2025 Session Topics

Our symposium is designed for you to choose your own adventure! Each guest will attend 4 sessions, including the keynote panel. To make the most of your day, we recommend reviewing the panel options in advance and selecting one per session. No additional registration is needed, but take your time to craft your personalized agenda. A digital program and campus map will be provided on the day of the event to guide you to each session.

Breakout Session 1
10:05 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.

Ready to take on your first job or internship? Learn from three expert lawyers about workplace rights, fair pay, and how to handle tricky situations like a pro. Whether it’s your first paycheck or your dream job, knowing your rights helps you work with confidence!
Location: St. Therese Seminar Room
Speakers: Christy Heiskala, Jenna Rangel ’98, and Anna Schwartz
In this session, discover how female founders are using their unique artistic expressions in crafting, art, and illustration to build successful businesses. Learn how they’re championing women entrepreneurship and inspiring others to pursue their creative passions while making a lasting impact.
Location: Campus Ministry
Speakers: Karen Alleluia and Morgan Spenla
Join us as we explore the inspiring work of female educators who are dedicated to helping students develop strong critical thinking skills and become powerful agents of change. This panel will highlight how these educators are shaping the next generation of leaders who will make a difference in their communities and beyond.
Location: St. Therese Theater
Speakers: Tamara Y. Craver and Dr. Pilar Vargas ‘98
Join two OLP alumnae as they share their unique journeys in the healthcare field. From different paths to the same goal, they’ll discuss their careers, the challenges they’ve faced, and the impact they’re making in healthcare today. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear how these inspiring women have leveraged their OLP education to make a difference in the lives of others.
Location: Library
Speakers: Dr. Fernanda Molitor ’07 and Lauren Szumski ‘20
Join us to hear from a team of talented women, including an OLP alumna, who are training service, facility, and therapy dogs to support a variety of populations across San Diego County such as at-risk youth, military personnel, the elderly and children in court, mobility limited individuals, and veterans with PTSD. Learn how they work with community organizations and professionals to help individuals achieve personal goals and find comfort through the powerful bond established with these highly trained dogs.
Location: Aquinas Amphitheater
Speakers: Dr. Eileen Heveron ’73, Barbara McKown, Carolyn Peters, and Margery Squier
Join us to hear from two accomplished women who are dedicated to providing intensive mental health services to youth and families, while also co-chairing a conference that tackles the impact of racial disparities and implicit bias in mental health, education, and healthcare. Learn how they are raising awareness and creating change to ensure more equitable access to crucial services for all communities.
Location: Makers’ Space
Speakers: Melanie Morones and Aisha Pope

Breakout Session 2
11:05 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.

OLP sisters, past and present, come together for real talk on college, careers, and life after high school! Get the inside scoop, hear their best advice, and ask all the questions – because who better to guide you than those who’ve been in your shoes?
Location: Event Center
Speakers: Maggie Brady ’19, Jenna Chandler ‘18, Frances Nagem Kuhn ’04, and Nathalie-Rose Malécot ’16
Join two educators-turned-entrepreneurs as they share their journey of designing a curriculum that was sold to Rosetta Stone and how they’ve continued creating impactful educational products for teachers and students. As women in business and best friends, they’ll discuss how they’ve blended their personal and professional lives to build the businesses – and lives – they’ve always dreamed of.
Location: Campus Ministry
Speakers: Maya Goodall and Kristie Shelley
In this session, women leaders from nonprofit organizations will share how they are dedicated to improving the quality of life for vulnerable populations, including children facing serious illnesses and families in crisis. Through their work, they provide vital resources, create moments of joy, and offer support that helps uplift individuals and communities in need.
Location: St. Therese Theater
Speakers: Kelli Loper, Jessica St. Clair Muñoz ’99, and Gabriela M. Torres ‘99
From helping individuals secure their future careers to ensuring access to essential period products, these dynamic CEOs are changing the game. Join the leaders of Working Wardrobes and Dotstash as they share their journeys in nonprofit advocacy and social entrepreneurship, fighting for both accessibility and equity in impactful ways.
Location: Library
Speakers: Bonni Pomush and Mona Powell
This session features two inspiring women at the helm of transforming affordable housing in San Diego, where their leadership is driving real change. By prioritizing community resilience and equitable access, they’re not only providing homes but also fostering a culture of empowerment. Their work shows how women in charge are creating lasting impact, ensuring that housing is a right, not a privilege, for all residents.
Location: St. Therese Seminar Room
Speaker: Denisse Newell and Tricia Tasto-Levien

Breakout Session 3
12:05 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.

Get an inside look at the world of gaming from the women driving innovation at PlayStation and Sony Interactive Entertainment! Hear their stories, challenges, and tips on how they’re making waves in a dynamic industry – and how you can level up your own career in gaming.
Location: St. Therese Seminar Room
Speakers: Carmen Beal ’06, Alyssa Garcia-Andre ’19, Salena Nunez Flores, and Brianna Wing
Join a panel of trailblazing women who have held high-ranking positions in government, including the TSA, DHS, and the FBI, as they share their experiences in national security and policymaking. Moderated by a Georgia Tech professor of practice and former DHS Assistant Secretary, this session will highlight their leadership in protecting our country and discuss how their interests influenced their career paths.
Location: Campus Ministry
Speakers: Mary Ellen Callahan, Holly Canevari, Gena Chieco, and Susan Ferensic
The arts thrive through a combination of exceptional talent, leadership, collaboration, and dedication behind the scenes. Join the President & CEO, Associate Principal Bass, and the Production Stage Manager from the San Diego Symphony as they share how music comes to life and the many roles that make an orchestra a vibrant and essential part of our community.
Location: St. Therese Theater
Speakers: Martha A. Gilmer, Beth Hall, and Susan Wulff
Join a panel of women making a difference in women’s health through groundbreaking research on topics like the microbiome, perinatal chromosomal abnormalities, and accessible healthcare solutions. Learn how their work is not only improving health outcomes but also ensuring that advancements in healthcare are accessible to all women, regardless of their background or circumstance.
Location: Library
Speakers: Noelle Acosta, Dr. Jennifer Barber-Singh, and Dr. Yuzhong Liu
Join the CEO of ATLIS as she dives into the hottest topic in education today – AI in the classroom. From ChatGPT to Gemini, discover how AI is shaping learning, impacting classroom practices, what it means for the future of education, and your role in it.
Location: Makers’ Space
Speaker: Christina Lewellen
Featuring:
Pip Lewis
Location:
Student Library
Join a powerhouse skincare CEO and a top makeup artist as they break down the business of beauty – how to build a brand, stand out in a crowded industry, and turn passion into profit. Expect real talk, insider secrets, and a little glam along the way!
Location: Event Center
Speakers: Veronica Koneke ‘91 and Itzel Meza