Programming & Events
The ANUW Programming calendar consists of four marquee events – Fall Breakfast, Winter Speaker Panel, Pathways to Success, and Conversations with an Executive – as well as occasional additional programming. Each program is designed to offer a different type of speaker, format, or engagement style to ANUW members.
View all upcoming events
Fall Breakfast
Fall Breakfast (fall) features a keynote speech (30-45 minutes) from a high-level speaker who shares their career and life path followed by a Q&A session with the audience. Breakfast is available to all. This marquee event is typically held in person annually in October and kicks off the ANUW programming season. Topics and themes for this event are usually based off of the ANUW annual theme.
Past Fall Breakfast speakers
- 2024: Dr. Michelle Manno, Assistant Provost for Diversity and Inclusion at Northwestern Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion
- 2023: Dr. Hari M. Osofsky, Dean and Myra and James Bradwell Professor of Law at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law and Professor of Environmental Policy and Culture at the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences
- 2022: Dr. Annelise Riles, Executive Director of the Northwestern Roberta Buffett Institute for Global Affairs, Associate Provost for Global Affairs and a professor of law and anthropology at Northwestern University
- 2021 (virtual): Dr. Robin Means Coleman, Vice President and Associate Provost for Diversity and Inclusion, Chief Diversity Officer and the Ida B. Wells and Ferdinand Barnett Professor in the Department of Communication Studies
- 2020 (virtual): Dr. Sekile M. Nzinga, Interim Chief Diversity Officer and Director of the Women’s Center
- 2019: Dr. Julie Payne-Kirchmeier, Interim Vice President for Student Affairs
- 2018: Chaplain Tahera Ahmad, Associate University Chaplain and Director of Interfaith Engagement
- 2017: Dr. Lesley-Ann Brown-Henderson, Executive Director of the Department of Campus Inclusion and Community
- 2016: Laura Nirider, Clinical Assistant Professor of Law and Project Director of the Center on Wrongful Convictions of Youth (CWCY) at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law
Conversations with an Executive
Conversations with an Executive (summer) features an executive of the university in a 30-45 minute keynote speech to provide insight into their role and the “state of the university.” This is typically held virtually each year in the summer months of June or July.
Past Conversations with an Executive speakers
- 2023: Jaci Casazza, Assistant Provost and University Registrar, Northwestern University
- 2022: Lorraine Goffe, Vice President, Human Resources, Northwestern University
- 2021: Kathleen Hagerty, Provost, Northwestern University
Pathways to Success
Pathways to Success (spring) takes a number of different formats. In the past, this event has featured a keynote from a high-level executive to share how they reached their current position with key turning points in their career. In recent years, we’ve hosted forums, yoga classes, and speed socializing events. This event is typically held in person in April.
Past Pathways to Success events
- 2024: Speed Socializing Event, featuring ten themed tables for ANUW members to discuss your job at NU, wellness at home, wellness at work, professionalism, technology, NU benefits, NU students, supervising students, managing conflict, professional development, and more.
- 2023: Well-being Forum, featuring speaker Lesley Lundeen, Well-being Manager at Northwestern’s Office of Human Resources, as well as an optional yoga class led by Henry Crown Sports Pavillion staff, various tables of well-being-related resources, and ProteinBar smoothies.
Virtual Winter Speaker Panel
Winter Speaker Panel (winter) features a one-hour moderated discussion with pre-selected questions. The format brings together multiple panelists to share career-building advice. This event is typically held in February and offered virtually.
Past Winter Speaker Panel events
- 2024: “Professional Development through the Lens of Well-Being" with panelists: Amy Stanfield Huntington, Hayley Kretchmer, Vivi Matthews, Colleen McMahon, and Daphne Nwwankpa; Moderated by Kathy Benson
- 2023: “Finding your purpose: being a change agent” with panelists: Tameka Brannon, Laura Nirider, Janet Dees, and Aisha Ghori Ozaki; Moderated by Tiffany Gregory
- 2022: “Career Pivots at Northwestern University” with panelists: Pascale Bishop. Pascale Bishop, and Kelsey Creamer; Moderated by: Kathy Benson
- 2021: “Building Your Career at Northwestern University” with panelists: Herra Iqbal, Laurie Daniels, Kamilah Allen, and Allison Porterfield; Moderated by: ANUW Programming Committee Members
