Women's Leadership Summit (WLS)
Save the Date! Saunders College of Business Leadership Academy is pleased to host the 5th Annual Women's Leadership Conference on Saturday, March 1, 2025.
The WLS is an RIT Women’s Leadership Summit held in the Saunders College of Business and is hosted by the Leadership Academy @ Saunders. Its mission is to inspire, connect, and educate women & allies to become tomorrow’s future leaders. We focus on driving leadership excellence in all industries from arts, and sciences, to technology.
This program is open to all eligible individuals regardless of sex, gender, gender identity, race, color, and/or national origin.
Event Information
WLS 2025: Inclusion & Empowerment
Date: March 1, 2025
Time: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Location: Saunders College of Business, Rochester Institute of Technology
Ticket Cost: $20
Deadline to Register: Friday, February 7, 2025
Saunders College of Business is excited to celebrate Women's Leadership Weekend! Join us on Friday, February 28, 2025, for the 15th annual Power Your Potential half-day leadership conference geared toward working professionals, or AdvanceRIT Women's Faculty Leadership Summit for faculty from RIT and Rochester region universities.
WLS Agenda
|
Time |
Event & Location |
Speaker Details |
|---|---|---|
|
9:00am - 10:00am |
Check-in & Breakfast |
|
|
10:00am - 10:10/10:15am |
Summit Introduction Presentation |
|
|
10:15am - 11:00am |
Keynote Presentation |
Kim B Miller |
|
11:10am - 11:40am |
Presentation |
Sammy Boyd & Amy Sadler |
|
Presentation |
Terri Monsees |
|
|
Presentation |
Maggie Dempsey |
|
|
11:45am - 12:30pm |
Seminar |
Breeann Wilson & Amanda Jackson-Scott |
|
Seminar |
Christina Gullo |
|
|
Seminar |
Ruth Starr |
|
|
12:30pm - 1:30pm |
Lunch + Networking Bingo |
|
|
1:40pm - 2:40pm |
Leadership Panel |
Featuring: |
|
2:45pm - 3:15pm |
Presentation |
Garland Nichols |
|
Presentation |
Merrill DiPonzio |
|
|
Presentation |
Kelly DeFranco |
|
|
3:20pm - 4:25pm |
Activity |
|
|
4:30pm - 5:00pm |
Wrap-Up & Networking |
Speakers & Presenters
Keynote Speaker
Kim B Miller BS '85 (business administration)
Award Winning Spoken Word Poet, Keynote Speaker, Facilitator, Host, PWC VA Poet Laureate Emerita, Author, Haikuist
Kim B. Miller is a dynamic speaker, facilitator, and award-winning spoken word poet who inspires growth and creativity. She has served as a keynote speaker for notable events, including the 2024 Women Impact Virginia Summit and the 2023 Rappahannock Writers’ Conference. A former telecommunications and marketing executive, Kim is the recipient of the 2023 Vivien H. Hansbury Award for Trailblazing a Path for Women in the Creative Arts and is the Poet Laureate Emerita of Prince William County, Virginia—the first African American to hold this title in the region. Recognized with multiple accolades, including Voice of America's documentary feature, Kim also leads impactful workshops, has presented at institutions like UC Berkeley and Google, and performed poetry at prestigious venues nationwide. An engaging host and author, Kim’s powerful words and presence leave lasting impressions.
Presentations
Sammy Boyd & Amy Sadler
Sammy is a Copywriter who develops written content across social media, email campaigns, websites, and more to resonate with diverse audiences. Her background in media and analytics helps her take a data-driven approach to storytelling. Outside of work, her love of reading and traveling fuels her ability to write content that reflects a wide range of perspectives.
Amy is the Creative Services Lead, Production at the digital marketing agency, Helen + Gertrude. She leads the team responsible for developing strategic video and photo content for a vast array of client verticals. A skillful photographer herself, she brings 12+ years of experience with a history of working with names like Chanel, Franzia, and even a US President. Her love of nature, art, and the collaborative process inspires high-quality results, diverse narratives, and inspired teams.
Garland Nichols
Garland J. Nichols is a seasoned technology leader with a proven track record in driving operational transformations, executing growth strategies, and coaching high-performing teams. As Vice President of the Optical Systems Business Line at IDEX Health & Science, she leads teams to deliver critical optical components for life-saving instruments in the life sciences sector. Previously, she held numerous leadership roles at Xerox, including Vice President of Engineering Operations and 3D Printing Programs. Garland holds a Ph.D. in Polymer Science, an MBA, and a B.S. in Chemistry, is a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, holds over 10 patents, and has received multiple awards. Her community involvement includes guest lecturing, teaching science, and volunteering with various organizations.
Maggie Dempsey
Maggie Dempsey graduated from RIT with a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems in 2022 and an MBA in 2024. During her time at RIT, she completed internships with Wegmans, Capital One, and PwC. She now works in Los Angeles as a Portfolio Management Analyst at Mattel, Inc. As a pageant competitor and volunteer, Maggie is passionate about public speaking and empowering women through organizations like Girls Inc. and Girls on the Run.
Merrill DiPonzio
Merrill DiPonzio is currently working as a Human Resources Assistant in Talent Development at RIT. She is an MBA student in her first year. Outside of RIT, Merrill has a passion for travel and spent a semester abroad in Paris, France studying at the Sorbonne University.
Terri Monsees
Terri Monsees is a passionate advocate and champion for neurodiversity, dedicated to fostering inclusive learning environments where all minds can thrive. As a speaker and thought leader, Terri drives awareness, challenges misconceptions, and promotes best practices that support neurodivergent individuals in education and beyond. With a focus on neurodiversity leadership strategies, Terri empowers organizations and educators to implement meaningful change, creating spaces that celebrate and leverage diverse cognitive strengths.
Kelly DeFranco
Kelly DeFranco grew up in North Jersey and moved to upstate New York to attend Rochester Institute of Technology and pursue a career in Illustration. Shortly after graduating and starting her freelance journey, she found a position at a local credit union. This was the beginning of a career of service within the credit union industry, spanning nearly 25 years. She found her purpose in serving members and contributing to the credit union movement. As she learned and grew professionally, she found her most important and valuable contribution was leadership. She now serves as CEO of the Gates Chili Federal Credit Union, working diligently and purposefully to support her team, their members, and the communities they serve.
Seminars
Breeann Wilson & Amanda Jackson-Scott
Breeann Wilson graduated from RIT with bachelors in biochemistry before receiving her Doctorate. Pure Podiatry of WNY, PLLC was founded by Dr. Breeann N Wilson in 2016 with the goal of helping her patients put their “Best foot Forward”. Dr. Breeann N Wilson is a proud native of Buffalo, NY. A graduate of William M Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine, she completed 3 years of residency with the Catholic Health System in Buffalo, New York and Coast Plaza Doctor’s Hospital in Norwalk, California. She is board certified by the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons and has been in practice for over 14 years. She recently launched her children’s walking shoe line called Pure Peds, revamping the old school “hard bottom shoe”. She is also an attending with the Catholic Health System helping to train the podiatrists of the future.
Amanda Jackson earned her EMBA from Saunders in 2009. Prior to obtaining her EMBA from RIT, Amanda Jackson-Jacobs graduated with a BS from Northeast Louisiana University. Currently, she is working at Praxair Inc. as global productivity program manager and serves as an adjunct faculty member at SUNY Brockport in Business Administration and Economics. Previously, she held positions with both Kodak and Xerox
Christina Gullo
Christina Gullo is a Co-owner & Partner of True North Executive Solutions, LLC, and previously served as President/CEO of Villa of Hope from 2010-2023. She led a fiscal turnaround, strategic transformation, and rebranding at Villa, and initiated a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging strategy. Christina holds a master’s degree in social work and an MBA, and has extensive clinical, HR, and C-level business experience. She co-authored books on strategy and leadership, and received multiple awards, including the Circle of Excellence Award in 2023 and Women of Excellence by the RBJ in 2021.
Ruth Starr
Ruth is an interdisciplinary program manager who has worked with many museums and government organizations including the Smithsonian, MoMA, NASA, and NSF. She currently leads accessibility at Clarivate, a global provider of content, analytics, and workflow solutions that fuel research, education, and publishing. She is a professor in the Graduate Program in Museum Studies at New York University. Ruth is an alumna of RIT’s College of Liberal Arts/NTID’s programs in Museum Studies and ASL-English Interpretation.
Leadership Panelists
Kendra Evans
Kendra Evans, MAT (she/her), is a leader in K12 and Higher Education as well as program development and management. She is currently the Director of the Spectrum Support Program and the Neurodiverse Hiring Initiative (NHI) at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). NHI facilitates myriad programs that build the confidence and job readiness skills of autistic job seekers, provides guidance and support to employers, and creates unique opportunities connecting hiring managers with RIT's highly-skilled neurodiverse applicant pool.
Jackie Nicholson
Jackie Nicholson is in her fourth year as Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at RIT, overseeing 25 varsity programs and over 650 student-athletes. She is actively involved in several professional organizations, including serving as President of the Liberty League and on the Executive Committee for College Hockey America. Prior to RIT, she was Associate Athletics Director at Albany State, where she focused on academic advisement, compliance, and student-athlete development. Nicholson has a strong background in student-athlete welfare, gender equity, and Title IX matters, and has implemented initiatives that significantly improved academic performance and community engagement.
Melissa Murphy
Melissa graduated in 2012 with a BA in Graphic Design, Communications, and Fine Art. She currently works as a Senior Creative Director at NVE Experience Agency. She has spearheaded award-winning projects worldwide for elite clients, including Cash App, Disney, Billboard, and Meta, solidifying her reputation as a visionary leader in the industry.
Elizabeth Stone
Elizabeth Stone joined the Department of State in 2024 as an Associate Ombuds, becoming the first deaf federal Ombuds. She brings a wealth of expertise in conflict resolution, facilitation, coaching, and mediation with a professional background spanning higher education, non-profit organizations, and the K-12 sector. Prior to her current role, Elizabeth served as an academic Ombuds and director of Ombuds programs at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., where she assisted students, faculty, and staff in addressing conflicts and creating collaborative solutions. She also expanded the Ombuds Office to include more diverse deaf conflict resolution practitioners which consisted of 2 employees and over 25 contractors, all fluent in American Sign Language.
A member of the International Ombuds Association, Elizabeth is deeply committed to community-based and trauma-informed practices. She has earned specialized certifications from Impact Justice, the Interaction Institute for Social Change, the University of San Diego Center for Restorative Practice, Harvard University Program on Negotiation, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, and the International Institute for Restorative Practices, furthering her commitment to holistic conflict resolution approaches and methods.
Elizabeth holds a Master of Public Administration from American University and a Bachelor of Science in Social Work from the Rochester Institute of Technology.
Directions
Women's Leadership Summit will be held in Saunders College of Business, on the campus of Rochester Institute of Technology.
Parking
Please park in Parking Lot S
Download Campus Maps: Interactive Campus Map.
Map/Directions
RIT’s campus is conveniently located five miles from the Greater Rochester International Airport and the New York State Thruway (Interstate 90).
From the Airport
Turn right onto Brooks Avenue, then right onto Interstate 390 South. From 390, take the Scottsville Road exit and turn right. Drive for approximately three miles, then turn left onto Jefferson Road. Travel east for approximately one-half mile to the campus.
From Interstate 90
Take exit 46 and proceed north on Interstate 390 to exit 13 (Hylan Drive). Turn left on Hylan and continue north to Jefferson Road. Turn left on Jefferson and proceed west for approximately two miles to the campus.
Address for GPS
Parking Lot D, Reynolds Dr, Rochester, NY 14623
