Fourth Annual Women's Mentoring Network Conference

Illinois State University will host the fourth annual Women’s Mentoring Network conference, Putting the Pieces Together, on Saturday, March 1, from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in room 375 of the Student Services building. 

Registration is open to the public and is $10 for the continental breakfast, lunch and conference materials due by February 22.  Visit the Web site at http://www.mentoringnetwork.ilstu.edu/ to download a registration form.

Terri Ryburn will present “Risk-Taking 101: 10 Scary Things to Do with a College Degree” as the keynote address.  Other presenters for the conference are Nikki Brauer, Illinois State Wellness; Donella Hess-Grabill, Wayfinder Solutions: Professional Coaching for Empowered Living; and Pamela Cooper, Illinois State Career Center.

Ryburn began her career at Illinois State in 1978, retiring in 2005 to pursue her interests of writing, acting and comedy.  She earned her bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from Illinois State in history.  Ryburn is restoring a 1930s building and starting a business. 

The Women’s Mentoring Network was formed in 2003 to mentor female nontraditional students, garnering close to 30 university women mentoring more than 40 students. 

“Back when we created the Women’s Mentoring Network, we knew there was a need for nontraditional women students to feel a part of Illinois State and be comfortable on campus,” said Teri Farr, assistant to the chair of Sociology-Anthropology.  “Little did we know how great the need was.  As an alumnus, I feel a strong bond and connection to our campus and community.  I wanted our students to be offered the same opportunities that I had, a chance to connect with faculty, staff and students and to be given out of classroom learning opportunities that enrich their college experience.”

For more information about the conference, contact Michelle Schuline at mmschul@ilstu.edu or at (309) 438-2156 or Becky Mentzer at rementz@ilstu.edu or at (309) 438-2559.