Converse College for Women Celebrates 3-Year Anniversary
The Converse College for Women (CCW) marked its third year as a thriving living-learning community, a testament to its growth and progress. The CCW remains committed to supporting Converse’s priorities of service, traditions, and leadership while also championing women’s representation and experiences.
New programming, events, and community service are essential to the Converse College for Women experience. This fall, the CCW welcomed 82 new members in the class of 2027.
This year’s opportunities included the Converse Women’s Leadership Conference, Big Sis/Little Sis week, the annual CCW Leadership Retreat, The Period Project service project, the Hatcher Garden project, a donation drive to support Meeting Street Academy, the CCW Sophomore Sisterhood Bracelet Ceremony, a January birthday party in honor of Miss Gee in the log cabin to learn more about one of Converse’s most impactful leaders, and the CCW Senior Candlelight Dinner at the Piedmont Club among many other community events.
2023 Converse Women’s Leadership Conference
The Converse Women’s Leadership Conference on July 20, 2023, united emerging and established women leaders from across the Upstate. These women shared their knowledge, success stories, and strategies for advancement in the supportive Converse University environment.
Highlights included:
- Jane Robelot, Co-Anchor for WYFF News, moderated a panel of corporate and regional leaders. The panel included Sharon Lykins (Vice President of Product Innovation at Denny’s), Paula Harper Bethea (Chair of the Board and CEO at J.M. Smith Corporation), and Dawn Deck (Local Initiatives Support Corporation).
- Marchele Garrett (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer at Spartanburg Regional) presented Leading Equitably & Building Diverse Networks.
- Head Converse Golf Coach Patti McGowan provided signed copies of her book ‘Knack 4…Almost Anything…’
- Chunsta Miller ’02 (Former Director of Training & Development at WPG; current Vice President of Communication and Public Engagement with Goodwill Industries Upstate/Midlands SC) presented the talk “Developing Executive Courage.”
- Emilee O’Brien (Director of Policy & Advocacy with United Way of Greenville County) presented the talk, “Community Advocacy & Leading Where You Are.”
- Dr. Nekita Sullivan, owner of the Yoga Therapy Bar, discussed the theme of Wellness & Women’s Leadership.
- Jennifer Jones from Beauty Marks for Girls presented “Mentorship at Every Level.”
Guests participated in breakout sessions and many networking opportunities. This annual conference builds upon Converse’s historic commitment to women’s empowerment and leadership while providing the larger upstate community dynamic ways to create new partnerships and advance professionally.
2023-2024 Big Sis/Little Sis
Carrying on the beloved Big Sis/Little Sis tradition, the CCW offered a week of mixers to welcome new students into the sisterhood and kick off the new term. Mixer events included a Red Devils Craft Night, Speed Bigging Evening, and a Big Sis Little Sis Scoops lunch mixer with ice cream. Door Decoration, Favorites Night, and a Red Devil Desserts Party offered opportunities for Big’s to get to know the incoming class as they gathered together for fun and new opportunities to strengthen friendships.
2024 Women’s Leadership Speaker Series
The Converse College for Women celebrated International Women’s Day on March 8, 2024, by hosting the annual Women’s Leadership Speaker Series.
The Keynote speaker, Ricaye Harris, is Vice President of HR for Corporate Support & Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at Milliken & Company. Ricaye shared her life journey, including her experiences as a collegiate athlete, a female corporate leader, and a dedicated community member who gives back through community service and volunteerism. Ricaye also shared ways for students and attendees to overcome barriers of self-doubt, and she emphasized the need for mentorship and connection across all career phases.
Alumna Niki Castle Coffman ’06 presented a talk about her experiences of building community, working toward diverse representation for all children, and her collaboration with Fisher-Price Toys to create a Little People doll that more accurately reflected her son and his identity. Niki also shared stories of the professors and mentors at Converse who made a difference in her time in college; she encouraged students to speak up and get to know their professors in meaningful ways. A brunch reception following the event offered students time to network and get to know both speakers personally.
Preparing for the Future
The CCW offered an internship opportunity with the Johnson Group in September 2023. Following the event, Converse Junior Carson Kneisley was accepted into the 2024 Johnson Group’s Summer Internship Program.
In October, Kat McCall ’84, Owner & Founder at Kat McCall Papers, presented “Painting Your Path: Life, Career and Fulfillment” for current Converse students, guests, and alums to learn more about how she has built a successful business that combines her passion for art, nature, and personal connection.
In February 2024, Tracy Williamson Dart ‘91 and Christi Williamson Pringle ‘93, sisters and Converse alumnae, presented a Listen and Learn event titled “Business & Values: Building a Life of Purpose & Impact.” Traci and Christi spoke about their passion for supporting women artisans, their work together, and how they balance building a successful business and a fulfilling life as women entrepreneurs. Dart and Pringle established their business, FOUND, in 2016. They travel the world seeking out artisans who empower women and strengthen their local communities with dignity, pride and skill. The collection focuses on small, independent female designers and those with a socially conscious mission.
Following the March 2024 Leadership Speaker Series, the Converse College for Women hosted the workshop “Level Up: Navigating Life After College Workshops.” The workshop featured three speakers discussing the practical skills needed to successfully navigate life after college. Dr. Tori McLean Good, Assistant Dean of Career Development, presented a workshop on how to build a professional network and ways to leverage LinkedIn to build career connections and strong networking habits. Jasmine Freter, Greenville TD Bank Store Manager, and Katie Nelson, Spartanburg TD Bank Store Manager, presented a workshop on financial literacy, budgeting, and the fundamentals of investing.
The Period Project
In the U.S., an estimated one in four students will miss school when they are on their period because they do not have regular access to the period products they need. For the third year in a row, the CCW teamed up with the Period Project and Spartanburg chapter president Kerry Easler ‘96 for their fall community service project, which included a donation drive and packing party.
This year was a record-setter — Converse collected more than 10,000 period product donations. Volunteers spent a fun-filled Sunday of fellowship, leadership, and service, packing up period packs for Converse’s Valkyrie Supply and local area D7 schools.
Beyond the Campus
The CCW collaborated with Converse’s First-Generation Program and the Diversity, Community & Inclusion team for a day trip to Charleston with student leaders from across campus. Youth Programs Coordinator Keyanna Williams ‘22 gave guests a personalized tour of the International African American Museum, and students enjoyed lunch and learned more about Charleston’s history.
Trip leaders included Dr. Chandra Hopkins, Danielle Stone, Daphnie Glenn, Dr. Will Case, Dr. Angela Elder, and Gina Miller. This day trip was made possible through donor funding and united multiple areas of campus to learn and engage with one another.
In April 2024, Converse College for Women collaborated with the Converse Gardening Club and Hatcher Garden for a spring off-campus service project. The Hatcher Garden Service Project allowed students to collaborate on a rock design for a new interactive feature at Hatcher, tour the garden, learn in-depth about sustainable landscape practices and native plant varieties, and help transport stones to a new memory wall.
Buisch/Mims Scholarship Award
Maddie Buisch ’22 (Student Government Association Vice-President 2021-2022) and Karen Mims ’22 (Student Government Association President 2021-2022) established the Buisch and Mims CCW Collaborative Fund.
In a letter to Converse faculty and staff, they said, “We care so deeply for Converse and the impact our experience has had on our lives. The Buisch and Mims CCW Collaborative Fund exists to bridge financial gaps for CCW students, allowing students to take full advantage of their time at Converse University.”
Logan Nichols ‘24 received the 2024 Buisch/Mims Scholarship Award. Logan has been involved in the CCW since her first semester at Converse and has served for multiple years as the CCW’s Social Media and Elections Chair. This is an elected position on the CCW Council of Representatives, a body of student leaders who directly plan and develop significant programs and events of the CCW.
If you would like to support the Buisch/Mims Scholarship Award, you may donate using the Converse University Giving form. Choose “other” for the area you would like to support and type in “Buisch and Mims CCW Collaborative Fund” in the box.
CCW Leadership Retreat
In 2024, the first CCW Leadership Retreat was held for its 12 CCW council leaders. Attendees heard talks from three guest session leaders, Dr. Melissa Walker (Professor Emerita of History; Founder & Owner of Heyday Coaching), Kay Stricklin ‘73 (certified Yoga Practitioner), and Emilee O’Brien (Director of Policy & Advocacy, United Way of Greenville County). CCW student leaders engaged in sessions focused on career mapping, building capacity for community impact and positive change, honing leadership skills, and developing physical and mental habits for stress management.
“It has been deeply inspiring and so exciting to watch the CCW continue to grow! We are intentional in our commitment to developing strong student leaders.”
Dean of Converse College for Women, Dr. Chandra Owenby Hopkins
CCW Looks Forward to Year 4
Dean of Converse College for Women, Dr. Chandra Owenby Hopkins, said, “It has been deeply inspiring and so exciting to watch the CCW continue to grow! We are intentional in our commitment to developing strong student leaders. We are vibrantly living our Founder’s Ideal to “see clearly, decide wisely, and act justly” through our student-focused events and programs.. These special traditions bond generations of students and contribute to the personal growth and triumphs of students across Converse who benefit from engaging with the CCW. I cannot wait to see the CCW continue to grow and to be part of the positive impact we can all create together on and off campus!”
CCW prides itself on fostering a strong community with peer mentorship and connection while creating robust professional development opportunities to advance Converse students.
Building upon the many successes of previous years, CCW looks ahead to year 4! Upcoming events include more community service projects, collaborative events with student organizations, celebrating International Women’s Day through dynamic programming and guest speakers, and our annual traditions such as the holiday favorite, “Coco on the Go!”
Top image: CCW students and Dean Hopkins at Hatcher Garden.