Every year, the University Women's Club chooses a theme for its luncheon programming and invites a variety of speakers with expertise on that theme to share their research or professional work with UWC members.
In the coming year, we will explore the Kansas Perspective on forces, large and small, that now shape or influence life in the state.
October 8, 2026 Kansas Governor Laura Kelly, “A Kansas Retrospective.”
Kansas governor Laura Kelly has served two terms as the 48th Governor of the State of Kansas. During her first term, her bipartisan leadership facilitated the comprehensive improvement of infrastructure and set records for business investment and job creation. Governor Kelly’s North Star for her second term was to establish Kansas as the premier destination of families, leading to her prioritization of fiscal responsibility, affordable housing and healthcare, early childhood and economic development, and access to high-speed internet, as well as the implementation of a long-term, sustainable water plan during her tenure. Governor Kelly will address her challenges, accomplishments, and unique experiences in office during her presentation to the University Women’s Club.
November 5, 2026 Dr. Lacey Wade, “The Kansas Accent: Myth vs Reality.”
Dr. Lacey Wade, Assistant Professor of Linguistics at the University of Kansas and Director of the KU Sociolinguistics Lab, leads the SPEAK project (Sociolinguistic Perspective on English Across Kansas). The project investigates the linguistic practices and perceptions of Kansans regarding their state’s unique accent. Dr. Wade will present findings from language experiments and interviews conducted with Kansans from various regions, shedding light on both the actual characteristics and prevailing myths surrounding Kansas English. The project compares the linguistic features identified by linguists in Kansas English with the beliefs held by Kansans and non-Kansans alike, regarding the local accent. It prompts a compelling inquiry: if Kansas accents are not grounded in speech itself, what are their origins?
December 10, 2026 Dr. Gabe Lewis-O'Connor, “Kansas University Choral Ensemble.”
Dr. Gabe Lewis-O’Connor serves as the Artistic Director of the Lawrence Children’s Choir and Associate Director of Choral Studies at the University of Kansas School of Music. He holds a degree in vocal performance from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, and advanced degrees in choral conducting from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music. Similar to the students in the KU choral groups he leads, Dr. Lewis-O’Connor derives immense pleasure from creating and performing choral music. In December, he will conduct a select KU student ensemble in presenting a genuine, aesthetically pleasing, and entertaining holiday program to the University Women’s Club.
February 4, 2027 Anne Patterson, “An Artist's Perspective.”
Anne Patterson, born in England and educated in Scotland, is an award-winning Lecturer in Beginning Design at the University of Kansas School of Architecture. Her teaching philosophy centers on fostering creativity and expanding students’ minds. Ms. Patterson’s many interests encompass architecture, drawing, landscapes, paper sculpture, watercolors, and bespoke tailoring, to name only a few. Her creative pursuits are deeply intertwined with her teaching mission, yet architectural drawing remains her primary focus due to its inherent demand for observation. The subjects of her drawing predominantly feature local buildings, reflecting her keen interest in hybrid images that juxtapose multiple perspectives. Ms. Patterson will discuss her inspiration, approaches, and body of work.
March 11, 2027 Charles Olcese, “The World Comes to Lawrence.”
Charles “Chuck” Olcese retired in 2020 as Director of KU International Support Services after a career of over 35 years in higher and international education. In 2016, he helped found the Lawrence Interfaith Refugee and Immigrant Ministry (LIRIM), which serves as an advocacy and information network regarding immigration issues in Lawrence. In 2023, a group from LIRIM founded a non-profit, Assistance for Immigrants and Refugees (AIR), to become private sponsors for refugees coming to Lawrence. AIR sponsored two families from Afghanistan and one from Venezuela before the refugee program was paused. Together with his wife, Camille, Chuck has also lived and taught in China. In his presentation, he will focus on the varied experiences of recent immigrants and refugees.
April 8, 2027 Annual Business Meeting and Scholarship Awards
A concluding program highlight of each year for UWC members are the speakers for the April program. KU student applicants for the University Women’s Club scholarships who are selected by the UWC Scholarship Committee as the 2027-28 awardees will have their KU tuition covered for the two semesters of the coming year. The scholarship award winners will offer a short presentation of their career aspirations, their college preparations for that career, and acknowledgement of their leadership and experiences in academic research and/or internships
Program Committee Chair and Chair-elect: Susan Bradley and Barbara Braa