For more details on the upcoming IWL Gala, visit our 4th Annual IWL Gala page.

  • 2024 - 3rd Annual IWL Gala
  • 2023 - 2nd Annual IWL Gala
  • 2022 - Inaugural IWL Gala

3rd Annual IWL Gala | March 7, 2024

2024 IWL Gala Thank You (mbj)

 

Click on the picture below to view the photo gallery for 3rd Annual IWL Gala

March 7, 2024 | Unapologetically You
Keynote:


2024 IWL Gala Keynote Speaker announcement graphic

honored and electrified IWL and all in attendance as the keynote speaker for the 2024 IWL Gala!  Headlining the event program on the eve of International Women's Day, March 7th, 2024, Denise spoke on the importance of being Unapologetically You! by Leading With Your Best Self and Unapologetically Operating in YOUR Power as well as provided tools and techniques for mentors and advocates to continue to open doors for women and underrepresented peoples in leadership roles.

 

Keynote speaker Denise M. Thomas, an award-winning entrepreneur, is the Founder and Owner of The Effective Communication Coach鈥攁 consultancy focused on transforming emerging and existing professionals into extraordinary leaders by mastering the art of effective communication.  She has been recognized for excellence in leadership from companies including General Electric and MolsonCoors.  Denise continues her focus on coaching people by traveling and teaching effective communication to professionals worldwide including Tel Aviv, Israel; Cartagena, Columbia; and Cape Town, South Africa. With twenty years of experience within Fortune 100 companies, Denise has honed the ability to deliver and receive messages across language, cultural, and communication-style barriers.

 


 

An Extra Special Thank You to Our Gala Steering Committee!

    • Mayra Alaniz
    • Tammy Belton-Davis
    • Marie Bement
    • Nicole Blemberg
    • Ayleen Cabas-Mijares
    • Isabelle Faust
    • Heather Hlavka
    • Abiola Keller
    • Margo Loebl
    • Mark Naidicz
    • Karen Ortiz
    • Lijnda Piacentine

 

Click below to view the 3rd Annual IWL Gala's program booklet:

Front cover of 2024 IWL Gala's program booklet


 


wendy bauman

IWL TRANSFORM
Award for Transformational Community Leadership

Wendy Baumann

President/CVO of The Wisconsin Women鈥檚 Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC) 

 

jacki black

IWL INSPIRE
Award
for Transformational Campus Leadership

Dr. Jacki Black

Director of Hispanic Initiatives and Diversity & Inclusion Educational Programming at 向日葵视频

 

hope moses

IWL ENGAGE 
Award
for Transformational Student Leadership

Hope Moses

Executive Director of 向日葵视频Wire, 向日葵视频 Communication and Journalism '24
 

 

Thank You to the 3rd Annual IWL Gala Sponsors!

Engage-Level Sponsors:

 

mbj logo

MU Dept. CECP


Dessert Sponsor:

Versiti - WI 


Lead-Level Sponsors:

  • Accenture
  • Amundsen Davis LLC
  • Claire Rolfs
  • Findorff
  • Godfrey & Kahn
  • HPGM & Poderosa Collective
  • Jeanne Hossenlopp, PhD
  • 向日葵视频College of Business Administration
  • 向日葵视频Opus College of Engineering
  • 向日葵视频 Office of Institutional Diversity & Inclusion
  • 向日葵视频 School of Dentistry
  • Milwaukee Women inc
  • Northwestern Mutual
  • Phillips Ristau Group | Baird
  • SC Johnson
  • TEMPO

Last but Not Least, a Shoutout to Our Support-Level Sponsors, Thank You!


Please contact Sarah Camp with any questions.




2nd Annual IWL Gala | March 7, 2023

2023 IWL Gala MBJ THANK YOU

 

Click on the picture below to view the photo gallery for 2nd Annual IWL Gala Photos

March 7, 2023 | Courageous Sisterhood
Keynote: Thelma Sias

 

An Extra Special Thank You to Our Gala Outreach Committee!

    • Krista Brookman
    • Patty Cadorin
    • Isabelle Faust
    • Jasmine M. Johnson
    • Margo Loebl
    • Mark Naidicz
    • Maryanne Szymanski
    • Mary Alice Tierney

Honorary Co-Chairs

  • Joanna M. Bauza

  • Hon. Janine P. Geske

  • Amy Ford Souders

  • Nancy Hernandez

  • Nicole Michaels

  • Dr. Janis M. Orlowski

  • Peggy Troy

  • Chris Woleske

Thank You to the 2nd Annual IWL Gala Sponsors!

Engage-Level Sponsors:

 

mbj logo


Lead-Level Sponsors:

  • AO Smith Foundation
  • Accenture
  • Crivello Carlson, s.c.
  • Deloitte
  • Findorff
  • Godfrey & Kahn
  • Johnson Financial Group
  • Mark & Patty Naidicz
  • 向日葵视频College of Business Administration
  • 向日葵视频Opus College of Engineering
  • 向日葵视频 Advancement
  • 向日葵视频 Office of Institutional Diversity & Inclusion
  • Medical College of Wisconsin, Center for the Advancement of Women in Science and Medicine
  • Milwaukee Women inc
  • Northwestern Mutual
  • NVNG Investment Advisors, LLC
  • Olgetree Deakins
  • Professional Dimensions
  • SC Johnson
  • Snap-on Incorporated
  • TEMPO
  • Wipfli LLP

Last but Not Least, a Shoutout to Our Support-Level Sponsors, Thank You!


Please contact Sarah Camp with any questions.


IWL's Inaugural Gala | March 8, 2022

THANK YOU! for celebrating International Women's Day & the foundational few years of Marquette's Institute for Women's Leadership at our inaugural gala!

It was a fantastic event made more special by all of the guests. To continue to celebrate and further demonstrate your support of IWL's mission and vision, please reachout鈥攕ign-up for our mailing list, follow us on social media, consider donating by selecting "Institute for Women's Leadership...Fund" .
save the date iwl gala flyer

 

Thank you for joining us in celebrating "Women of Strength" and International Women's Day 2022! This event gathered our community benefactors to learn about the fantastic research and programming that IWL has funded in its first two years. Virtual attendees joined via livestream and receive a set of IWL greeting cards along with the IWL Gala program as a thank you gift.

Additionally, IWL celebrated the inspiring work, research, and collaborations from the first two-and-a-half years of Marquette鈥檚 Institute for Women鈥檚 Leadership. The evening honored strong women on campus and in the community who advance women鈥檚 leadership鈥攊ncluding students, faculty, staff, community partners, supporters, and allies.

New York-based CEO and Entrepreneur Freida Rothman joined the IWL community in-person for a fireside chat with IWL Director Andrea Schneider and discussed her global 鈥淲omen of Strength鈥 campaign during this celebratory evening; and IWL hosted an exclusive trunk show featuring Freida Rothman鈥檚 launch of her 2022 line honoring women leaders, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting IWL鈥檚 ongoing work.  Thank you Frieda and all who participated in this exclusive trunk show fundraiser sale!


Click on the picture below to view the photo gallery for IWL's Inaugural Gala

March 8, 2022 | Women of Strength
Keynote:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

2022 Gala ProgramCover page of Inaugural IWL Gala Program

Click the cover art above to view the program via PDF.
 

An Extra Special Thank You to Our Gala Steering Committee!

    • Peggy Armstrong
    • Krista Brookman
    • Patty Cadorin
    • Laurie C. Frey
    • Margo Loebl
    • Molly Madonia 

Honorary Co-Chairs

  • Hon. Janine P. Geske

  • Joanna M. Bauza

  • Amy Ford Souders

  • Peggy Troy

  • Dr. Janis M. Orlowski

  • Nancy Hernandez

  • Kelly McShane

  • Chris Woleske


Thank You to the Inaugural IWL Gala Sponsors!

Engage-Level Sponsors:

 

godfreykahn

mbj logo

quarlesbrady

amuw logo


Lead-Level Sponsors:

  • Andrus Intellectual Property Law, LLP
  • Baird
  • Deloitte
  • gener8tor
  • Johnson Financial Group
  • Medical College of Wisconsin, Center for the Advancement of Women in Science and Medicine
  • Michael Best & Friedrich
  • Milwaukee Women inc
  • Molson Coors
  • Northwestern Mutual
  • Professional Dimensions
  • PwC
  • Town Bank, NA
  • von Briesen & Roper, s.c.
  • We Energies Foundation

Last but Not Least, a Shoutout to Our Support-Level Sponsors, Thank You!


Please contact Sarah Camp with any questions.


 

IWL Gala ENGAGE-INSPIRE-TRANSFORM Leadership Honorees

In recognition of its mission to advance women鈥檚 leadership to achieve more equitable and just communities and workplaces for all, IWL honors three individuals who demonstrate innovative, inspiration leadership that has transformed the lives of others and their communities:

The IWL ENGAGE AWARD for Transformational Student Leadership celebrates the leadership of a 向日葵视频undergraduate or graduate student who has taken action to lead others to 鈥渂e the difference鈥 for women on campus or in the community.

The IWL INSPIRE AWARD for Transformational Campus Leadership celebrates a faculty/staff member whose transformational leadership has improved the lives and careers of women on campus and/or in the community.

The IWL TRANSFORM AWARD for Transformational Community Leadership celebrates a community leader of Milwaukee who has taken action to lead others to 鈥渂e the difference鈥 for creating positive community change.

Expand all   |   Collapse all  

2024 IWL Gala - 2nd Annual Leadership Award Honorees

IWL Honored to Recognize Leaders at 3rd Annual IWL Gala[2024] 3rd Annual IWL Gala Header

2024 IWL TRANSFORM Award
Honoree

2024 IWL INSPIRE Award Honoree

2024 IWL Engage Award Honoree

Award winner

Award winner

Award winner

Wendy K. Baumann

President/CVO,
Wisconsin Women鈥檚 Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC)

Jacqueline Black, PhD

Director of Hispanic Initiatives and Diversity & Inclusion Educational Programming, 向日葵视频

Hope Moses

Journalism, 向日葵视频 Diederich College of Communication
(Class of 2024)

 


 

Meet IWL's 2024 Transformational Leadership Honorees!

Award winner

2024 IWL TRANSFORM Award Honoree: Wendy K. Baumann

Wendy Katherine Baumann serves as President/CVO of The Wisconsin Women鈥檚 Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC), a statewide economic development corporation.  Baumann accepted this challenging position in the community in 1994, providing the leadership required to ensure the achievement of WWBIC鈥檚 mission and to uphold the philosophy of serving businesses owned by women, minorities, and low wealth individuals in Wisconsin.

Baumann鈥檚 credentials, experiences, and enthusiasm has been key in obtaining the objectives set forth for WWBIC in developing new and innovative models for business assistance programming and small business development. Baumann is a former Director of Small Business Development at The Milwaukee Enterprise Center (MEC) and served as Executive Director of The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin in 1987 and 1988. Baumann has also worked at The Council for the Spanish Speaking and prior to that at Goodwill Industries. Baumann鈥檚 ability to dialogue and successfully collaborate with public, private, and diverse groups has been key.

Baumann has served on numerous national and local Boards, currently maintains membership with various organizations while also serving on numerous boards, and has received four other notable awards for leadership and innovation. She earned her bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees from the University of Wisconsin鈥 Milwaukee. Wendy K. Baumann has two adult daughters and sons, three grandchildren, a fabulous border collie, and resides in a log cabin in Mequon, Wisconsin.

 

Award winner

2024 IWL INSPIRE Award Honoree: Jacqueline Black, PhD

Dr. Jacki Black is the Director of Hispanic Initiatives and Diversity & Inclusion Educational Programming at 向日葵视频, and seeks to provide greater access and support to Latinx and other underrepresented students. Dr. Black also provides strategic leadership and learning opportunities for faculty, staff, and students with the goal of fostering a more inclusive working and learning environment, and contributes to the execution of other campus-wide diversity and inclusion efforts.

Hailing from a working-class background, Dr. Black strongly believes in the power of education as a path to upward mobility. She has a deep passion for cultivating an educational culture in which every student鈥攔egardless of race, socioeconomic or immigration status, gender, sexual identity, or religion鈥攈as the opportunity to fulfill their potential with access to a safe, welcoming school environment, an excellent education, leadership-development opportunities, and a sense of pride and belonging.

Dr. Black earned her BA from the University of Chicago, MA from Saint Xavier University, and PhD from 向日葵视频. Prior to her role at Marquette, she devoted 15 years to teaching, mentoring, coaching, and advising in Chicago and Milwaukee schools. Most notably, she spent 10 years at MUHS, where she taught Honors Spanish for Native Speakers, advised the Orgullo Latino student organization and served as the Latino Family Liaison. While Dr. Black derives great purpose from her work, her world revolves around her family, including her children Alonzo and Emma and her life partner Luke, without whom none of her work would be possible. 

 

Award winner

2024 IWL ENGAGE Award Honoree: Hope Moses

Hope Moses is a fourth-year journalism student at 向日葵视频 and the Executive Director of the 向日葵视频Wire, where she oversees a student newsroom of 70-plus staff members and volunteers who produce content across their newspaper, magazine, radio station, and television station. Additionally, Moses is an O鈥橞rien Fellowship in Public Service Journalism Reporting Intern. In 2022, she was selected as the Inaugural Foley Fellow for the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation, assisting the foundation implement journalism safety practices across the country. Moses co-founded a student group for journalists of color to create community and support within the media space on campus.

Moses has completed internships at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Urban Milwaukee, and The Community newsletter.  She has also volunteered at MCW, Walker鈥檚 Point Center for the Arts, and Girl Scouts of America Southeast and became a peer counselor through the Educational Opportunity Program. This allowed her to mentor first-generation and low-income students through their college endeavors. Moses has received numerous awards and honors including having her writing published in the globally-distributed McGraw Hill textbook Common Places, and her journalistic work has been recognized several times regionally by the Society of Professional Journalists. Following graduation, she will attend Northwestern University鈥檚 Medill School of Journalism. Outside of academics, Moses enjoys playing tennis, writing, photography, traveling, and hanging out with friends and family.

 

2023 IWL Gala - Inaugural Leadership Award Honorees

IWL Honored to Recognize Leaders at 2nd Annual IWL GalaIWL Gala Header

IWL TRANSFORM
Award

IWL INSPIRE Award

IWL Engage Award

Award winner

Award winner

Award winner

Kareeda Chones Aguam

Senior VP of Partner
Strategy & Management,
Milwaukee Bucks

Rosemary A. Stuart, PhD

Wehr Distinguished
Professor, Biological Sciences

Gabrielle Chun

Mechanical Engineering,
向日葵视频 Opus College of Engineering
(Class of 2024, MBA '26)

 


 

Meet IWL's Inaugural Transformational Leadership Honorees!

Award winner

2023 IWL TRANSFORM Award Honoree: Kareeda Chones Aguam

As the Senior Vice President of Partner Strategy and Management for the Milwaukee Bucks, Kareeda has blazed her own trail, taking a job with the Milwaukee Bucks in ticket sales following her graduation from 向日葵视频and working her way up the corporate ladder to her current role. With women making up just under a third of team vice president roles and under ten percent of team presidents or CEOs, Kareeda has made it her mission to help reach out to those behind her, ensuring that "the next young lady has the same opportunities I have," and advocating for greater diversity of thought and diversity in work culture. Her courageous work has changed the lives and careers of women. Thank you for inspiring us, Kareeda!

 

Award winner

2023 IWL INSPIRE Award Honoree: Rosemary A Stuart, PhD

Dr. Rosemary A. Stuart is a Wehr Distinguished Professor of Biological Sciences whose research and work on campus over the last 23 years has embodied the IWL's mission to elevate and inspire women. In addition to her past service as Associate Dean for the College of Arts & Sciences and leading her current role as director of the Biological & Environmental Sciences Internship Program, she serves on Marquette's Committee on Diversity & Equity, the IWL Faculty Advisory Council, Marquette's faculty-led Pay Equity Taskforce, and Marquette's NSF-funded ADVANCE initiative, which seeks to support the advancement of women in STEM.  She is also the proud mother of two fabulous and inspiring "kids," Ciara and Eddie. Thank you for inspiring us, Rosemary!

 

Award winner

2023 IWL ENGAGE Award Honoree: Gabrielle Chun

Gabrielle Chun is a third year, Mechanical Engineering student in the Opus College of Engineering with minors in Business Administration, Graphic Design, and Writing-Intensive English. She has been accepted into Marquette's Graduate School of Management and will be completing her MBA as part of the university's five-year STEM-MBA accelerated degree program. Beyond her academic excellence, Gabby is an active student leader who serves as a tutor for both the writing center and the physics department, a Sacristan for Campus Ministry, and an executive board member for the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), the Art Club, and the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honors Society. As outreach director for SWE, she has also worked with Notre Dame School of Milwaukee and Discovery World to organize volunteer opportunities promoting engineering to future generations of women in STEM. Thank you for inspring, Gabrielle!

For more details on the gala and our award winners, visit our 2025 IWL Gala page.