2016 VWHE Fall Dinner 

Celebrate the achievements of women working in higher education at the 2016 Fall Dinner hosted by Vermont Women in Higher Education! Keynote speaker is Naila Baloch, associate chaplain at Middlebury College’s Scott Center for Spiritual and Religious Life.  Congratulate the three 2016 award winners, Mary Beth Doyle, Cynthia Gerstl-Pepin, and Tolya Syril Stonorov, and catch up with colleagues from across the state.

Date: October 11, 2016

Location: St. Michael's College, Dion Family Student Center (third floor - Roy Event Room)
                  Colchester, VT. Guest parking is located by the Ross Sports Center. 

Time: 4:30 - 7:30 p.m.

• 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. - Networking
• 5:30 p.m. - Dinner and Keynote Address
• 6:45 p.m. - Awards Presentation

Cost: $40.00

Dinner Details
The evening will include a cash bar, appetizers, and a buffet with both meat and vegetarian options. Gluten-free, dairy-free and nut-free food options will be available. Coffee, tea and dessert will also be provided.

About the Keynote Speaker
Keynote speaker Naila Baloch brings to her work a focus on building strong, inclusive communities. At Middlebury, she facilitates Islamic and interfaith programming and retreats, and also advises the Islamic Society of Middlebury College. Baloch earned her bachelor's degree from Williams College, where she studied astrophysics and comparative religion. She earned a master's in theological studies from Harvard Divinity School, where she specialized in Islamic ministry. She also holds a graduate certificate from the University of Spiritual Healing and Sufism in Pope Valley, California, where her focus was on counseling from a spiritual perspective. She started her training at Harvard Divinity School as their first female, Muslim ministry student to prepare for positions of religious service. In 2015, Baloch received the Carol A. Moore Scholarship from Vermont Women in Higher Education to continue her training in mental health counseling at the University of Massachusetts. 

2016 Award Winners

Sister Elizabeth Candon Distinguished Service Award - Mary Beth Doyle, St. Michael's College

Peggy R. Williams Emerging Professional Award - Tolya Syril Stonorov, Norwich University

Jackie M. Gribbons Leadership Award - Cynthia Gerstl-Pepin, University of Vermont