The Women in Wonder series takes an in-depth look at leadership, explored through discussion with successful alumnae leaders from various professions. Below are the inspirational women we have featured in the past.
Our conversation on Friday, June 5, 2020, featured Carmen Fontana (CWR '00; GRS '05 engineering), leader of Centric Consulting's Modern Software Delivery practice.
Fontana focuses on artificial intelligence, internet of things (IoT) and emerging technology. With more than twenty years of experience, her zen is when innovation meets data-driven decision making. Beyond the tech sphere, Fontana is a cancer survivor, soccer mom and donut mile champion.
The conversation was facilitated by Angela Clark-Taylor, PhD, Director for the Flora Stone Mather Center for Women.
Our conversation on Friday, January 24, featured Kari Cunningham (DEN '10, DEN ‘12), board certified pediatric dentist and owner of Panther Pediatric Dentistry.
Dr. Kari A. Cunningham is a Board Certified Pediatric Dentist and Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. She opened up a private practice called Panther Pediatric Dentistry in her hometown of Euclid, OH. In 2020, she will be expanding her practice into Lake County and providing a school-based oral health program for the children in the Willoughby-Eastlake school district.
Dr. Cunningham is a Visiting Assistant Professor in the department of Pediatric Dentistry at CWRU SODM and is the Dental Clinic Director of the new University Hospitals Rainbow Center for Women & Children in Cleveland’s Midtown. Committed to organized dentistry and advocacy, Dr. Cunningham currently serves as the President-Elect of the Greater Cleveland Dental Society and is on the Alumni Association Board of Directors for the School of Dental Medicine. When she is not practicing dentistry, Dr. Kari is recently married and enjoys traveling with her husband and spending time with family and friends. She is a certified event planner and is always thinking of a reason to celebrate!
The conversation was facilitated by Angela Clark-Taylor, PhD, Director for the Flora Stone Mather Center for Women.
Our conversation on Friday, November 15, featured Connie Hill-Johnson (WRC ‘80), President of Visiting Angels Senior Homecare.
The conversation was facilitated by Elisse Corrigan, Director, Homecoming Events and Special Programming for The Alumni Association of Case Western Reserve University
Our conversation on Friday, October 4, featured Kathleen Buse, PhD (GRS '12, management), Director, Research and Women's Leadership Institute at ERC.
The conversation was facilitated by Angela Clark-Taylor, PhD, Director for the Flora Stone Mather Center for Women.
Our conversation on Friday, May 3, featured Gina Gibney (WRC ‘79; GRS ‘82, theater), Artistic Director and Chief Executive Officer of GIBNEY, a New York City organization that uses the transformative power of the arts to catalyze personal and social change.
The conversation was facilitated by Susan Freimark, MA, Senior Associate Director at the Flora Stone Mather Center for Women.
Our conversation on Friday, February 8, featured Dorothy C. Baunach (MGT ‘83), Chief Executive, DigitalC, a civic-tech collaboration engaging leaders to innovate in the community. Baunach is a seasoned community and business leader with broad experience in organization and community development, strategic leadership, entrepreneurship, technology commercialization, business, and early-stage capital formation.
Baunach's remarks included points about the difference between risk and opportunity, and the power of self-awareness and intuition. Baunach stated, “What I learned over time ... is that you are what your strengths and weaknesses are.” DigitalC is currently working on connecting communities in Cleveland to the internet. Watch the February session here.
The conversation was facilitated by Susan Freimark, MA, Senior Associate Director at the Flora Stone Mather Center for Women.
Our conversation on Friday, October 26, featured Melissa Yasinow (LAW '11), attorney with Kohrman, Jackson & Krantz PLL, a member of the Cleveland Heights City Council, board and committee member in the Cuyahoga Democratic Women's Caucus and the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party, and a Cleveland Magazine pick for Most Interesting People 2018. Yasinow shared her journey with alumni representing diverse backgrounds, degrees and careers.
Yasinow encouraged the audience to always consider new opportunities — “We are all amateurs when we start something new, no matter our position in life” — instead of waiting for permission to pursue their dreams.
The conversation was facilitated by Susan Freimark, MA, Senior Associate Director at the Flora Stone Mather Center for Women.