West Virginia University at Parkersburg
Presents
A Symposium: "Women and Leadership"
 
 

 

This is the first in a series
of symposia
addressing women’s issues. 

Sponsored by
West Virginia University at Parkersburg

 


Join WVU Parkersburg as the best and brightest tell their stories of achievements – thus far – in a journey of discovery and triumph.  Where did they begin?  How did they achieve success?  What motivated them to persevere?  Hear their fascinating stories of inspiration. 

Featured Speakers

Rabbi Helen Bar-Yaacov
West Virginia's first full-time woman rabbi arrived in Charleston from the Croton-on-Hudson, New York area in 2002. Rabbi Bar-Yaacov holds dual citizenship in Israel and Australia. She immigrated to Israel in 1970, living on Kibbutz for two years before making Jerusalem her permanent home. Rabbi Bar-Yaacov attended Liberal Yeshiva at Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion in Jerusalem. She earned a master's in Hebrew literature at Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion in New York where she was ordained. She serves the Congregation B’nai Israel in Charleston.  (top of page)

Vivian Conly
Vivian Conly became Executive Director of the Carnegie Hall in Lewisburg in 1989. She spent 11 years expanding its programming, renovating and raising approximately $11 million to revitalize the historic structure. Currently she serves as president of the Carnegie Hall Foundation, Inc. whose mission is to raise $10 million for an endowment to ensure the future of the regional arts and education center.  (top of page)

Kathryn S. Decker
Kathy Decker is Vice President of Patient Care Services at Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital, a 313-bed, acute care facility in Parkersburg.  She received her baccalaureate and master’s degrees in Nursing from Wright State University. She has an extensive background in nursing management and has served in chief nursing officer roles for 15 years. Her clinical practice includes experience in med-surg, oncology, critical care and the emergency department. (top of page)

Dr. Marie Foster Gnage
Dr. Gnage is the first woman president of West Virginia University at Parkersburg and the first African-American female to be appointed president of a college or university in West Virginia. Prior to assuming WVU Parkersburg’s presidency in 2004, she served as Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Raritan Valley Community College in North Branch, NJ, and in similar higher education positions in Arizona and Florida. (top of page)

Betty Ireland
Secretary Ireland is West Virginia’s 28th Secretary of State. She is the first woman in the state’s history to be elected to West Virginia’s executive branch of government. She was also the first female appointed to serve on the City of Charleston’s Board of Zoning Appeals. She served on the Public Safety Retirement Task Force of the Joint Legislative Committee on Pensions and Retirement. She also served as Executive Director for the West Virginia Consolidated Public Retirement Board. She taught for several years before pursuing opportunities in business.(top of page)

Lt. Mary A. Pfeifer
Lt. Pfeifer joined the Ohio State Highway Patrol in 1982. She has risen through the ranks and served in various capacities, including Cadet Dispatcher, Trooper-Wooster Post, Zanesville Post, Office of Investigative Services, Plainclothes Investigations, State House, Executive Protection, Operations, Assistant Post Commander at the Athens Patrol Post and Assistant Post Commander of the Mt. Gilead Post. Currently, she is Post Commander of the Marietta Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.  (top of page)

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