
Community Spotlight
Happy Women’s History month! Georgia State University supports the advancement of female students, faculty, and in university leadership. A great example of this is Dr. Nicolle Parsons-Pollard, the first African-American provost at Georgia State University. The Women’s Philanthropy Network spoke with Provost Parsons-Pollard about her career and journey to Georgia State University.

I was born in Richmond, Virginia. My entire family lives there, but my parents moved to Chicago when I was four years old. I lived there until I went to college, when I returned to Virginia to attend Virginia Commonwealth University. Today, my daughter, stepmother, and brother all live in Chicago. I also, of course, have lots of friends that live there as well.
I have been married for 33 years this July, and we have two children. My son, Donald III, is twenty-six. He lives in D.C. and works for Congress. My daughter, Alexandria, is a finance attorney and lives in Chicago. My husband, Donald, is in management at Comcast Business.
While in my doctoral program, I was asked to teach a first-year transition class. I agreed to do it despite planning on pursuing a career in the D.C. government. I fell in love with teaching and being able to change the lives of students. I realized that many faculty had done just that for me, and I wanted to give back. It also felt natural. I was good at it from the very beginning. And I remembered that you have tapped into “your gift when things come to you effortlessly.” You still have to train and hone your craft to improve, but it’s not a struggle and feels natural. I knew I had tapped into my gift and could choose to pursue it or turn away from it. I decided to lean into it.
With each interaction with another human being, you can make things better or worse. I always try to make people better off for having interacted with me. My mission is to change the world through education. Education changed my life and how I show up in the world. I know it can do the same for others.
Yes, I have so many female mentors and advocates. Some have been consistent relationships sustained over many years, and others have been at one point in time, but what they did or said was impactful.
I do. I do so even when I don’t know people. Frequently new faculty or students reach out to me on LinkedIn, and I always ensure that I review their profile and reply with words of encouragement and offers to connect. I have been very fortunate in my life. I have been supported by people I didn’t know personally or those I didn’t think I had anything in common with – yet they poured into me, and I, in turn, do the same for others. “To whom much is given, much will be required.”
I am deeply connected to my ancestors, and I know that many of them could not have dreamed of the life I live. There is a saying, “heavy is the head that wears the crown.” But I do not feel the weight of the crown or any burden from being a “first.” Because what I know for sure is that the Maya Angelou poem is true, “I come as one, but I stand as 10,000.” My crown is already paid for, so I wear it proudly, and I pray that I make my ancestors smile.
President Blake has taken the time to talk with the campus community, and in doing so, he has developed Four Pillars. These pillars are the beginning of our strategic plan because they truly encompass the university's needs. President Blake and I align because we believe that when you put students first, you can't go wrong. They are our central purpose, and our commitment to them is our north star.
WPN is a model for how we can build community and support students. I look forward to working with WPN and supporting the efforts to expand its reach. The possibilities are endless.
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Celebrating Title IX's 50th year in Women's Sports
Women's History month is a celebratory reminder of the contribution women have made to our society and culture today. In 1972, Title IX was passed into legislation requiring all educational institutions in the United States to reward female and male athletes equally. Title IX opened doors and removed barriers for women in athletics across the country.

As a huge supporter of women's athletics at Georgia State University, we spoke with Coach Beth Van Fleet of the Women's Beach Volleyball team along with three of her team members Kelly Dorn, Courtney Smith, and Amanda Chambers to discuss their experience as women in athletics.

Kelly Dorn: I played indoor volleyball at 8 but switched to beach volleyball at 11. It instantly became my passion since I got to be with my friends, travel, and see beautiful outdoor scenery.
Amanda Chambers: My coach, Coach Aurora embodies the definition of women in sports, she played beach volleyball through 3 pregnancies.


Courtney Smith: Receiving less recognition for everything we do not only as athletes, but as students and young women managing school, sports, work, and life.
Amanda Chambers: Don't compare yourself
Courtney Smith: Remember why you play.
Kelly Dorn: Hear the support louder than the hate.

Coach Beth Van Fleet has fulfilled a full circle moment from her start at Georgia State University, playing on the women's volleyball team to coaching the women's beach volleyball team. Inspired by her mother and Olympians Mary Lou Retton and Flo Hyman, Coach Van Fleet has had many successes including competing with the Association for Volleyball Professionals.
Through coursework during her graduate career, she found there were few women coaches. This drove her to encourage other women to get into coaching and pursue their dreams. "There are always challenges, but I don’t think they're specifically because I’m a female. It’s very hard for a women's team when we are working hard without receiving the same acknowledgement as a men’s team," Van Fleet states.
Coach Van Fleet believes beach volleyball teaches you life skills, you have to problem solve and communicate effectively with others. Her team has adapted “The Four Agreements,” always do your best, don’t take anything personally, be impeccable with your word, and don’t make assumptions as a mantra to play and live by when faced with obstacles or conflict.
She encourages female athletes and coaches, like herself to find their strengths in life and pursue them.
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Upcoming Events

Join fellow Panther alumni on March 16th from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm for Third Thursday at Wood's Chapel BBQ. This program is in partnership with the Women's Philanthropy Network. Tickets are $10 and include two drink tickets and light appetizers (while supplies last).
This event is open to everyone, including family and friends of Panther alum. Come join us by purchasing your ticket here.
America's Got A Problem: Celebrating Woman in Sports - Title IX Panel Discussion
Join us for a very important panel discussion, in collaboration with the Women's Basketball Team, exploring the importance of Title IX and Women in Sports. Learn more about the lived experiences of student athletes and where the future of Women in Sports is headed. Additional information can be found here.
Tuesday, March 21st at 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Student Center East - Intersection Lounge
For a complete listing of all Georgia State events celebrating Women's History month, click here.

The annual Georgia Women's Movement Spring Event will held on April 20th at 5:00 pm. This event highlights themes and materials in the Women's Collection of the University Library. The discussion led by panelists Alex McGee, Lauren Maclvor Thompson, Allison Whelan, and Andrea Young will consider the laws and legislation that affect women's reproductive rights.
For more information, please click here.
Student Spotlight
Scholarships founded by WPN continue to impact the lives of students at Georgia State University, including Joseph Vaughn, recipient of the WPN Scholarship in Public Health honoring former President Becker.
Joseph spoke with us about how the scholarship has shaped his university experience.

I am a natural-born cook and enjoy preparing new dishes for family and friends. Dishes with new spices or ingredients I have not tried before excite me. Traveling is one of my top three favorite things in life, yet I don't like being away from home for more than five days. Since childhood, I have been an avid reader and can still get lost in a great book sometimes.
I wanted to attend a larger university and considered attending the University of Chicago or the University of North Carolina. I ultimately decided to stay closer to home and liked Georgia State the most out of the other schools in-state. GSU is a research university, something I appreciated at the time since I was a biomedical science major. I also like that it is located in downtown Atlanta which is filled with great places to explore and many opportunities.
Being selected as the recipient of the WPN Scholarship in Public Health in Honor of former President Becker has made my life easier. The award reduced the financial burden and pressure arising from the need to pay for classes this summer, and with the completion of those classes, I will have just a handful left until I graduate. Having less financial stress goes a long way in aiding students to succeed. It permits a person the ability to focus better on their studies and better plan early for their future.
Unfortunately, the pandemic and shift to online classes disrupted many things. As a result, I have not been able to participate in any research. I hope to partake in some research opportunities in the near future, as it is something I enjoy.
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Opportunities To Give
Your gifts fund opportunities and programs that provide Georgia State University students with the means to succeed. Make a difference in the Panther community by clicking on "make a gift" below.
BE A PART OF WPN

The Women's Philanthropy Network welcomes your involvement to deepen your philanthropy at Georgia State University. Please consider joining the WPN Communications, Fundraising, Philanthropy, Governance, or Education committees. Please email [email protected] for more information.

2022 WPN GRANT RECIPIENTS
WomenLead in the Arts plans to offer immersive experiential learning opportunities to undergraduate students in arts-related disciplines by providing the tools and training to be successful in the field, specifically in arts management. This course is made possible through the partnership of the WomenLead program and the College of the Arts.
The Program for Undergraduate Research in Life Sciences (PURL) in the College of Arts and Sciences wants to provide every Biology major with a chance to participate in authentic research before graduation. Course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE's) additional research opportunities, and one-on-one experiences will be offered.
Dr. Paul Ulrich, senior lecturer and program director, said, "The gracious gift from WPN is permitting us to achieve something we thought previously unimaginable: a high end instrument that STEM students never interact with until they enter industry! I am grateful for creating these hands-on lab classes. I'm sure it will open up opportunities to more students."
The Andrew Young School of Policy Studies hopes to help students better understand nonprofit fundraising through two initiatives, the WPN Fundraising Series and the WPN: Gender, Generation, and Grant Writing course. Through these unique offerings, students will learn to fundraise for their own research projects, learn grant writing through the lens of gender, and leave the program confidently seeking internships and employment.
The University Library partnered with WPN to fund a graduate research assistant to work in the library's Women's Collection. This opportunity will provide a student with hands-on experience handling archival materials and curating exhibitions.
In addition to the Women's Collection GRA, WPN will also work with the University Library to create a Wellness Room in the new study commons area located in C Lot. This new area will help support the growing population of new mothers on Georgia State's campus. The Wellness Room will provide a safe, comfortable, and accessible area for mothers to nurse.
The EMPOWER summer camp is a partnership between the School of Public Health and the College of Education and Human Development that aims to provide Atlanta-area female underrepresented minority high school students and teachers with a four-week research experience. This program includes research training and projects, professional development workshops, and interactive mentorship.
We spoke with Dr. Adrienne King who expressed her gratitude and the impact it will have on the program.
"We are grateful to receive funding from the WPN for the camp. Receiving funding will aid in the continuing of the program for the fourth summer since its establishment in 2020. These funds will allow us to increase the number of students accepted to participate in the program and increase the number of field activities from four to five. The funds are greatly appreciated and will be beneficial in making STEM opportunities available for metro Atlanta high school females."
The College of Education and Human Development provides support for GSU teacher education and other school professional graduates in their first and second year. Induction Support Program (ISP) will provide mentorship and additional resources to ensure the success of students transitioning into the education profession.
SUPPORT WPN
Your gifts fund opportunities and programs that provide Georgia State students with the means to succeed. To help boost Panther potential, make a gift to WPN on #GivingTuesday.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Khloe is a senior Journalism major studying to work in public relations within the media and entertainment industries. She assists with the publication of WPN's quarterly newsletter and completes various tasks for the committee. She looks forward to the opportunities she is given through her assistantship to enhance her communication and writing skills.

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI DINNER HONORS TWO WPN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Neda Barqawi and Ray Uttenhove were among the honorees for 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award Dinner. The Distinguished Alumni Awards celebrates professional, philanthropic, and personal achievements and the outstanding alumni who exemplify leadership.


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BE A PART OF WPN

The Women's Philanthropy Network welcomes your involvement to deepen your philanthropy at Georgia State. Please consider joining the WPN Communications, Fundraising, Philanthropy, Governance, or Education committees. Please email [email protected] for more information.

YEAR IN REVIEW
Our Virtual Introduction with President M. Brian Blake
We loved introducing the Panther community to its new president. If you were unable to attend the September 2021 event, you can watch a recording of the conversation.
Celebrating 50 years of Title IX
WPN and the Georgia State Alumni Association hosted a panel in March the examined the impact of Title IX on women in education. If you missed or would like to revisit any of our wonderful speakers, you view our recording of the session.
Women's leadership in STEM
WPN and the Alumni Association hosted a panel in June on sustaining the next generation of women leaders in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). If we missed you at the panel or reception that followed, we've made a recording of this informative session available to you.

Women's Leadership in STEM Participants
(L to R) Ray Uttenhove (WPN former chair), Cathy Henson (panel moderator and WPN education chair), Adebola Aguda (B.S. '15; product manager - cloud engineer, Microsoft), Thien Vo (B.B.A. '18; senior technologist, Eli Lilly and Company), Lauren Margulieux (assistant professor, Department of Learning Sciences, Georgia State University), Felicia Mayfield (WPN chair)
Mother's Day fundraising campaign
We appreciate all who made a gift to our Mother's Day fundraising campaign in May. We hope the women in your life appreciate the donations made in honor and in memory of them.
Announcing our 2022 grant recipients
WPN selected a diverse set of initiatives aimed at fostering student success and improving student opportunities as our 2022 grant recipients. WPN awarded grants to the following initiatives:
- Establishment of WomenLead in the College of the Arts
- Expansion of the Program for Undergraduate Research in the Life Sciences (PURL) in the College of Arts & Sciences
- Creation of the Andrew Young Fundraising Series
- Staffing a Graduate Research Assistant for the University Library’s Women’s Collections
- Installing a Wellness Room in the University Library
- Growth of Initial Teacher Preparation Program in the College of Education and Human Development
- Support for the School of Public Health EMPOWER program.
The grant-funding process was a tremendous success and WPN looks forward to seeing the positive difference these initiatives make in the lives of Panthers. Learn More about these valuable programs receiving WPN grants.
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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
WPN sends well wishes and a huge thank you to our outgoing university assistant, Ashley Gravlin, as she prepares for law school. Ashley talked with us about how WPN shaped her undergraduate experience.

Ashley: I discovered WPN while looking for a university assistantship to engage my communication skills. Everyone involved in WPN is passionate about its objectives and truly seem on a mission to "do the most good". My experience with WPN inspired me to take the WomenLead in Policy and Politics class, which helped finalize my 5-10 year career plan. I appreciate the women of WPN for showing me what compassionate, empathetic philanthropy looks like.
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TIME IN THE SPOTLIGHT?
Do you have ideas for future programming? Do you know someone on campus doing dynamic work? Send us your event ideas or community spotlight nominations to [email protected]. We welcome your involvement in deepening WPN’s community impact.
SAVE THE DATE: GEORGIA STATE DAY

Set your calendars for Georgia State Day 2022 taking place September 27 - September 28. We hope you'll consider supporting WPN during the university-wide annual day of giving. Check back on WPN social media channels and follow #THESTATEDAY for Georgia State Day news and additional information.

YEAR IN REVIEW
Our Virtual Introduction with President M. Brian Blake
We loved introducing the Panther community to its new president. If you were unable to attend the September 2021 event, you can watch a recording of the conversation.
Celebrating 50 years of Title IX
WPN and the Georgia State Alumni Association hosted a panel in March the examined the impact of Title IX on women in education. If you missed or would like to revisit any of our wonderful speakers, you view our recording of the session.
Women's leadership in STEM
WPN and the Alumni Association hosted a panel in June on sustaining the next generation of women leaders in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). If we missed you at the panel or reception that followed, we've made a recording of this informative session available to you.

Women's Leadership in STEM Participants
(L to R) Ray Uttenhove (WPN former chair), Cathy Henson (panel moderator and WPN education chair), Adebola Aguda (B.S. '15; product manager - cloud engineer, Microsoft), Thien Vo (B.B.A. '18; senior technologist, Eli Lilly and Company), Lauren Margulieux (assistant professor, Department of Learning Sciences, Georgia State University), Felicia Mayfield (WPN chair)
Mother's Day fundraising campaign
We appreciate all who made a gift to our Mother's Day fundraising campaign in May. We hope the women in your life appreciate the donations made in honor and in memory of them.
Announcing our 2022 grant recipients
WPN selected a diverse set of initiatives aimed at fostering student success and improving student opportunities as our 2022 grant recipients. WPN awarded grants to the following initiatives:
- Establishment of WomenLead in the College of the Arts
- Expansion of the Program for Undergraduate Research in the Life Sciences (PURL) in the College of Arts & Sciences
- Creation of the Andrew Young Fundraising Series
- Staffing a Graduate Research Assistant for the University Library’s Women’s Collections
- Installing a Wellness Room in the University Library
- Growth of Initial Teacher Preparation Program in the College of Education and Human Development
- Support for the School of Public Health EMPOWER program.
The grant-funding process was a tremendous success and WPN looks forward to seeing the positive difference these initiatives make in the lives of Panthers. Learn More about these valuable programs receiving WPN grants.
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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
WPN sends well wishes and a huge thank you to our outgoing university assistant, Ashley Gravlin, as she prepares for law school. Ashley talked with us about how WPN shaped her undergraduate experience.

Ashley: I discovered WPN while looking for a university assistantship to engage my communication skills. Everyone involved in WPN is passionate about its objectives and truly seem on a mission to "do the most good". My experience with WPN inspired me to take the WomenLead in Policy and Politics class, which helped finalize my 5-10 year career plan. I appreciate the women of WPN for showing me what compassionate, empathetic philanthropy looks like.
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TIME IN THE SPOTLIGHT?
Do you have ideas for future programming? Do you know someone on campus doing dynamic work? Send us your event ideas or community spotlight nominations to [email protected]. We welcome your involvement in deepening WPN’s community impact.
SAVE THE DATE: GEORGIA STATE DAY

Set your calendars for Georgia State Day 2022 taking place September 27 - September 28. We hope you'll consider supporting WPN during the university-wide annual day of giving. Check back on WPN social media channels and follow #THESTATEDAY for Georgia State Day news and additional information.

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
The Women's Philanthropy Network has benefitted tremendously from the guidance of Ray Uttenhove for the past two years. We spoke with Ray and with incoming Chair, Felicia Mayfield about their visions for Women in Philanthropy at Georgia State.

Ray: WPN puts women front and center as philanthropists supporting Georgia State University. A big part of our mission is to connect women to invest in the innovative and incredible programs at GSU that reflect the values of gender equity. WPN has a tag line "By Women for Women at GSU." Great examples of our impact would be the scholarships that we award and our funding of WomenLead in Technology. We are also proud of our educational programs on timely and important issues like voting rights, the impact of Title IX, and the Effects of the Pandemic on Women. WPN provides a safe environment for women to discuss critical topics affecting our lives.

Felicia: WPN gives the university a consciousness that women have been part of some underrepresented initiatives in the past. At the same time, it gives the women a consciousness because it says to us, “well what are you doing to fix that, how are you taking responsibility?” WPN encourages women to ask how they are using their gifts and talents to mitigate those historically underrepresented groups. In other words, WPN provides quality leadership—leading by example as change agents.
Ray: Engaging more women is a goal. In 2021, we spent almost 4 months going through a strategic planning process that created an organizational structure which allows us to invite more women including students, alumni, donors, and community leaders to work with us on one of our five committees: fundraising, education, philanthropy, governance, and communications. If you are passionate about GSU and want to connect with other women leaders, please let us know. We would love to have you involved in our mission.
Felicia: My vision is twofold. My vision first of all is to capitalize, build on, and scaffold what's existing. We have had some phenomenal leaders of WPN. What’s already in place is very good, so I don’t want to dismantle anything that is quality. The second part of my vision is to really lean into the recommendations of the strategic plan. The WPN strategic plan was a thoughtful process and very carefully done. I want to capitalize on the phenomenal leadership that has been in WPN and then later lean into the strategic plans.
Ray: Women approach giving differently than men. They want to be educated about programs they support, they want to engage with other women to make decisions about investments, and they want the opportunity to have real impact through their giving. These three areas: education, engagement, and impact are guiding principles for us. Our overarching goal is to show women how their philanthropy can empower and bring about positive change.
Ray: I would really like to see us to expand the involvement of young women in WPN. When I was getting started in the commercial real estate business, the network of women that guided me with my career was really important to my success. We have a responsibility to be supportive of other women. WPN provides an opportunity to make interesting connections across many industries and disciplines.
Felicia: I would want to seize the opportunity to set an example. We are right now setting about strategically to insert ourselves in ways that make everything better for the whole university. WPN has set a model for groups and initiatives for mitigating any lack, any perceived lack, any need, or any underrepresentation. What WPN is doing, and what I hope to keep going, is building a model for replication in the future. We’re taking responsibility and not waiting to take action in places that would benefit from gender advocacy and other groups that benefit from advocacy. Whereas other organizations are working to provide frameworks for equity, diversity and inclusion—WPN has been in the action phase for a while. We have a proven record of fidelity to the mission , vision and tenets that actualize the saying... a rising tide raises all boats. Go Panthers!
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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
WPN continues to fund scholarships at Georgia State, including the WPN Scholarship in Public Health in Honor of President Becker. A recent recipient of this scholarship, Abrielle Kataria, spoke with WPN about her experience.

I am currently a senior majoring in public health and minoring in computer science. I ran for both the track and cross-country team for two years at GSU, I love water sports, and I can play the trumpet.
One of the main reasons is because of its renowned public health school. I always knew I wanted to major in public health, and I knew that GSU would offer me an excellent education. I also loved the ambience of the school and its location in the center of Atlanta. Overall, the school is very diverse and has endless opportunities to help its students succeed when they graduate.
The WPN Scholarship has shaped my university experience by allowing me the opportunity to maximize my college experience through service-learning, volunteer opportunities and internships. Instead of worrying about how I will pay for college, I am able to focus solely on my education and following my passions.
I am currently a research assistant for a professor in the criminology department at GSU. I have been working as a research assistant for two years, during which, I have had the chance to further my knowledge in public health, programming, and criminal justice. I am also a member of Research Recruits, which gives students access to training and other resources necessary to be a successful undergrad researcher at GSU.
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Woman's Philanthropy Network
LOOKING FORWARD:
WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP IN STEM
The Women’s Philanthropy Network and the Georgia State Alumni Association present:
A panel discussion about the issues critical to women’s advancement in science, technology, engineering and math. Featured speakers include:
- Lauren Margulieux, Assistant Professor, Department of Learning Sciences, Georgia State
- Adebola Akinola-Aguda (B.S. ’15) Product Manager – Cloud Engineering, Microsoft
- Neda Barqawi (D.B.A. ’14, MBA ’10) Chairman and CEO, Knovatech
- Thien Vo (B.B.A. '18) Senior Technologist, Eli Lily and Company
Celebrate with us at a networking reception followed by a panel, where our speakers will share their experiences in the high-growth, male-dominated STEM fields.
Moderated by WPN Education Chair, Cathy Henson, the panel will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the landmark Title IX legislation that greatly impacted women’s access to educational institutions, programs and activities. Title IX exhibit from the University Library will be on display.
The event will be on Thursday, June 23, 2022 from 5 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at Centennial Hall (100 Auburn Ave NE, Atlanta). Reception will be in the Atrium at 5 p.m., followed by Panel Discussion in the Auditorium at 6 p.m. Click below to register!
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: WPN WEBINAR
Celebrating 50 Years of Title IX: How Far We Have Come and How Far We Have To Go
We enjoyed hosting Dr. Sarah Cook, Dr. Jaray Mazique, and Kelcey Roegiers for our recent webinar examining the impact of Title IX on women in education since its passage in 1972. If you missed the event, or want to revisit our stimulating afternoon conversation, please click below:
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA, NEDA BARQAWI

The Georgia State University J. Mack Robinson College of Business recently honored Neda Barqawi as a Distinguished Alumna at its 2022 Alumni Awards. Neda, the WPN Fundraising Chair, earned an Executive Master of Business Administration degree in 2010 and a Doctorate in Business of Administration degree in 2014. Congratulations to Neda on her continued service to Georgia State!

The Women's Philanthropy Network welcomes your involvement to deepen your philanthropy at Georgia State. Please consider joining the WPN Communications, Fundraising, Philanthropy, Governance, or Education committees. Please email [email protected] for more information.