Here to Stay: The Power of Women's Stories

A conversation with Gail Burrell Gerry (Col ‘74), Akshita Tiwari (Engr ‘28), Chloe Barbosa (Com ‘26), Ruth Kramer (Col doctoral student), Alison Elias (Col '02), assistant professor at Darden, and moderated by Kate Byrne, WomenAdvancing podcast host.

In Here to Stay, author Gail Burrell Gerry chronicles the first generation of women to coeducate at the University of Virginia. Women who stepped into spaces not built for them and, in doing so, reshaped those spaces for everyone who followed. Their stories are not just about history; they are about courage, belonging, and the quiet, persistent force of presence.

Join us for a thoughtful, cross-generational conversation as we explore what it means to claim space, build community, and carry forward the stories that shape institutions and ourselves. Together, we’ll reflect on the women who opened the doors, the women walking through them now, and the stories that ensure they are, indeed, here to stay.

This event is co-sponsored by the UVA Alumni Association and the Maxine Platzer Lynn Women's Center.

The event will take place in the Dome Room of the Rotunda. Free street parking is available nearby. Additional paid parking is available in the Central Grounds Garage, a ten-minute walk from the Rotunda.

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