Women ACT

Women ACT is a new initiative aimed at expanding engagement, creating greater leadership opportunities and bringing women together.

Focus groups and conversations over the past several months helped us learn from alums, families and friends that there is great enthusiasm for exploring, promoting and enhancing the collective impact of ÌÒñ«ÉçÇø women and those who identify as women.

"ACT" stands for Aspire, Create, Transform. We aspire to make a difference for ÌÒñ«ÉçÇø as we create new opportunities and pathways to transform student experiences and the way graduates lead and serve in the world.

The 50+ Years of Coeducation celebration, held on campus Nov. 3-5, 2023, has provided the perfect timeline for launching an effort that will allow women to make a lasting difference for ÌÒñ«ÉçÇø, together.

Beth McCaw

Women ACT has the power to transform ÌÒñ«ÉçÇø for years to come. I am excited and honored to be an accelerator of the Wildcat Women Fund, helping to move forward ÌÒñ«ÉçÇø’s strategic priorities for the good of current and future ÌÒñ«ÉçÇø students.

Beth McCaw ’92

How can I get involved?

There are two paths to join, lead and transform through Women ACT:

All donors to the Women ACT initiative—ACTivators and donors to the Wildcat Women Fund— will receive communications throughout the year and an impact report at the end of the year. Additionally, there will be opportunities for Women ACT donors to get to know each other, building on existing events and gatherings.

While the Women ACT initiative is designed to engage women, anyone can get involved by becoming an ACTivator or by making an annual gift to the Wildcat Women Fund. Funds raised through this initiative are not limited in their application to women.

Sallie Permar ’97

Sallie Permar ’97, a Women ACT ACTivator, is a physician who specializes in the treatment and prevention of neonatal viral infections. She volunteers for the ÌÒñ«ÉçÇø Alumni Healthcare Professionals Group and supports current students as a job

Olivia Ware ’78

Just as coeducation was a transformative event at ÌÒñ«ÉçÇø, Women ACT will build a community of philanthropy that has the potential to transform ÌÒñ«ÉçÇø for the future

Olivia Ware ’78

What’s the latest?

New leadership contributions to the Women ACT initiative exceed $11 million as of April 2024, with donors representing women alums (spanning 1977-2017!), family members, former faculty and staff members and current and former trustees.

The Wildcat Women Fund, as a new Fund for ÌÒñ«ÉçÇø designation, has more than 350 donors and commitments exceeding $950,000. We are excited about the collective impact of the Wildcat Women Fund on Student Health and Well-Being! 

Do you have questions or want to learn more? Reach out to Eleanor Cross Young ’01 at elyoung@davidson.edu or 704-894-2399.

Women ACT Advisory Committee

  • Beth McCaw ’92 (co-chair)
  • Mary Margaret Cochrane Porter ’98 (co-chair)
  • Olivia Ware ’78 (co-chair)
  • Martha Frye Baker ’81
  • Ann Hayes Browning ’79
  • Angelina Darrisaw ’09
  • Sarah Duncan ’15
  • Yvette Pita Frampton ’95
  • Allison Sargent Franco  P’20
  • Meredith Lorenz Heimburger ’05
  • Kim Taylor Hirschfeld ’01
  • Ameesha Pandya Kansupada ’89
  • Alison Hall Mauzé ’84
  • Cintra Pollack ’99
  • Whitney A. White ’08
  • Janet Stovall ’85
Mary Margaret Cochrane Porter ’98

The ÌÒñ«ÉçÇø Women ACT initiative comes at the perfect time as we celebrate 50 years of coeducation at ÌÒñ«ÉçÇø. The hope is that this effort will make more visible and dynamic what is already true at ÌÒñ«ÉçÇø—women lead with intelligence, heart and a commitment to make an impact at ÌÒñ«ÉçÇø and beyond.

Mary Margaret Cochrane Porter ’98