NeW hosted the 2024 Leadership Retreat in Boston, Massachusetts, on August 2-4. More than 90 NeW chapter leaders from across the country gathered for three days of training on how to better articulate conservative principles on campus and plan for the semester. With your support, we provided scholarship funding to all attendees. We had 94 students attend the 2024 Leadership Retreat.
Women attended from American University, Baylor University, Boston College, Catholic University of America, Colorado Christian University, Dickinson College, Florida State University, George Mason University, George Washington University, Grand Canyon University, Harvard University, Indiana University Bloomington, James Madison University, Johnson & Wales University, Loyola University Chicago, North Carolina State University, Oakland University, Purdue University, Radford University, Samford University, Southern Methodist University, Texas A&M University, Texas State University, Texas Tech University, University of Arizona, University of Cincinnati, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Montana, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, University of Notre Dame, University of South Carolina, University of South Florida, University of Tampa, University of Texas-Austin, University of Texas-San Antonio, University of Virginia, West Virginia University, William Paterson University, Xavier University, and The Herzog Foundation.
Throughout the weekend, each chapter met with their NeW Campus Program Associate to plan out their first event of the fall semester.
The 2024 attendees heard from:
Christina Bain, Visiting Fellows at Tufts University
Dr. Anne Bradley, Vice President of Academic Affairs at The Fund for American Studies
Julia Canzano, NeW Alumna from Boston College
Amy Carnevale, Government Affairs Advisor and Chair of the Massachusetts Republican Party
Emma Foley, NeW Alumna from Boston College and Content Manager at National Review
Alicia McCaslin, Business Owner and Professional Stylist
Mary Margaret Olohan, Author and Senior Reporter at The Daily Signal
On the first day of the Retreat, attendees were given a special tour of the Massachusetts State House by State Representative David DeCoste. The women had the opportunity to go out on the balcony of the State House and take photos. Rep. DeCoste’s office also set up a group photo with the Capitol Photographer.
The speakers at the NeW 2024 Leadership Retreat empowered attendees for the upcoming semester by educating them to be strong advocates for issues they care about, providing personal and professional advice they learned from their own experiences, and sharing styling tips so that the women will look and feel their best.
Mary Margaret Olohan, Author and Senior Reporter at The Daily Signal, was a favorite speaker among the attendees. Olohan discussed her new book, Detrans: True Stories of Escaping the Gender Ideology Cult, the truth about gender-affirming care, and how women can use her book to have normal conversations about this issue in the future. Following her discussion, attendees received copies of Olohan’s book and had the opportunity to meet her and get their book signed.
We hosted an alumnae panel featuring Julia Canzano, NeW alumna from Boston College and former NeW Campus Program and Events Coordinator, and Emma Foley, NeW alumna from Boston College and Content Manager at National Review. Canzano and Foley shared their experience establishing the NeW chapter at Boston College, navigating administration and liberal peers to host events, and finding a conservative community after graduation.
Alicia McCaslin, Business Owner, and Professional Stylist, provided a dress and styling workshop for attendees. During the workshop, McCaslin provided real scenarios and examples for the women to use to elevate their image in a professional setting.
Dr. Anne Bradley, Vice President of Academic Affairs at The Fund for American Studies, was another favorite speaker among Retreat attendees. Dr. Bradley discussed how economic freedom positively impacts women and families.
The 2024 Leadership Retreat concluded with a session featuring Amy Carnevale, Government Affairs Advisor and Chair of the Massachusetts Republican Party. Carnevale empowered the attendees to work hard and stand up for the issues they believe in by sharing her story of working her way up the ranks to serve as the Chief of Staff for Rep. George Nethercutt at the age of 28.
Each year at the Leadership Retreat, NeW National recognizes and celebrates our most active student leaders and chapters. This year, NeW awarded the NeW Enlightened Woman of the Year to Cameron Teel, alumna from NeW at the University of Arizona. As a student, Teel participated in the NeW Opportunity Feminism Course, NeW Student Media Fellowship, and our Conservative Woman’s Guide podcast.
NeW at Harvard University received the NeW Chapter in the News Award for how their leaders carried themselves through interviews and media attention this year. After hosting Riley Gaines in the fall, the editorial board of their school’s historical student newspaper wrote a hit piece on the event. Throughout it all, chapter members remained classy and stood steadfast to themselves and their beliefs.
Three women shared:
“Retreat has encouraged and motivated me to create the best community for conservative women on my campus. Retreat empowered me by providing the opportunity to meet other women and learn from incredible speakers. Every young conservative woman should come to retreat!” -Virginia King, President of NeW at Texas State University.
“I’ve never felt more empowered to create a warm and engaging environment for conservative women on my campus!” -Nicole Kelly, Vice President of NeW at Florida State University.
“Thank you NeW for providing me with an opportunity to develop my convictions as a conservative and meet other like-minded women. Leaving Retreat, I feel a heightened sense of confidence as a leader and excitement as I look to getting more involved with NeW in the fall!” -Elizabeth Mitchell, Vice President of NeW at the University of Notre Dame.
This blog was written by Kirsten Golinski, NeW Development Manager.
