The 2024 Boston College Women's Summit will take place on Saturday, February 3.

Keynote Speaker


Rachael Denhollder

Rachael Denhollder

Rachael Denhollander is an attorney, author, advocate, and educator who is听recognized as a leading voice on the topic of sexual abuse. Possessing a听unique blend of professional skills, personal experiences, and dynamic听communication style, she is a sought- after media commentator, speaker,听and consultant. Her grasp of legal issues, corporate ethics, effective听leadership strategies, and investigative practices are coupled with a trauma-听informed, deeply compassionate understanding of the realities facing survivors of sexual abuse and their path toward healing. Bridging the gap听between survivors and the society and institutions that may have failed听them, Denhollander forces audiences to ask the question, 鈥淲hat is a girl or听boy worth?鈥 while equipping them with the tools to answer, 鈥淓verything.鈥澨齊achael Denhollander became known internationally in 2016 as the听first听woman to pursue criminal charges and speak publicly against USA听Gymnastics鈥 team doctor Larry Nassar, one of the most prolific sexual听abusers in recorded history. As a result of her activism, over 300 women鈥斕齣ncluding numerous Olympic medalists 鈥 came forward as survivors of听Nassar鈥檚 abuse, eventually leading to his life imprisonment. Her courageous听tenacity and ongoing advocacy helped trigger a complete upheaval at both听USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University, where former executives听and high- ranking officials face numerous criminal charges for their听complicity in covering up Nassar鈥檚 abuse and lying about what they knew.


2024 Workshop and Mainstage Speakers

Maria Vasco

Maria Vasco

Founder and CEO of Boston's first zero waste store



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Maria Vasco

Maria Vasco

Founder and CEO of Boston's first zero waste store

Coming Soon!

Melissa Woolsey

Melissa Woolsey

Associate Dean, Boston College



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Melissa Woolsey

Melissa Woolsey

Associate Dean, Boston College

Melissa Woolsey is a restorative justice facilitator and scholar, as well as an experienced student conduct professional. Currently, she serves as the Associate Dean for Student Conduct at Boston College and leads efforts to integrate restorative practices into the 糖心vlog直播平台 experience, including as an option for sexual assault adjudication. Melissa is also continuing her studies as a Ph.D. candidate in Higher Education at the Lynch School with a research focus on restorative practice initiatives in higher education contexts.

Shauna Cobb

Shauna Cobb

Sr. Associate Athletic Director, Boston College



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Shauna Cobb

Shauna Cobb

Sr. Associate Athletic Director, Boston College

Reshauna (Shauna) Cobb is a Senior Associate Athletics Director and has the designation of Senior Woman Administrator at Boston College. Shauna has oversight of the areas of Student-Athlete Formation and Success, nutrition and wellness, the sport administrators鈥 group and serves as the department鈥檚 Deputy Title IX Coordinator. Shauna previously served as a Director of Academic and Membership Affairs at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Shauna joined the NCAA in April of 2009.

Yvonne Castaneda

Yvonne Castaneda

糖心vlog直播平台 Graduate School of Social Work Faculty



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Yvonne Castaneda

Yvonne Castaneda

糖心vlog直播平台 Graduate School of Social Work Faculty

Yvonne Castaneda is the Director of Community Based Initiatives and part-time faculty at the 糖心vlog直播平台 School of Social Work. She graduated from the 糖心vlog直播平台SSW program in 2018 and was a proud member of the Latinx Leadership Initiative. Also in private practice, she works primarily with first and second-gen Latinx individuals, couples and families, with a focus on helping individuals process and heal from complex PTSD. In 2022, she released a memoir titled Pork Belly Tacos with A Side of Anxiety, which details her own struggles with mental health, addiction and an eating disorder, and she is a regular contributor for Psychology Today. Born to Cuban and Mexican parents, she was raised in Miami and now resides in Boston.

Alison Marshall

Alison Marshall

糖心vlog直播平台 School of Nursing Faculty



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Alison Marshall

Alison Marshall

糖心vlog直播平台 School of Nursing Faculty

Alison Marshall is a board certified, practicing Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). She earned her Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Sociology with Honors from Boston College in 2000, and her Master鈥檚 in Nursing from Yale University in 2005. She has completed her PhD coursework and is working on her dissertation, with expected graduation in 2024. Her research is focused on the connection between genital hair modification practices and the associated risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections.

Alison鈥檚 nursing practice is based in Massachusetts. She is a full-time Clinical Instructor at the Boston College Connell School of Nursing as well as Faculty at The Sylvie Ratelle STD/HIV Prevention Center of New England, a Centers for Disease Control (CDC) funded national training organization for practicing providers. Alison has practiced clinically at the South Boston Community Health Center since 2005.

Alex Opanasets

Alex Opanasets

PhD Candidate in Economics, Boston College



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Alex Opanasets

Alex Opanasets

PhD Candidate in Economics, Boston College

Alex is a PhD candidate in Economics at Boston College, and received her MA in Economics from 糖心vlog直播平台 in 2019. Her research focuses on how young workers, and especially college students, search for jobs and how they can search more effectively. In particular, she鈥檚 interested in how and why workers of different genders make different choices on the early career labor market. Alex has previously taught Microeconomic Theory at 糖心vlog直播平台, and currently manages the Consumer Insights Panel Lab at the Carroll School.

Annie Spielberger

Annie Spielberger

糖心vlog直播平台 Class of 2021



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Annie Spielberger

Annie Spielberger

糖心vlog直播平台 Class of 2021

Annie is a graduate of the 糖心vlog直播平台 Class of 2021, where she majored in International Studies with a focus on ethics and social justice. After graduation, Annie pursued a year of service through Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest in Spokane, WA, where she worked with families and children across the region as they navigated life's biggest challenges. Since returning to the East Coast, Annie has been working at Girlstart, an education non-profit that works to empower girls in STEM. She is so incredibly excited to be returning to her home at Boston College, and is convinced that she would not be where she is today without 糖心vlog直播平台.

Lili Fleming

Lili Fleming

糖心vlog直播平台 Class of 2023 & 2027



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Lili Fleming

Lili Fleming

糖心vlog直播平台 Class of 2023 & 2027

Lili is a 糖心vlog直播平台 class of '23 graduate, with majors in finance and communication as well as a dance minor. Currently, she works as a Development Assistant in 糖心vlog直播平台's Office of University Advancement, where she is fortunate to support a wonderful team of fundraisers who navigate philanthropic conversations, on behalf of the university. Additionally, Lili is continuing her education through pursuing a dual MBA/MSF graduate degree. Outside of 糖心vlog直播平台, she enjoys teaching gymnastics and working with two nonprofit organizations: Urbanity Dance and Girls Future Ready Foundation!

Manuela (Mela) Villa Gomez

Manuela (Mela) Villa Gomez

糖心vlog直播平台 Class of 2020



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Manuela (Mela) Villa Gomez

Manuela (Mela) Villa Gomez

糖心vlog直播平台 Class of 2020

Mela grew up in East Boston after immigrating from Colombia with her family at a young age. After years of sailing on the Boston Harbor she went to pursue her passion of environmental stewardship at Boston College by majoring in Environmental Studies. After 糖心vlog直播平台 she was a high school teacher for three years through Teach For America and in the last year transitioned into constituent services for Boston鈥檚 Mayor Michelle Wu.听

Anne Celestin

Anne Celestin

糖心vlog直播平台 Class of 2023



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Anne Celestin

Anne Celestin

糖心vlog直播平台 Class of 2023

Anne graduated this past May with a BS in Neuroscience and a minor in Applied Psychology. During her time at 糖心vlog直播平台, she was very involved on campus. She was the President of the Haitian Association, creative designer on PATU, worked at Dean of Students Office and a TA for the 1st year Courage to Know Course, to name a few. While at 糖心vlog直播平台, Anne cultivated strong bonds while solidifying her passion for mental health and working with adolescents. Now, Anne Celestin is a 1st year 8th grade ELA teacher at Roxbury Prep Charter School. In the classroom, Anne pushes her students to fall in love with literature and use their unique voice in their writing. Anne hopes to pursue her Masters in Social Work and ultimately open her own practice serving predominantly Black and Brown adolescents.

Saturday, February听 3, 2024

PROGRAM

8:45 a.m.

Breakfast sponsored听by The Council for Women of Boston College

9:30 a.m.

Registration in Gasson Hall Rotunda

10:00 a.m.听

WELCOME AND MORNING KEYNOTE

Opening Remarks and Opening Keynote
(Women's Summit Planning Team & Rachel Denhollander, Gasson 100)

11:15 - 12:00 p.m.

Workshop 1, Various classrooms in Gasson Hall

12:00 鈥 12:45 p.m.

Lunch (Gasson rotunda)

12:45 鈥 1:30 p.m.

Workshop 2, Various classrooms in Gasson Hall

1:45听- 2:30 p.m.

Mainstage Panel, Gasson 100

2:45 - 3:00 p.m.

Student Performances and Closings

3:00听 - 4:00 p.m.

Student Vendor Fair, Gasson 112

Workshops


2024 Workshops

2024 Summit Planning Team

Monica Mascolo

Monica Mascolo

Graduate Assistant



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Monica Mascolo

Monica Mascolo

Graduate Assistant

Lesley Carranza Bonilla

Lesley Carranza Bonilla

Speaker Team



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Lesley Carranza Bonilla

Lesley Carranza Bonilla

Speaker Team

Maddie Driscoll

Maddie Driscoll

Speaker Team



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Maddie Driscoll

Maddie Driscoll

Speaker Team

Justine Rozenich

Justine Rozenich

Marketing Team



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Justine Rozenich

Justine Rozenich

Marketing Team

Victoria Guo

Victoria Guo

Marketing Team



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Victoria Guo

Victoria Guo

Marketing Team

Anshika Agrawal

Anshika Agrawal

Logistics Team



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Anshika Agrawal

Anshika Agrawal

Logistics Team

Liz Payne

Liz Payne

Logistics Team



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Liz Payne

Liz Payne

Logistics Team

Candice Duncan

Candice Duncan

Logistics Team



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Candice Duncan

Candice Duncan

Logistics Team

Annie Quinn

Annie Quinn

Outreach Team



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Annie Quinn

Annie Quinn

Outreach Team

Amber Sagastume

Amber Sagastume

Outreach Team



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Amber Sagastume

Amber Sagastume

Outreach Team

A huge thank you to all of our co-sponsors, for their generosity and encouragement! Office for Student Involvement, Council for Women of Boston College, and Undergraduate Government of Boston College, Residential Life, Graduate Student Life, and PULSE