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With just under two months to go, Communication Studies Professors Pam Kaylor and Candice Thomas-Maddox are in the thick of it preparing for this year’s 19th Celebrate Women conference that’s held annually on the Lancaster Campus.

“We start planning in September each year,” said Kaylor. “We have a dedicated steering committee and several sub-committees. There is a lot of work and a lot of hours that goes into making this conference happen. I couldn’t even imagine the number of hours faculty, staff and students dedicate to make this passion of ours come true each year.”

The purpose of Celebrate Women is to promote and advance gender equity by recognizing the past, present and future achievements of women from diverse ages, ethnicities and backgrounds. The community engagement and experiential learning event is held in conjunction with , which takes place in March 2025. The conference started in 2006 and was the brainchild of the eight students in one of Kaylor’s Women and Gender Studies classes on the Lancaster Campus. It has only continued to grow each year since.

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“We have sold out the event the last two years,” said Kaylor. “We have reached capacity which is more than 450 people. I think that is because once women experience it for the first time, they realize it is more than just a conference. It’s female students, faculty & staff, community members, and business leaders networking, connecting and supporting each other.”

“It’s really exciting that we have gotten to the point that we sell out the event,” said Thomas-Maddox. "When the conference first began 19 years ago, I never imagined we’d reach a point where we’re selling out the event. It’s incredible to see how much it has grown and the impact it continues to have. It's a high energy, incredible opportunity that brings together women of all ages. Whether they're looking for personal growth or professional development, there's something here for everyone."

The conference is not only welcoming to women of all ages, but also women from all of ��������’s campuses.

"Over the past several years, we've seen a lot more engagement and involvement from Athens Campus and Regional Campus students," said Thomas-Maddox. "We expanded the Outstanding Student Leader Awards to welcome nominations from students at all �������� campuses. Two years ago, award recipients from the Athens Campus admitted they didn't know Celebrate Women existed. They came back the next year to attend the conference. The networking they get to do with community members is really valuable.”

This year’s Celebrate Women conference is being held on Friday, March 21. The theme is “Soaring to New Heights: Empower, Lead, Innovate.” The keynote speaker is Amelia Rose Earhart, president of the Fly with Ameilia Foundation. As a boundary-pushing ‘around the world pilot’, Amelia Rose Earhart knows exactly what it takes to venture into uncharted territory– with confidence. With the odds stacked against her, Amelia not only trained to become a pilot, but to become the type of pilot to choose honor the person she was named after, , by piloting a single-engine airplane (Pilatus PC-12NG) 28,000 Nautical Miles around the globe.

“We like to find women who were trailblazers to be our keynote speaker each year,” said Kaylor. “Because of her namesake, Amelia Rose Earhart developed an interest in flying and was the first women to fly that same route. Then she started a foundation to help other young women learn to fly.”

Both women say the conference wouldn’t be what it is today without the support of ��������, the Scripps College of Communication, the School of Communication Studies and community sponsors.

“This event serves as a bridge between community, business and the university,” said Thomas-Maddox. “It’s a really wonderful way to connect with our community and to rejuvenate. Celebrate Women is a place of replenishment and rejuvenation. It energizes women in ways that we don’t find in other places.”

Registration is now open. Learn more and register at ohio.edu/celebrate-women.