Limestone To Host Inaugural Women's Leadership Conference In July

Limestone College is scheduled to host its inaugural Women’s Leadership Conference on campus July 10-12.

The conference, which will be held after the institution changes its name to Limestone University, is open to all females 15-years-old and up. The registration fee is $200 and includes three conference days, a two-night stay in one of Limestone’s residence halls, five meals, a conference journal, and Limestone memorabilia.

“Participants can expect to grow in leadership skills and also gain confidence as they grow toward being strong, educated women,” said Limestone’s Whitney Cliff, who is one of the event organizers. “We’re excited about bringing this type of conference to Limestone for the first time. As women navigate the path of higher management positions, they are challenged to proactively manage their growth and development to prepare for the leadership roles they desire. Female students, in particular, need to increase their leadership capacity and prepare themselves for success in the workplace.”

Check-in will take place on Friday, July 10, from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. Conference attendees will also move in to one of the residence halls on campus where they will reside for two nights. More details will be announced in the near future.

"The first day of the conference will include a general session, small group sessions, dinner, and a meet-and-greet ice cream social."

On Saturday, July 11, the conference will kick-off with sunrise yoga and a morning walk around the Limestone campus, followed by breakfast, several sessions, lunch, a banquet with networking opportunities, and will wrap up with outdoor social activity time.

Sunday, July 12, will again open with sunrise yoga and a morning walk around campus, followed by breakfast and a general session. Check-out from the residence hall will run from 12 noon until 1 p.m.

Leading some of the sessions will be Dr. Jane Watkins, Professor and Chair of the Computer Science & Information Technology Department at Limestone. A Limestone graduate, Watkins joined the College’s faculty in 2005. She has a Ph.D. and an M.S. in computer science from Clemson University and an M.A.T. in mathematics from Winthrop University. She has over 30 years of teaching and administrative experience at the college level. Watkins was the recipient of a 2019 Excellence in Teaching Award from the South Carolina Independent Colleges & Universities (SCICU). She is a three-time recipient of the Fullerton Foundation Excellence in Teaching Award.

Also speaking at the conference will be Dr. Aubrey Sejuit, a Social Work Preceptor for Limestone’s Online & Evening Program. She also currently serves as a Counselor for Palmetto Place Children & Youth Services. As a member of the South Carolina Counseling Association, she received the “Distinguished Professional Service Award” in 2019 for her commitment to the field of counseling. Sejuit was recently selected by the Girls Scouts of South Carolina-Mountains to Midlands as one of its “Women of Distinction” for 2020. She received her Ph.D. in Counselor Education & Supervision from the University of South Carolina and she holds an MSW from Syracuse University.

Another speaker will be Robin Gerzema, a middle school Science educator and archery coach for Lexington School District Two. A former Technology Integration Specialist for a creative arts academy, she holds a Bachelor of Arts degree focused in Elementary Education from Columbia College and earned a Master of Education that focused in Gifted Learning.

Cliff, who is Limestone’s Director of Intramurals, will also be one of the speakers at the conference. She currently holds the title of Mrs. Gaffney and will represent South Carolina in the upcoming Mrs. United States Pageant in September. She earned her degree in Sport Management from Limestone and went on to obtain a Master’s in Education of Coaching and Leadership from University of Rio Grande. Cliff is currently in the third year of her Ph.D. candidacy at Concordia University Chicago in Health and Human Performance. As part of her Ph.D. program, Cliff is completing her dissertation on social media effects on eating disorders and body dysmorphia in women.

To register for the conference online, please visit www.limestone.edu/womens-leadership-conference. Current Limestone students, alumni, and DECA members will receive a 50 percent discount.

NOTE: Participants will be notified if the conference is postponed or cancelled due to the current COVID-19 health emergency.