The Road to Women’s Weekend
Events highlight the personal journeys and passions of W&M women
June 13, 2025
By
Catherine Tyson ’20
On August 26, 1920, celebration filled cities around the U.S. — women had just officially won the right to vote. A smaller, quieter victory for women’s rights had taken place two years earlier in Virginia, when the first female students stepped onto William & Mary’s campus. To celebrate the centennial of this event, W&M held its first Women’s Weekend in 2018. This fall, Sept. 12-14, Women’s Weekend returns to campus for the third time, inviting everyone in the W&M community for a weekend of learning, connection and fun.
To build momentum for this milestone event, the Road to Women’s Weekend launched in October 2024. Beginning in Charlottesville, Virginia, and winding through cities including San Francisco, Baltimore, Williamsburg and more, the Road included 15 stops in total that shined a spotlight on the expansive and inspiring endeavors of W&M women. Supported by the Society of 1918, W&M’s leadership and philanthropic society for women, these events brought over 1,000 people together.
The following profiles highlight just a few of the remarkable women who shared their stories along the Road.
RACHEL CHUNG
W&M Clinical Associate Professor of Operations and Information Systems
ROAD TO WOMEN'S WEEKEND EVENT: Washington, D.C.
TOPIC: Artificial intelligence
By day, Rachel Chung teaches graduate students the intricacies of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning at W&M’s Raymond A. Mason School of Business. But her passion for education doesn’t stop there. Eager to spark curiosity and understanding about AI in younger audiences, Chung teamed up with current and former W&M students to publish “AI The Magic Box.” Following the adventures of two children, this illustrated book introduces middle schoolers to the world of AI, unpacking its fundamental concepts and principles. Speaking at the Washington, D.C., Road to Women’s Weekend event, Chung was joined by Danielle Seay ’25, the book’s illustrators, and co-author Rani Banjarian M.S. ’20 to discuss the book and the critical need for AI literacy at every age. Read more about Chung’s work.
SARAH K. WILLIAMS ’10
Founder of Aesthetically Complex Pies
ROAD TO WOMEN’S WEEKEND EVENT: New York City
Topic: Entrepreneurship
Sarah K. Williams tests the boundaries of culinary reality. Captivated by the idea of presenting food that is as artistically fascinating as it is delectable, she founded Aesthetically Complex Pies in 2020. Texture, color and shape are as critical as taste and temperature in the design and presentation of her “interactive sculptural treats.” At the NYC Road to Women’s Weekend gathering, Williams spoke on a panel of women entrepreneurs about the challenges and joys of taking what you love to do and turning it into a business. She also catered the event, bringing a William & Mary flair to her food displays. Learn more about Williams’ work.
JANET ROLLINS ATWATER ’84, P ’17, P ’20
Executive Director at The Precision Institute
ROAD TO WOMEN’S WEEKEND EVENT: Virtual
TOPIC: Neurodiversity
A founding member of the Society of 1918, Janet Rollins Atwater ’84, P ’17, P ’20 is working for a better world. As executive director of The Precision Institute, a national nonprofit, she helps individuals impacted by autism and other developmental disabilities gain the tools they need to enter the workforce. And she tirelessly educates companies and individuals on what an inclusive workplace looks like. Leading a virtual Road to Women’s Weekend panel with W&M professors Cheryl Dickter and Janice Zeman and students Maanasa Schwartzkopf ’27 and Zoe Zollinger ’27, Atwater spoke about how neurodiversity presents in women and outlined practical tools for supporting neurodiverse talent.
CAITLIN BOVERY ’10
Rehabilitation Manager at the National Aquarium
ROAD TO WOMEN’S WEEKEND EVENT: Baltimore
TOPIC: Conservation
Most people work in an office with whiteboards, chairs, desks … the usual setup. Caitlin Bovery ’10, however, gets to share her workspace with sea turtles and seals. As rehabilitation manager at the National Aquarium, she helps injured marine life recover from injuries or illness to regain the strength and behaviors they need to return to the ocean — like Pegasus, a 250-pound loggerhead who is relearning how to regulate her buoyancy in the water after suffering a chronic floatation ailment. During an exclusive, after-hours event at the aquarium, Caitlin joined a panel of W&M women, including two of her colleagues, Laura Bankey M.A. ’93, vice president of conservation programs, and Ciara Cryst ’14, manager of experiential development, to speak about the chief challenges facing conservation.
ZARA FINA STASI ’12
Artist and Founder of Good for the Bees
ROAD TO WOMEN’S WEEKEND EVENT: Williamsburg
TOPIC: Art
Graduating from W&M, Zara Fina Stasi ’12 landed a job in the corporate world. But her love of art kept tugging her back to the creative side. Embracing her calling, she launched into a career that has taken her around the globe to Mexico City, Shanghai, London, Rome and beyond. Working for the likes of the WNBA, the World Bank, Cartier and the New York City Department of Transportation, her art often incorporates botanical themes and vibrant colors, inviting observers to reflect on the beauty of the natural world. Closing out the Road to Women’s Weekend at the Muscarelle Museum of Art in Williamsburg, Stasi led a collage workshop while walking participants through her story and creative process. Learn more about Stasi’s work.
To learn more about Women’s Weekend, visit womensweekend.wm.edu. General registration opens June 26.