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

February 12

Winter virtual breakfast with the Metro NY Women’s Network – February

Washington, D.C. Women’s Network Galentine’s Day tea

11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. ET

Washington, DC

See event details

March 27 - 29

University of Rochester Women's Summit Save the date!

New York, NY

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 making a gift to our Women’s Network Scholarship to support students with financial need, exceptional character, and backgrounds that contribute to the University’s commitment to fostering 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

Black and white photo of 2 people in gradutaion cap and gown looking at each other

Barbara Zuegel ’57 establishes an endowed professorship to support early career faculty at the Institute of Optics

The gift is part of the Wyant Challenge, a fund designed to boost optics faculty by 50 percent within a decade.

Leading with purpose: Rose Cooper ’10S champions women’s empowerment through Simon and beyond

Meet Rochester’s Leadership Committee Member of the Women’s Network, Member of the Simon Women’s Alliance, and Co-Chair of the Women’s Summit Alliance Rose Cooper ’10S (MBA).

Amanda Stent posing with her arms folded across her chest.

Amanda Stent ’01: Guiding the future of AI in industry and academia

The Head of AI Strategy & Research in the Office of the CTO at Bloomberg reflects on the state of artificial intelligence.

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

Sarah Heisman Wallace joined Alumni Relations at the University of Rochester in 2022. She brings over 15 years of volunteer management, engagement and higher education administration experience from Finger Lakes Community College, the Junior League of Rochester, Keuka College, and the NYC Leadership Academy. Sarah holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Scranton and a Masters in Higher Education Administration from Nazareth College. Sarah is passionate about volunteering and building community. She finds joy in all aspects of working with the Women’s Network.

Sarah Heisman Wallace headshot

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

Barbara Zuegel ’57 establishes an endowed professorship to support early career faculty at the Institute of Optics

Leading with purpose: Rose Cooper ’10S champions women’s empowerment through Simon and beyond

Amanda Stent ’01: Guiding the future of AI in industry and academia

The University of Rochester’s CARE Network

Women’s Network webinar library

Contact us

Contact

Explore

Helpful links