive communities

• Channel our collective philanthropic resources to advocate for the causes that matter to us the most, from student support to career and leadership development to innovation across academic disciplines and beyond

○ Consider a gift to our Women’s Network Scholarship to help support students with financial need, who demonstrate excellent character, and whose background advances the University’s goal of having a more diverse student body.

Meet the global co-chairs

Kathy Waller ’80, ’83S (MBA)

Abby Zabrodsky ’14 and ’19S (MBA)

Meet the co-chairs

Gwen Greene

“The Women’s Network maintains its focus on women’s health, as a key issue in our Campaign. Last year we raised substantial money to help fund a study on the often undetected and therefore untreated bruising in women of color. This year we are supporting Mental Health problems, how they specifically present in women, and how we as a group can best assist women find help. These are not problems that are unique to “others;” we all face ongoing challenges that so often need professional help. As former Chair of the Student Affairs committee of the Board of Trustees, I often met with our female students in an effort to better understand their fear and anxiety, and in turn help the University better find answers. I and others have donated to the CARE Network, please consider making a gift today.”

Gwen Greene ’65

Regional groups

Metro New York City

Leadership: Louisa Lei ’15 and Wuwei Chen ’11

Facebook

Meliora Collective

Washington, DC

Tess Troha-Thompson ’06 and Grace Czechowski Llojaj ’13

Facebook

San Francisco

Leadership: Ashley Nevins ’16S (MS)

Los Angeles

Leadership: Radhika Dewan Fliegel ’03 and Wallis Nash ’15

New England

Leadership: Marcia Mantell ’83 and Sara Halton ’04

Rochester

Leadership: Renee Bell ’95 and Antra Ziedins-Gilbank ’98

Affinity groups

Simon Women’s Alliance

Leadership: Lynne Amerson ’09S (MBA)

Website

Women in Medicine

Leadership: Allison Ramsey ’05M (MD), ’08M (RES), ’11M (FLW) and Heidi Schwarz ’83M (MD), ’89M (RES), P’11

Meliora Collective

Get involved

“Racial-ethnic minority groups represent a considerable proportion of the entire population in the United States, yet they experience major mental health disparities. One important disparity is less access to health care. A gift, of any amount, to the CARE Network fund will assist with the goal of decreasing mental health disparities between minority groups. The implementation of the goals of the fund will contribute to a reduction in the odds of an individual with mental illness not being able to afford mental health care, help to lower barriers in accessing treatments, and reduce the delay in seeking help among African Americans, Latinos, and other minority populations.”

Nila Bragg ’88

Membership benefits

We consider everyone a member of the Women’s Network—all women are welcome.

• Connections: Take part in our networking, professional, and social activities

• Supportive educational programs: Learn and grow with us through in-person and virtual programs

• Exclusive opportunities: Join us at special virtual events and regional pre-receptions, including future Meliora Weekends and Volunteers in Partnership Leadership conferences, and get special access to virtual networking opportunities within The Meliora Collective Women’s Network group.

Women who ROC

Building a Rochester legacy through family and community

Meet Alumni Interviewer, Class of 1994 Reunion Committee member, and Hillel Board of Directors member Louise Litt ’94, P’27.

From Shanghai to Rochester and beyond: A journey of learning, leadership, and lifelong impact

Meet Chair of the China Alumni Network Hanqi Jiang ’15.

Generations of Meliora: How family and volunteering keep the Rochester spirit alive

Meet Canada National Leadership Council, Personal & Professional Development Committee, and Global Women’s Network member Celia Konowe ’21, T5’21.

The University of Rochester’s CARE Network

The CARE Network enables members of the University community to express concern about a person, incident, or issue by submitting a report online. A small, private group of campus liaisons – the CARE team – responds to these referrals and ensures that students in or heading toward distress have access to the resources and services they need to thrive.

care with puzzle piece white text on top of UR Riverside campus background. And play button in the middle

Watch the video

Women’s Network webinar library

These videos exemplify the values of the volunteer-led Women’s Network. Through dynamic programming and engaging conversations, the Network helps members connect and support one another.

Watch now

Contact us

For more information about joining the Women’s Network, please contact alumni@rochester.edu. If you want to participate and you’re not sure if this applies to you, contact us.

Making mental health a priority

5 funds. $27,000.

Upcoming events

What we can do, together.

Meet the global co-chairs

Gwen Greene ’65

Regional groups

Affinity groups

Nila Bragg ’88

Membership benefits

Women who ROC

Building a Rochester legacy through family and community

From Shanghai to Rochester and beyond: A journey of learning, leadership, and lifelong impact

Generations of Meliora: How family and volunteering keep the Rochester spirit alive

The University of Rochester’s CARE Network

Women’s Network webinar library

Contact us

Contact

Explore

Helpful links