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Stanford women Winter Welcome
About Winter Welcome
Over 100 years ago, the founders of Cap and Gown strove to bring all Stanford women together to build collegial relationships among women. In 2006, Cap and Gown renewed this original purpose with the first Stanford Women Winter Welcome. This event brings freshman and sophomore women together with upper-class undergraduates, Stanford faculty, staff, and alumni for an evening of informal roundtable conversations, a fireside chat with a featured speaker, and delicious desserts.
2025 Stanford Women Winter Welcome
This year, we’re Reaching for the Stars, featuring two groundbreaking women in aviation and aerospace:
🚀 Dr. Tammy Jernigan, NASA astronaut and Stanford alum, flew 5 space shuttle missions and logged over 1,500 hours in space! Dr. Jernigan will share her incredible journey from space missions to leadership roles at Lawrence Livermore National Lab.
✈️ Zara Rutherford, a junior in Electrical Engineering at Stanford, made history as the youngest female pilot to fly solo around the world at just 19 years old. Zara will share her experience flying a microlight aircraft across the globe!
About Cap and Gown:
Bring your friends, and let’s Reach for the Stars together! 🌟
Past speakers include Honorary Cap and Gown members Dr. Condoleezza Rice; Dr. Pam Matson, Dean of Earth Sciences; Dr. Pat Jones, Professor of Biological Sciences; and Dr. Sharon Long, Professor of Biological Sciences and a founder of the Winter Welcome.
The annual Winter Welcome prides itself in providing opportunities for women leaders to form meaningful connections, gain insight from those with diverse experiences, and learn from the stories of successful women. The Stanford Women Winter Welcome is hosted by Cap and Gown and supported by the Schools of Humanities and Sciences, Earth, Energy, and Environmental Sciences, WISE Ventures, Undergraduate Advising and Research, Program in Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, The Clayman Institute for Gender Studies, and the Women’s Community Center.
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Past Winter welcome events
2017
Walking Fine Lines - How to Keep a Healthy Balance as a Woman in a Male-dominated Field
Margot Gerristsen, PhD. Senior Associate Dean, School of Earth, Energy and Environmental Sciences
2009
Take Action: The World Needs You
Kathryn Stoner-Weiss, PhD. Associate Director for Research and Senior Research Scholar, Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law.
2015
Techie or Fuzzie: Follow Your Passion
Sheri Sheppard, PhD.