Ohio University put the Celebrate Women conference on hold

Ohio University put the Celebrate Women conference on hold, citing federal guidance on discrimination

By: David Forster

Posted on:
Saturday, March 8, 2025

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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — Ohio University has put on hold its annual Celebrate Women conference, citing concerns that its programming may not comply with new federal antidiscrimination guidelines.

Ohio University’s Alumni Gateway on March 10, 2020. [Michelle Rotuno-Johnson].The announcement Thursday followed an announcement two days earlier that the university had put a hold on the Black Alumni Reunion scheduled for next month, citing similar concerns.

The Celebrate Women conference, held in conjunction with Women’s History Month, was scheduled for March 21 on the university’s Lancaster campus. Hundreds of people had registered for the event.

The university has removed conference details from its website. However, an archived version from early December shows the program for this year’s event included sessions on artificial intelligence, mental and physical health, and networking, leadership and business development.

WOUB reached out to the university to find out what programming in this year’s event raised concerns about running afoul of new guidance and orders from the Trump administration.

A university spokesperson said the decision was based on “event programming in its totality and was not focused on a singular program element.”

In the news release announcing its decision, the university referenced recent guidance from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights. The office sent schools a letter last month addressing racial discrimination and targeting diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and programs as a form of discrimination.

The university also referenced a bill the Ohio Legislature is expected to pass this year that among many other things would eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in higher education.

Mary McCarthy, president and CEO of Women’s Small Business Accelerator, was scheduled to be a panelist for a session titled “Entrepreneurship: Resources to Help You Start Your Own Business.”

“I think it’s a shame that it’s being put on hold,” she said. “It’s a celebration,” she said of the conference, which is in its 19th year. “I think that’s a good thing to celebrate the success we’re having.”

McCarthy described the event as an opportunity for women “to get together, get insights, make connections, think bigger about their business.”

“To me that’s just a blessing for everybody,” she said.

Kaci Roach was scheduled to lead a session on women in nontraditional careers. She is executive director of HHW Ohio, which encourages women to consider career paths such as construction, engineering and manufacturing.

“I am disappointed but not surprised,” Roach said of the university’s decision. Shortly after the Trump administration began issuing new orders and guidance intended to eliminate diversity efforts, she reached out to conference organizers to find out if the event was still happening.

“I knew that it was something that was being monitored,” she said.

“Each institution is examining their own policies, and they are making their own decisions on what to move forward with and what not to,” Roach said.

Some of the organizations she works with “have completely shied away from any gender or race-specific initiatives.” Others, she said, “have moved towards a more open-access model,” in which they emphasize that attendance or participation in an event is open to anyone.

Many institutions, she said, are simply erring on the side of caution “to ensure they can maintain federal funding.”

Carri Brown, the Fairfield County auditor, was scheduled to be the luncheon speaker. “For many organizations,” she said, “this event was one that was eagerly anticipated all throughout the year. I know of several businesses that planned to send their entire staff to the event.”

Brown said that while the event focuses “on unique challenges women face and strengths they bring,” men are welcome to attend and some do. The topics covered, she said, explore “universal leadership principles — such as respect, resilience, vision, communication and decision-making.”

“Through this,” she said, “attendees, regardless of gender, were encouraged to examine their own leadership potential and their own strategies for overcoming obstacles in their careers and personal lives.”

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