Hollins’ annual Leading Equity, Diversity, and Justice (EDJ) Conference aims to create an intentional and meaningful space to reflect, learn, and facilitate action toward creating a more equitable and just community. We envision a conference that uplifts participants, while supporting deep learning and engagement related to the central theme of this conference: Breaking Ceilings, Opening Doors: Reimagining Work and Leadership.
This year features a collaboration between the Leading EDJ Committee and Career and Life Design. Our spring C3 conference sessions will run concurrently with Leading EDJ. No classes will be held on Friday, March 13, so please engage and participate!
Schedule
Thursday, March 12, 2026
7 p.m. Keynote Address, Talmadge Recital Hall
Keynote speaker: Vanessa Priya Daniel
Daniel is the author of Unrig the Game: What Women of Color Can Teach Everyone About Winning. In additional to being an author, Daniel is a community organizer and award -winning leader for racial and gender justice. Inside Philanthropy named her as one of fifteen “Influencers” who are transforming the nonprofit world. As a queer, biracial feminist, she is uniquely qualified to speak to the issues facing women leaders today.
The event is sponsored by the Batten Leadership Institute and Kenan Fund via the Leading Together series, and co-sponsored by the Roanoke Women’s Foundation, Junior League of Roanoke Valley, and the local chapters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Reception and book signing immediately following the Keynote Address in the Lewis Reading Room, Wyndham Robertson Library
Friday, March 13, 2026
- 10:00 am: Welcome by President Mary Dana Hinton
- 10:30 am: Track 1, Track 2 and C3 Presenters*
- 11:30 am: Lunch
- 1:00 pm: Track 1, Track 2 and C3 Presenters*
- 2:10 pm: Track 1, Track 2 and C3 Presenters*
- 3:20 pm: Track 1, Track 2 and C3 Presenters*
- 4:30 pm: Reception and Experiential Learning Showcase (Botetourt Reading Room. Botetourt Hall)
*Please choose sessions based on your interest. The C3 Presenters track offers a career-focused track to equip students with the clarity, confidence, and connections they need to open doors of opportunity and break through the ceilings that limit their professional growth.
10 a.m. – Friday, March 13
Welcome by President Mary Dana Hinton
Hollins University Theatre
10:30 a.m. Sessions – Friday, March 13
Sessions locations are subject to change
Track 1: Interactive workshop
Dana 114 – Dana Science Building
Coming Out as You: Releasing Fear and Becoming a Leader
Presenter SB Rawz
Showing up in our professional lives feeling comfortable in ourselves-isn’t a luxury. It’s essential. This workshop will empower participants to name what scares them about themselves and their future, identify resources for addressing those fears and restate their fear as part of the unique offering they bring to their careers and communities. Register now
Track 2: Interactive workshop
Dana 142 – Dana Science Building
More Than Talk: Women, Courage, and Creating Change
Decca Knight
This session highlights why women stepping up- especially when it feels hard- matters not only for the cause, but for the women watching. Attendees will be encouraged to shift from “talking and complaining” to taking risks, modeling leadership, and turning ideas into tangible efforts that make a difference. Register now
C3 Presenter: Interactive workshop
Goodwin Room – Moody Center
Networking Beyond the Job Title
Alexander Scott
This workshop is designed to strengthen participants’ communication skills by developing an effective and compelling narrative about their identity. One that extends beyond the confines of their personal and professional lives, allowing them to develop stronger, more meaningful relationships through networking. Register now
11:30 a.m. Lunch Break
Lunch is on your own between 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
1 p.m. Sessions – Friday, March 13
Track 1: Interactive workshop
Dana 142 – Dana Science Building
Holding What Cannot Be Held: Breaking Narrative Ceilings through Writing & Publishing Hermit Crab Essays
Qurrat ul ain Raza Abbas
This interactive, generative workshop explores the hermit crab essay as both a creative and leadership practice that enables writes, educators, and cultural workers to navigate and challenge the ceilings imposed by monolingual, linear, and assimilationist norms. Register now
Track 2: Panel discussion
Dana 102 – Dana Science Building
Joy is Enough: Creativity Beyond the Pressure
Facilitators: Sarah Bell, Ryan Sesker, Soledad Ruggiero, Dakota Webb-Hawkins
This student panel will showcase the creativity that is emblematic of Hollins students. In a world that often limits what success should look like, these students will offer attendees a chance to learn strategies to prioritize joy, encourage other makers to take risks, and find their own path beyond grind culture. Register now
C3 Presentation: Interactive workshop
Babcock Auditorium – Dana Science Building
Telling Our Stories: Silence is Not Neutral
KyAnne Reeves
Everyone has a story—and with it, a responsibility. This session will explore the role of storytelling as a tool for equity, advocacy, and change, particularly when amplifying voices from marginalized communities. As a spoken word artist, editorial journalist, and author, Reeves will use her experience to engage participants in practical strategies for telling their stories or responsibly uplifting the stories of others. Register now
2:10 p.m. Sessions – Friday, March 13
Track 1: Presentation/lecture
Dana 142 – Dana Science Building
Care as Leadership: What Students Learn About Leading From the Inside
Victory Rose Selzer
In contrast to the higher education leadership model defined by visibility, authority, and formal roles, the presenter invites us to explore leadership through care. By illustrating presence, listening and the often invisible work of tending to people and community, Selzer challenges the attendees to expand the definition of leadership. Register now
Track 2: Panel discussion
Babcock Auditorium – Dana Science Building
Leading With HeART
Facilitator: Phoenix Wyant; E.B. Smith, Ami Trowell, Juice Jones, Brittney Harris
This interactive panel session will connect Roanoke Valley leaders with Hollins students. Participants will have the opportunity to learn from the experiences of seasoned activists and gain strategies and inspiration to becoming leaders in their own right. Register now
C3 Presenter: Presentation/lecture
VAC 119 – Richard Wetherill Visual Arts Center
Asserting Identity in the Workplace
Facilitator: Amber Becke; Danielle Moore-Lewis, Coleman Holth
Identity informs every interaction we have at work. But how do we navigate systems that aren’t always built with us in mind? Panelists share their experiences at the intersections of neurodiversity, race, and gender identity to help you advocate for yourself and others. Register now
3:20 p.m. Sessions – Friday, March 13
Track 1: Presentation/lecture
Goodwin Room – Moody Center
Healing Ableism: What Does This Mean for Academia?
Darla Schumm
Associate Provost Darla Schumm discusses her recently published book, “Healing Ableism: Stories about Disability and Religious Life.” In her talk, Darla will examine how ableism shows up in religious communities and organizations. She will ask participants to consider how these patterns show up in the academy and explore ways to disrupt problematic ableist tendencies that we enact often without realizing it. Register now
Track 2: Panel discussion
VAC 119 – Richard Wetherill Visual Arts Center
Queer Community Building as Life Design
Facilitator: Chanlee Luu
In this interactive panel discussion, participants will learn from local queer community builders from various fields and gather in groups to work through ideas on building queer community at Hollins. Register now
C3 Presenter: Panel discussion
Hollins Room – Wyndham Robertson Library
Leading in Libraries: Hollins Alums and Their Experiences in the World of Information
Maryke Barber
Learn from Hollins alums who are working in libraries including public, academic, and in the medical field. Panelists will share how they found their library jobs and how their Hollins experience prepared them. The discussion will also explore project opportunities, workplace cultures, and how to find (library) joy. The final topic will be growing leadership skills through mentoring programs, professional development, and networking. Bring your questions! Register now
4:30 p.m.
Reception and Experiential Learning Showcase
Botetourt Reading Room, Botetourt Hall
The Experiential Learning Showcase is a celebratory capstone to our conference, bringing together students, faculty, employers, and community partners for an engaging cocktail reception. During this event, students who have completed internships and study abroad experiences will share their projects, reflections, and professional growth—highlighting the skills, insights, and real-world impact gained beyond the classroom. Guests will have the opportunity to connect directly with students, explore their work, and witness how experiential learning opens doors, builds confidence, and prepares our graduates to lead with purpose in a complex world.
