Looking Ahead to Momentum 2020

Upcoming conference celebrates the power of Penn women



*Due to concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Momentum 2020 has been postponed until the fall of 2021. We will update the story below with new information related to the conference as it becomes available.


The women of Penn are changing the world for the better.

Penn alumnae include CEOs, University presidents, Oscar and Pulitzer winners, judges and attorneys; the list goes on. They are pushing boundaries, changing perspectives, and creating a stronger world for the students of tomorrow.

This year, Penn is celebrating their achievements—and anticipating their impact on the future—through Momentum 2020: The Power of Penn Women, a three-day conference on campus presented October 2-4, 2020. The conference is open to Penn alums and community members from all backgrounds and generations; we embrace the identities and histories of all who attend this inclusive and trans-affirming conference.

Momentum 2020

Momentum 2020 represents an opportunity for Penn supporters to reconnect with the University and to experience firsthand the groundbreaking work that alumnae are advancing across the globe. Dozens of events including keynote presentations, panel discussions, wellness sessions, and campus tours make this conference an ideal occasion for attendees to learn, grow, and rekindle their connections with each other and pride in Penn.

Sharing a Wealth of Expertise

Momentum 2020 is bringing some of the University’s most prolific and accomplished alumnae to event stages across campus.

Judith Browne Dianis, W’87 and Abby Huntsman, C’08 are slated to participate in a panel discussion on the 2020 election, which will be top of mind for many conference attendees this October. Dianis is a lawyer, professor, and civil rights advocate who serves as Executive Director of Advancement Project National Office. Her work focuses on combatting structural racism in education, voting, policing, criminal justice and immigration. Huntsman is a former co-host of ABC’s Emmy® Award-winning daytime talk show The View, and worked on the 2012 presidential campaign of her father, Jon Huntsman. Michele Kelemen, C’89, a top reporter for National Public Radio, will moderate the conversation.

Stacey Snider, C’82 joins the Momentum 2020 conference for a session focused on Hollywood and the power of celebrity. Snider most recently served as Chair and CEO of Twentieth Century Fox Film, overseeing all areas of the studio, including its five production divisions, global marketing, distribution, and home entertainment.

Penn’s faculty will also be well represented as participants in this important weekend. Among them are Dr. Angela Duckworth, G’03, Gr’06, who serves as Christopher H. Browne Distinguished Professor of Psychology, and Dr. Karen Reivich, C’88, G’92, Gr’96, Director of Training Programs for the Penn Positive Psychology Center. Both will take part in a session dealing with grit and resilience in the face of personal and professional obstacles. Six other faculty members, including Dr. Dorothy Roberts, George A. Weiss Professor of Law & Sociology, will be presenting their research in TED-style talks during the conference kick-off session.

See below for a selection of confirmed speakers (with more to be announced soon).

Penn President Dr. Amy Gutmann, Hon'04
Dr. Angela Duckworth, G'03, Gr'06
Judith Browne Dianis, W'87
Abby Huntsman, C'08
Dr. Karen Reivich, C'88, G'92, Gr'96
Stacey Snider, C'82
Michele Kelemen, C'89 (panel moderator)
Dr. Amy Hillier, SW'97, SWP'01
Dr. Vanessa Z. Chan, EAS'94
Dr. Deborah A. Thomas

Timely Topics, Actionable Lessons

A fundamental goal of Momentum 2020 is providing attendees with meaningful knowledge that informs their day-to-day lives in measurable ways. In addition to a selection of marquee plenary sessions, Momentum 2020 will include more than two dozen breakout events addressing topics of all shapes and sizes.

  • Health care and well-being come to the forefront during sessions such as “Global Women’s Health” and “The Importance of Sleep.”
  • Workplace matters are topics of conversation in two sessions: “Creating Diverse Workplaces: Best Practices” and “Dealing with Imposter Syndrome or Owning Your Value.”
  • Social issues will be addressed during “Free Speech versus Civil Discourse” and “Women in the Justice System: The Troubling Trend of Women’s Incarceration Increases,” among others.
  • Practical life lessons await attendees through how-to sessions including “How to Find Your Mentors” and “How to Prepare for a Career Transition.”

More details about these and other conference sessions will be published on the Momentum 2020 website in the coming months.

Ways to Engage

Underneath this busy schedule of events and on-campus activities, alumni engagement is at the heart of Momentum 2020. The conference offers opportunities for Penn grads to reconnect with the University and to support its programming at the ground level.

The Momentum 2020 podcast invites listeners to learn about Penn women through their own words. Each weekly episode includes an interview with a different Penn alumna, sharing their backgrounds, experiences, and the impact that Penn has had on their lives. On social media, the @PowerOfPennWomen Instagram features these women and their stories, as well as informational updates about the conference.

Tickets will go on sale this spring. In the meantime, those interested in attending are encouraged to join the Momentum 2020 email list, which assures you’ll receive all the important conference news and updates as they’re announced. You can also sign up to help during the conference as a volunteer.

Learn more about Momentum 2020