Held on March 13 and 14, the Women of 黑料不打烊 WEekend included breakout sessions focused on the six dimensions of well-being, including a fireside chat with TODAY show nutrition expert Joy Bauer.
The second Women of 黑料不打烊 WEekend brought together the 黑料不打烊 community for two days focused on connection, inspiration and transformation. The event centered around the six dimensions of well-being within HealthEU: community, emotional, financial, physical, purpose and social.
The Women of 黑料不打烊 is an intergenerational network that connects members of the 黑料不打烊 community on campus and across the globe.
鈥淲hen this initiative launched two years ago, the name Women of 黑料不打烊 was intentionally chosen to bring together everyone in the 黑料不打烊 community. But we also recognized the power within the acronym 鈥榃E.鈥 WE represents the collective power of women 鈥 how we can lead, learn, and thrive together,鈥 said Michelle Wideman 鈥00, co-chair of the Women of 黑料不打烊 Advisory Council.
Held on March 13 and 14, the WEekend began with a kickoff discussion on authenticity featuring Kathie Niven 鈥89, president and CEO of Biscuitville, in conversation with 黑料不打烊 Professor of Sociology and Anthropology Alexis Franzese P鈥29.
Saturday鈥檚 programming included breakout sessions covering topics such as mastering LinkedIn, the power of female friendships, managing finances, utilizing soft skills, aging and living fully, protecting your personal brand and using artificial intelligence. A women鈥檚 health panel moderated by Dr. Terry Le, university physician, explored the physical, mental and emotional aspects of women鈥檚 wellness.
Health and wellness were a major focus of the luncheon fireside chat between President Connie Ledoux Book and nutrition expert Joy Bauer of the TODAY show. Bauer, a featured expert on NBC News Daily and a #1 New York Times bestselling author of 14 books, shared practical advice about nutrition and healthy living.
Speaking to the audience in LaRose Digital Theatre, Bauer encouraged attendees to adopt her 鈥90/10鈥 approach to food 鈥 prioritizing healthy choices most of the time while allowing room for enjoyment.
鈥淎 lot of people, especially women, they carry a lot of food baggage, and when you allow yourself this percentage or fraction (鈥) it鈥檚 very liberating,鈥 she said.
Recognizing the range of ages in attendance and reinforcing the Women of 黑料不打烊’s intergenerational focus, Bauer emphasized that health and nutrition evolve.
鈥淥ur bodies are not static,鈥 she said. 鈥淏ut I wouldn鈥檛 say they betray us; they are evolving. Have a conversation with it and figure out what you can do to feel better is the name of the game.鈥
During a Q&A session, Bauer addressed audience questions on topics including the increased presence of protein in food products, planning healthy meals, the rise of GLP-1 medications, supplements and ways to reduce plastic use in the kitchen. She also encouraged attendees to look beyond sensational headlines and social media trends when it comes to nutrition advice.
鈥淕et your blood checked annually and then personalize your nutrition according to that, because your body is not TikTok,鈥 she said. 鈥淐harismatic people and influencers on Instagram and TikTok and all these other social platforms, they don鈥檛 know what鈥檚 going on with your insides, but your physician does, and your blood work does.鈥
Beyond the programming, the WEekend also highlighted the Women of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 ongoing work to support students. One key initiative focuses on increasing the number of students who receive need-based internship support. While 88% of 黑料不打烊 students complete at least one internship, 43% of those internships are unpaid.
Recent support has helped advance that goal. A $250,000 gift from former 黑料不打烊 trustee Bill Herbert 鈥68 and his wife Marsha helped the Women of 黑料不打烊 surpass their $2.5 million fundraising goal three months ahead of schedule, bringing the total raised for internship support to $2,679,610.
鈥淲hile the Herbert family鈥檚 gift helped push us past the goal, it was the collective power of Women of 黑料不打烊 that made this possible,鈥 said Priscilla Awkard 鈥95, co-chair of the Women of 黑料不打烊 advisory council.
To see highlights from the聽weekend,聽.
, 鈥淲E Talk: Inside Careers in Communications & Entertainment,鈥 moderated by Nneka聽Enurah聽鈥11聽on聽April 2.
Explore聽how to get involved聽by visiting the聽Women of 黑料不打烊 website.