On Saturday, October 10, over 1,400 alumnae, students and community members came together online to celebrate the transformational impact of UVA women at the Retold Virtual Experience conference. We heard from and were inspired by glass ceiling breakers, industry leaders and student activists — all the while reflecting on our interconnected stories and collective impact.
The UVA alumnae community is made up of women with unique paths, experiences, identities, and perspectives that shape the history and impact of UVA women. Retold is for you and about you — and we want to know your story. Additionally, we invite you to stay connected with other alumnae by attending one of our upcoming virtual events.
Retold Virtual Experience Events
You can now view video recordings of all of the sessions from the Retold Virtual Experience on demand. Take a look at the list of events below, and click the title of the session you want to view to get started.
Welcome
April Woodard (Col class of ’91), Emmy-nominated TV personality and host of the Retold Virtual Experience
No Longer Footnotes: Retelling UVA’s History
Presented in partnership with the Maxine Platzer Lynn Women’s Center at UVA
Abby Palko, director of the Maxine Platzer Lynn Women’s Center, and current UVA students recount twenty little-known moments in the history of women at UVA.
When Women Tell the Story
A conversation with Margaret Brennan (Col class of ’02), moderator on Face the Nation, and Sheryl Gay Stolberg (Col class of ’83), Washington correspondent for The New York Times, on the unique perspective of women in journalism at this moment in history.
Women in Athletics
Presented in partnership with the Virginia Athletics Foundation
A conversation with Val Ackerman (Col class of ’81), commissioner of the Big East Conference, and Carla Williams, director of athletics at UVA, about their role as leaders in athletics and the impact of women in sports.
Break
Take a break with:
- A poetry reading by Emma Karnes (Col class of ’21)
- A conversation with Carey Albertine (Col class of ’96), director of experience at Shift Thinking, and Jenny Turner Hall (Col class of ’97), award-winning writer and director, on the power of authenticity in telling our stories
- Performances by the Virginia Sil’hooettes and the Virginia Women’s Chorus
- A modern calligraphy tutorial with calligrapher Jodi Macfarlan (Col class of ’08)
- A Rotunda watercolor demonstration with artist Lucy Clare Spooner (Col class of ’14)
- A fall cocktail/mocktail session with LUMI Juice founder Hillary Murray (Darden class of ’13)
- A mac ‘n’ cheese cooking demo with food writer and cookbook author Polina Chesnakova (Col class of ’14)
- A kids yoga session with Diana Williams (Col class of ’05, Educ class of ’06), owner of Fusion Fit, LLC
- A kids cooking video with recipe tester Kate Malay Hopewell (Col class of ’05). Recipes can be found here.
Trusting Your Intuition
Presented in partnership with the McIntire School of Commerce
A conversation with clean beauty trailblazer Nancy Twine (Com class of ’07), founder and CEO of Briogeo, and Nicole Thorne Jenkins, dean of the McIntire School of Commerce, on following your instincts and forging your own path to success.
More to the Story
Presented in partnership with the University’s Double Take storytelling initiative
Alumnae Ann Brown (Col class of ’74, Law class of ’77), Dorothy Lewis Kluttz (Nurs class of ’66), Sandra Wicks Lewis (Col class of ’72), Nicole McKinney Lindsay (Darden class of ’99, Law class of ’99) and Nancy Park (Com class of ’12) share reflections on their UVA experiences after an introduction by President James E. Ryan (Law class of ’92).
Storytelling Through Design
Presented in partnership with the School of Architecture
Zena Howard (Arch class of ’88), principal and managing director of the North Carolina practice of design firm Perkins and Will and former senior project manager for the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., on leveraging story to create designs that are meaningful, relevant, inclusive, and enduring.
Uncovering Untold Stories
Presented in partnership with the School of Nursing and the School of Engineering and Applied Science
A conversation with Jill Tietjen (Engr class of ’76), president and CEO of Technically Speaking, Inc. and Victoria Tucker, BSN, RN (Nurs class of ’12, Grad class of ’22), PhD Candidate in the School of Nursing, about the importance of expanding narratives in the telling and retelling of women’s history.
Break
Take a break with:
- Performances by the University Singers and the X-Tasee Dance Crew
- A conversation with Pamela Cipriano, dean of the School of Nursing
- A quick stretching routine with Diana Williams (Col class of ’05, Educ class of ’06), owner of Fusion Fit, LLC
- A meditation session with Estelle Brodeaur (Nurs class of ’80), registered yoga instructor and wellness coach
- A 20-minute total body workout with Tasha Turnbull (Col class of ’02), founder of T2 Fitness
- A session on preventing work from home burnout with Peggy Mitchell Clarke, PhD (Educ class of ’87, Grad class of ’91), founder of The Living Well Solution and president of Living Well Press, LLC
- Fun + family-friendly activities for your little Wahoo
Agents of Change
Presented in partnership with the IDEA Fund and the Division for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
A conversation with Niya Bates (Col class of ’12, Arch class of ’15) and Zyahna Bryant (Col class of ’23) on transforming narratives through activism.
Turning the Page: Student Leaders at UVA
Current student leaders Jayla Hart (Col class of ’22), Pilar Jimenez Larre Borges (Col class of ’21), Anna Winter (Engr class of ’21), and Ellen Yates (Col class of ’21) discuss writing their next chapters with Mary Elizabeth Luzar (Col class of ’02, Educ class of ’09), director of student engagement at the UVA Alumni Association.
A Story That Is Uniquely Yours and a Narrative That Is Decidedly Ours
Kelli Palmer, PhD (Educ class of ’07), head of global inclusion & diversity and corporate citizenship at the CFA Institute, shares her reflections on our interconnected stories and collective impact.
Closing
Close out the day with Lily West (Darden class of ’12), interim CEO and president, UVA Alumni Association and Patty Epps (Col class of ’74, Grad class of ’79, Law class of ’83), chair, UVA Alumni Association Board of Managers.
Alumnae Speakers and Special Guests
April Woodard
Col ’91
Emmy-nominated host and TV personality
Host of Retold Virtual Experience
Val Ackerman
Col ’81
Commissioner, Big East Conference
Carey Albertine
Col ’96
Director of Experience, Shift Thinking
Niya Bates
Col ’12, Arch ’15
Director of African American History and the Getting Word Oral History Project, Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies
Pilar Jimenez Larre Borges
Col ’21
Meriwether Lewis Fellow, University Guide, & Former President of Latinx Student Alliance
Margaret Brennan
Col ’02
Moderator, Face the Nation
Ann Brown
Col ’74, Law ’77
Partner, Troutman Pepper
Zyahna Bryant
Col ’23
Student activist and community organizer
Pam Cipriano
Dean, School of Nursing
Patty Epps
Col ’74, Grad ’79, Law ’83
Chair, UVA Alumni Association Board of Managers
Jenny Turner Hall
Col ’97
Award-winning writer and director
Jayla Hart
Col ’22
Senior Orientation Leader & Senior Resident Advisor
Zena Howard
Arch ’88
Principal and managing director, Perkins and Will
Nicole Thorne Jenkins
Dean, McIntire School of Commerce
Dorothy Lewis Kluttz, RN
Nurs ’66
Staff Registered Nurse, Hospice Savannah
Sandra Wicks Lewis
Col ’72
Emeritus Member, UVA Alumni Association Board of Managers, Investment Committee Chair
Nicole McKinney Lindsay
Darden ’99, Law ’99
Chief Operating Officer, Mastercard, Center for Inclusive Growth
Mary Elizabeth Luzar
Col ’02, Educ ’09
Director of Student Engagement, UVA Alumni Association
Abby Palko
Director, Maxine Platzer Lynn Women’s Center at the University of Virginia
Kelli Palmer, PhD
Educ ’07
Head of Global Inclusion & Diversity and Corporate Citizenship, CFA Institute
Nancy Park
Com ’12
Senior Program Officer - Adults and Household Supports, The Robin Hood Foundation
James E. Ryan
Law ’92
President, University of Virginia
Sheryl Gay Stolberg
Col ’83
Washington Correspondent, The New York Times
Jill Tietjen
Engr ’76
President & CEO, Technically Speaking, Inc.
Victoria Tucker, BSN, RN
Nurs ’12, Grad ’22
PhD Candidate, Nursing
Nancy Twine
Com ’07
Founder & CEO, Briogeo
Lily West
Darden ’12
CEO and President, UVA Alumni Association
Carla Williams
Director of Athletics, University of Virginia
Anna Winter
Engr ’21
Co-Chair of Housing & Residence Life
Ellen Yates
Col ’21
President of Student Council