Community, Engagement, Belonging and Access

Women’s Roundtable features inspiring keynote speakers, fosters professional development networks

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The fourth annual Women’s Roundtable is scheduled for later this month. A program of the National Educational Success Summits presented by Clemson University, Women’s Roundtable connects participants with professional development and networking opportunities and will be held Thursday, November 14, 2024, at the Greenville Convention Center. 

Clemson and Women’s Roundtable organizers invite participants to acknowledge, explore and invest in the promotion of the experiences of girls and women, particularly in STEM fields. Sessions and keynote speeches are designed to bring heightened awareness to these issues for all participants and provide networks of support and mentoring to girls and women in attendance.

Five women sit in high stools on a stage during a panel discussion.
2023 Women’s Roundtable speakers participate in an on-stage discussion. (From left to right: Eliana Toro, Technical Account Manager, Amazon Web Services; Linda Li-Bleuel, DMA, Professor of Music, Clemson University; Beth Foster-Gayle, Executive Director, Office of Force Resiliency for USD (P&R); Alrinthea Carter ’05, Writer, Photographer and Improviser; Holly Brown, Senior Engineering Manager, GE Vernova)

Open to all, Women’s Roundtable will bring together about 500 participants to emphasize the importance of education, self-care and preservation. This year’s event will feature well-known keynote speakers, a panel of women professionals, and various roundtable conversations regarding academic, career, and personal achievement. Attendees also will receive essential tools and skillsets to help them better navigate educational and professional settings, creating opportunities for event participants to build networks of support with each other. 

2024 Women’s Roundtable Speakers

Morning Keynote speaker: Aarti Sequeira, who is known as “The Spice Queen,” and winner of Food Network Star (Season 6), hosts a cooking show ‘Aarti Party’, serves as a judge on numerous Food Network shows. She has authored two cookbooks and has written for the Associated Press. In her latest cookbook, Aarti encourages intentionality at the dinner table.

Afternoon Keynote speaker: Cynthia M. A. Butler-McIntyre is known as a leader with a servant’s heart and served in the Jefferson Parish School System for over 30 years in a variety of roles. She serves on numerous local, state, regional and national boards, is an educational consultant and has received numerous awards. She will facilitate an activity for participants that will help them apply the knowledge they have gained.

“The Women’s Roundtable is a transformative gathering designed to elevate the voices and experiences of women, particularly in fields where representation has been limited,” said Felicia Benton-Johnson, vice president for diversity and inclusive excellence at Clemson in the Division of Community, Engagement, Belonging and Access (CEBA). “By fostering connection, growth, and mutual support, this event underscores Clemson’s commitment to inclusive excellence and the advancement of women in their professional and personal journeys.” 

CEBA promotes initiatives and programs to create connection, encourage academic advancement and provide compassionate leadership by fostering a culture of full inclusion through events and initiatives. The National Educational Success Summits presented by Clemson University provide a unique platform for transforming historically marginalized students into the talented, next-generation workforce of tomorrow. Programs include the Women’s Roundtable and the Men of Impact Summit, formerly Men of Color. 

Since 2017, Clemson’s success summits have served a vital role in higher ed, K-12 education and industry. The University recently adopted a new, long-range strategic plan, Clemson Elevate, inviting event organizers and CEBA leadership to look more broadly at the impact of the University’s hallmark inclusion events. 


Learn more about the 2024 Women’s Roundtable by visiting clemson.edu/ceba/what-we-do/women-roundtable.  

Women’s Roundtable

November 14, 2024
Greenville Convention Center

9-10 AM Opening Keynote Speaker
10:15-11:15 AM Panel of Women Professionals
11:30 AM to 12:15 PM Lunch
12:30-1:30 PM Keynote Speaker
1:45-2:45 PM Roundtable Sessions