Advocates, Educators, Athletes

Forty years ago, two pivotal events took place at Duke that continue to shape campus life. The Woman’s College merged with Trinity, and Duke Women’s Athletics was formed. This February, the biennial Duke Women’s Weekend will explore key milestones for women in the life of the university, from the creation of the Women’s Studies program and the appointment of Nan Keohane as Duke’s first woman president to the impact of Title IX on a generation of student-athletes.

Winning Women: Advocates, Educators, Athletes, sponsored by the Duke Alumni Association and the athletics department, takes place February 23-26, 2012. Keynote speakers are Nancy Hogshead-Makar ’86, Olympic gold medalist and professor at Florida Coastal School of Law; Nan Keohane, Duke president emerita; Eleanor Smeal ’61, Hon. ’91, president of The Feminist Majority; and Judy Woodruff ’68, Hon. ’98, senior correspondent for the PBS NewsHour.

The weekend begins with a welcome reception at the Washington Duke Inn, hosted by honorary chairs Mary D.B.T. Semans ’39, Hon. ’83 and Cynthia Brodhead. Formal and informal programming options include panel discussions and concurrent workshops, campus tours, and exhibitions. Participants will have an opportunity to meet with current student groups, such as Baldwin Scholars, and current and returning varsity athletes, including basketball players Abby Waner ’09 and Georgia Schweitzer ’01.

Sporting events include the women’s basketball team facing Miami in Cameron Indoor Stadium—a rematch of last year’s ACC regular-season co-champions—and a women’s tennis match against VCU. A Saturday night gala and Sunday service in Duke Chapel round out the weekend. To register or for more information, visit www.dukewomensweekend.com.