Advocacy

As part of the University of Virginia community where Morgan Harrington lost her life in 2009, we took note long ago that her mother, Gil Harrington, is an exceptional woman. Her unflinching willingness to deal openly with the tragedy of her daughter's murder has sometimes disarmed observers. After meeting her, though, it becomes clear that her clarity is accompanied by a worldview both deep and farseeing. In a recent wide ranging talk at her home, she spoke about how she cultivates this authenticity in the face of the worst that can befall a parent.

We had the amazing opportunity to interview Ms. Cheryl Mills last February, when she was a featured speaker at University of Virginia Women in Leadership Conference. What do Oprah and Hillary have in common (other than that they are two of the most influential women in U.S. history)? Cheryl Mills worked for both of them. More precisely, she worked for both of them for love.

Carey Albertine and Saira Rao met rushing the same sorority at the University of Virginia and have worked well together ever since. Albertine and Rao join the ranks of highly successful U.Va. alumnae Iris has interviewed. Their publishing company In This Together Media publishes “great books about real girls,” with the purpose of inspiring women and girls through reading.

Staring at a blank screen and looking for the right words to write is the bane of every writer, aspiring and experienced alike.

The University of Virginia has many things to be proud of and many students have passed through to go on and accomplish many things. It comes with great pride to have such an astonishing number of accomplished alumnae who have made extraordinary contributions in the world.

When life hangs in a balance we rely on a select group of nurses who commit their lives in increasing our odds of survival. The training involved to join these corps of miracle workers is not for the faint of heart and the education they receive has to prepare them for this increasingly complex field of study.

Perspective can allow two people to see the same object and relate different descriptions. It can start wars and create suffering and it can bring people together to unify the world. An object could be a simple ball, encased in rubber, inflated with air - or it can be a toy used to excite and enlighten a child, teaching principles like working hard and achieving goals.

The University of Virginia is a dynamic institution; it is characterized by a thriving system of students, faculty, and staff who are the lifeblood of the "community of trust" we so admire. In our "Faculty Spotlight" feature, Iris seeks to celebrate some of the admirable, inspirational, and interesting women at our University.

Old Mother Earth, the giver of life and home to us all, is constantly being threatened. Women from all over the country have taken the lead to start new green initiatives within their organizations to help make a difference in their communities. First Lady Michelle Obama recruited the help of Monticello's Garden Curator, Peter Hatch, to help start an organic garden at the White House.

A big thank you to everyone who came out to participate and discuss Bad** Women in Politics with us. We had a great discussion with our guest panel speakers who shared with us their favorite political women. The bada** nominations were terrific and we all had a great time discussing past and current issues about women, gender and the political arena.