Women’s Leadership Council

URI female alum at an event

The Women’s Leadership Council works to empower students and alumnae while increasing women’s influence at the University. Our members take an active role, serving on committees and driving new initiatives for the benefit of women students.

We need you! Students and recent alumnae can learn so much from those who have gone before them. Your knowledge and experiences could help others make important career and life decisions more confidently.

The Council meets monthly (with a virtual option) to develop at least two events each year. Members are expected to make a gift, in any amount, to the Women Transforming Women Scholarship.

Volunteer speakers are needed for events such as the Spring Symposium and Celebration of Women in Leadership, our virtual Women in Leadership Speaker Series and other career-related programs. To get involved in this way, contact Kira Mudd at kira.mudd@uri.edu.

Our Purpose

The Women’s Leadership Council supports the personal and professional growth of URI women through meaningful opportunities to unite, celebrate, empower, and learn from one another while forming lasting connections.

Vision

Our vision is to build a community that provides support and enrichment for women leaders to thrive in their personal and professional lives.

Core Values

Empowerment: Instill confidence, celebrate, and elevate women
Enrichment: Educate, advise, mentor, and provide opportunities for growth
Commitment: Contribute time, talent, and resources to help women succeed
Inclusivity: Engage diverse backgrounds, thoughts, and ideas
Community: Create a valuable and trusted network among URI women

URIFAE leadership team with President Parlange

Women’s Leadership Speaker Series

Stay tuned in to join our ongoing series of presentations from women leaders across a wide range of interests and professions. We hope you will attend in the future, and review our past events for topics that matter to you.

More on Membership

We encourage members to serve on committees within the council. Committee chairs will be appointed by URIFAE and asked to serve a two-year term. Chairs may be invited to serve a consecutive term by the board.

    • Participate in at least two council meetings each year in person or virtually.
    • Attend at least one council event or program each year.
    • Connect students with mentors.
    • Develop programs that allow students to expand their knowledge on a variety of personal and professional topics.
    • Grow an endowed scholarship for female students who hold leadership positions on campus.
    • Reach out to build partnerships that will strategically further our purpose.
    • Assist in facilitating meetings and events.
    • Assist staff in recruiting volunteers.
    • Work with members toward shared goals.

Meet Our Leaders

Officers

Denise Hempe ’91, Chair
Melena Schug ’19, Vice Chair
Susan Detri-Souve ’86, Secretary
Paula Testa ’94, Member at Large

Committee Chairs

Janice DiLorenzo ’70, Philanthropy Chair
Kelly Lockwood Primus ’84, Membership Chair
Elizabeth Rogers ’17, Communications & Marketing Chair

Women's Leadership Council New Member Application

Thank you for your interest in the Women’s Leadership Council! Please complete this form to indicate your interest and someone from the Women’s Leadership Council will contact you shortly. Please note that information you submit via this form may be used to update your alumni record.

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The Women Transforming Women Endowed Scholarship

You can support female-identified students by giving to the Women Transforming Women Scholarship. A scholarship is awarded annually to a student who holds a leadership position on campus and maintains a 3.0 grade point average.