The mission of the Woman’s Club of Washington University is to provide opportunities for friendship, learning and service to its members and to the broader Washington University community.

Membership is open to all who are interested in joining the Woman’s Club and supporting our mission.

Your fully tax deductible membership contribution supports the ongoing educational activities of the Woman’s Club including the Risa Zwerling Wrighton Endowed Scholarship Fund, the Elizabeth Danforth Butterfly Garden Fund, and Assembly Series Endowment Fund. The Woman’s Club encourages matching corporate gifts.

Support the Woman’s Club

There are many ways you can contribute to the Woman’s Club efforts at Washington University.

The Woman’s Club Risa Zwerling Wrighton Endowed Scholarship Fund 

In 2009-10, as part of the centennial celebration, Woman’s Club members established the Centennial Scholarship Endowment with a gift of $50,000. The goal then, as it continues to be, is to provide financial support to:

  • Non-traditional students returning to college after spending some time in the work force, and
  • Students who are attending college for the first time after spending time in the work force.

In the spring of 2018, the executive board voted to change the name of the endowment to honor Risa Zwerling Wrighton, the former First Lady of Washington University. Over the past two decades, increased member support and steady endowment growth has allowed this important fund to support five annual scholarships.

If you are interested in making a gift to the Woman’s Club Risa Zwerling Wrighton Endowed Scholarship Fund, please contact Laura Vetter at 314-935-6013 or womansclub@wustl.edu.

To give by mail:
The Woman’s Club of Washington University
7425 Forsyth Blvd., MSC 1228
St. Louis, MO 63105

The Elizabeth Danforth Butterfly Garden Fund

The Elizabeth Danforth Butterfly Garden was created and established to honor Ibby Danforth, who supported the Woman’s Club throughout many years and events.

In the fall of 1996, the Butterfly Garden was formally dedicated to Ibby Danforth at a reception attended by nearly 100 people. Over the years, additional gifts have been made to Ibby’s Garden to provide a flagstone path, a new arbor and bench, and a new gate.

If you would like to make a gift to support Ibby’s Garden, please contact Laura Vetter at 314-935-6013 or womansclub@wustl.edu.

To give by mail:
The Woman’s Club of Washington University
7425 Forsyth Blvd., MSC 1228
St. Louis, MO 63105

The Assembly Lecture Series Endowment

In 1984, the club set aside money raised during its 75th anniversary year to begin the WU Assembly Lecture Series Endowment. This endowment contributes to co-sponsoring an annual lecture series event with other groups in conjunction with the University.

If you would like to make a gift to support the lecture series, please contact Laura Vetter at 314-935-6013 or womansclub@wustl.edu.

To give by mail:
The Woman’s Club of Washington University
7425 Forsyth Blvd., MSC 1228
St. Louis, MO 63105

General Operating Funds of the Club

Activities of the Woman’s Club date back to its founding year of 1910. Members now joining at the sustaining, sponsoring, or benefactor levels of at least $100 are donating funds to help the club in its outreach activities to newcomers and current members. This is a non-tax deductible donation and there are no additional personal benefits.
Your fully tax-deductible membership contribution supports the ongoing educational activities of the  Woman’s Club. The Woman’s Club encourages matching corporate gifts. Find out if your company participates in a matching gift program. You may make a gift online or by mail: The Woman’s Club of Washington University, 7425 Forsyth Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63105

Governance

The actions of the Woman’s Club are led by several committees of dedicated women.

Executive Committee
  • CARMEN DENCE President
  • PAULINA CONNER  Vice-President
  • JANE SCHAEFER Director, Membership
  • IRIS MALONE Director, Educational Programming
  • LINDA SMITH Director of Finance
  • BARBARA FEINER Director Service to the University
  • SARAH FOWLER-DIXON Director of Communications
  • ELENA MAKSAEVA Director, Symposium Luncheons
  • JUDITH JOERDING Immediate Past President
  • NANCY DUNAWAY Secretary
  • LISA SCHMIDT Treasurer
  • LAURA VETTER Coordinator
    Operations

    Educational Programming

    • Director of Educational Programming – Iris Malone
    • Theatre Matinee at the Edison – TBD
    • Fall Welcome Reception – Elena Maksaeva, Lee Anne Quatrano
    • Fall Symposium Luncheon – Suzanne Greenwald and Andrea Lubershane
    • Risa Zwerling Wrighton Scholarship Luncheon – Mary Johnson and Ellen Norris
    • Spring Symposium Luncheon – Barbara Bindler and Jennifer Luner
    • Galleries and Sights – Assimo Azariadis
    • Women and the Kemper – TBD
    • Interest Sections – Various

    Membership

    • Director of Membership – Jane Schaefer
    • Courtesy Notes – Judith Joerding

    Communications

    • Director of Communications – Sarah Fowler-Dixon
    • Archivist – Gloria Lubowitz
    • Newsletter – Sarah Fowler-Dixon
    • Tributes – Margaret Israel

    Service to the University

    • Director of Service to the University – Barbara Feiner
    • Assembly Series Lecture – Barbara Feiner and Margaret Israel
    • Elizabeth Danforth Butterfly Garden – Elena Maksaeva and Lee Anne Quatrano
    • International Women – Pat Sarantites and Gloria Lubowitz
    • Meet the Leaders – Judy Joerding, Barbara Feiner and Jane Schaefer
    • Scholarship Game Day – Jennifer Luner and Ellen Norris
    • Scholarship Tributes – Judy Joerding and Margaret Israel

    Other Committees

    • Bylaws Committee, ad hoc – Karen Johnson Fields
    • Nominating Committee – TBD
    Past Presidents

    2018-21    Judith H. Joerding
    2016-18    Karen Johnson Fields
    2014-16   Jennifer Luner
    2013-14   Jane Schaefer
    2011-13   Gloria Lubowitz
    2010-11   Susan Colangelo
    2009-10   Margaret Israel
    Spring 2009 Lorraine Gnecco
    Fall 2008 Assimo Azariadas
    2007-08   Ingrid Neuefeind
    2006-07   Mrs. Pat Sarantites
    2005-06   Mrs. Judith McKelvey
    2004-05   Mrs. Luisette Behmer
    2003-04   Mrs. Jen Jensen
    2002-03   Mrs. Louise Spielman
    2001-02   Mrs. Nancy Scussel
    2000-01   Mrs. Pat Owens
    1999-00   Mrs. Pat Sarantites
    1998-99   Mrs. Nancy Thompson
    1997-98   Mrs. Sylvia Silver
    1996-97   Mrs. Lorraine Gnecco
    1995-96   Mrs. Gini Lappas
    1994-95   Mrs. Jan Kardos
    1993-94   Mrs. Ingrid Neuefeind
    1992-93   Mrs. A. M. Engebretson
    1991-92   Mrs. Renata Rotkowicz
    1990-91   Mrs. Barna Szabo
    1989-90   Mrs. Daniel L. Rode
    1988-89   Mrs. Rodolphe L. Motard
    1987-88   Mrs. Clemens Nicholas
    1986-87   Mrs. Graydon Ballard
    1985-86   Mrs. Donald Eldredge
    1984-85   Mrs. Ronald A. Feldman
    1983-84   Mrs. Joseph M. Klamon
    1982-83   Mrs. Joseph Backers
    1981-82   Mrs. Sol Garfield
    1980-81   Mrs. William S. Brandhorst
    1979-80   Mrs. James W. Davis
    1978-79   Mrs. Steven Schwarzschild
    1977-78   Mrs. C. Ronald Stephen
    1976-77   Mrs. Neil N. Bernstein
    1975-76   Mrs. Karl A. Hill
    1974-75   Mrs. Bryce Hudgins
    1973-74   Mrs. Richard Koopman
    1972-73   Mrs. Albert C. Stutsman
    1971-72   Mrs. Owen J. Sexton
    1970-71   Mrs. John P. Welty

    1969-70   Mrs. Martin L. Bell
    1968-69   Mrs. H. Hadley Grimm
    1967-68   Mrs. Harold L. Rosenthal
    1966-67   Mrs. S. Richard Silverman
    1965-66   Mrs. Franklin Shull
    1964-65   Mrs. Pierre M. Honnell
    1963-64   Mrs. Carl E. Harford
    1962-63   Mrs. Wayne T. Townsend
    1961-62   Mrs. Roland W. Bockhorst
    1960-61   Mrs. Everett H. Hopkins
    1959-60   Mrs. Gerald L. Clem
    1958-59   Mrs. David M. Skilling, Jr.
    1957-58   Mrs. Stuart Queen
    1956-57   Mrs. Wendell Carnahan
    1955-56   Mrs. C. Carter Lewis
    1954-55   Mrs. Leroy R. Boling
    1953-54   Mrs. William W. Burke
    1952-53   Mrs. Arthur S. Gilson, Jr.
    1951-52   Mrs. Kenneth E. Hudson
    1950-51   Mrs. Lawrence E. Stout
    1949-50   Mrs. Carl V. Moore
    1948-49   Mrs. Stephen C. Gribble
    1947-48   Mrs. Willis H. Reals
    1946-47   Mrs. Wm. Glasgow Bowling
    1945-46   Mrs. John P. Nafe
    1944-45   Mrs. H. Rommel Hildreth
    1943-44   Mrs. William H. Stead
    1942-43   Mrs. Alexander Langsdorf
    1941-42   Mrs. Alexis F. Hartmann
    1940-41   Mrs. George W. Stephens
    1939-40   Mrs. George W. Lamke
    1938-39   Mrs. Ernest O. Sweetser
    1937-38   Mrs. Leo Loeb
    1936-37   Mrs. Ernest L. Ohle
    1935-36   Mrs. Ernest B. Conant
    1934-35   Mrs. Roland G. Usher
    1933-34   Mrs. Sherwood Moore

    History

    Organized in 1910 by a group of faculty wives from the Medical School and the Danforth Campus, the purpose of the Woman’s club was to stimulate friendship among the wives of leaders at the different schools. We offer a welcoming environment and encourage friendship and inclusiveness by creating opportunities for education, growth and stimulation for our members. We also promote service to the larger Washington University community.

    Detailed history of the club