Women and Leadership Conference

March 12, 2022

Welcome to the sixth-annual Women and Leadership conference!

Join us for the sixth-annual Women and Leadership conference. In past years we have discussed common challenges and opportunities that women face in the workplace throughout their careers. This year’s conference will explore the distinctive and shared experiences of women in different sectors — health care, technology, nonprofit leadership and art — to give you a new perspective on your career trajectory and tips to succeed in any industry.

Jump to: Register Now | View Speakers | Meet the Moderator | View the Agenda

Bringing the community together to inspire the next generation of women leaders

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Keynote Speakers:

This year's speakers bring experience from the private sector, the non-profit world and higher education.

Janet Houser, PH.D.

Professor of Data Science, Regis University

Janet Houser, Ph.D., has more than 40 years’ experience working in health care and preparing health care professionals for careers. She joined Regis in 2000 as a Health Services Administration faculty member, sharing lessons learned as an administrator with Mercy Health System. Houser served as an associate dean, dean and vice provost at Regis before taking on the role of Provost from 2016 through 2021.

Houser has served on multiple nonprofit boards, including as Chairman of the Board for the Colorado Health Foundation and as Chairman of the Commission for Jesuit Worldwide Learning.

She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing, a master’s in Health Administration, and a Ph.D. in Applied Statistics.

Robin Hextrum, MFA

Assistant Professor of Visual Art, Regis University

Robin Hextrum, MFA, is a Denver-based contemporary oil painter. Her paintings represent a fusion of her traditional art training with her knowledge of art history and art theory.

Hextrum has gallery representation at Abend Gallery in Denver and has exhibited paintings across the country. She has received grants from The Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation and The Stobart Foundation.

Hextrum majored in both Fine Art and Neuroscience at University of Southern California. She earned a Master of Fine Arts in painting from Laguna College of Art and Design and a second master’s degree in Modern and Contemporary Art History at University of California Riverside.

Maria Fabula

President and CEO of the Community Resource Center

Maria Fabula, president and CEO of the Community Resource Center, has over two decades of experience leading in the social sector and building more transparent, community-driven and collaborative organizations. She has held leadership positions at the Nonprofit Support Center, the Junior Statesmen Foundation and the California State Senate.

In 2014, Fabula was appointed to the Governor’s Commission on Community Service. She served as the Commission Chair from 2018 to 2020. Impact Finance Center and Denver Business Journal named Fabula a “Who’s Who in Impact Investing” in 2017 and 2018.

Maria earned a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California at San Diego.

Shari Plantz-Masters, Ph.D.

Academic Dean of Anderson College of Business and Computing, Regis University

Shari Plantz-Masters, Ph.D., is an experienced innovator and educator. At U.S. West, she directed research and development teams and marketing teams, eventually becoming Vice President. Before joining the Regis faculty, Plantz-Masters ran a consultancy which provided project management leadership for software development organizations. She has served as an academic dean at Regis since 2015.

Plantz-Masters also spearheaded creation of the Center for the Common Good Network, which brings together industry, government, and academia to focus on closing the talent gap in industry and on applying tech for the betterment of society.

Plantz-Masters holds a bachelor’s in Economics and Political Science, a Master of Science in Telecommunications, both from University of Colorado, and earned a Ph.D. in Educational Technology at University of Northern Colorado.

Moderator and Organizer

Maria A. Quijada, Ph.D.

Professor of Management and Leadership, Regis University

Maria Alejandra Quijada, Ph.D., is an associate professor of management and leadership at Regis University. She teaches classes in management, leadership, diversity and women in business. She completed her Ph.D. in management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Her areas of expertise include organizational change, culture, issues for women in business and the scholarship of teaching and learning. Quijada holds a master’s of science in Engineering Economic Systems and Operations Research from Stanford University. Her work experience includes the telecommunication, lottery and consumer product industries.

Questions about the Women and Leadership Conference? Feel free to reach out to mquijada@regis.edu

Agenda for the Conference:

8:30 a.m. Breakfast

9:00 a.m. Welcome Message
Maria A. Quijada, Ph.D.

9:05 a.m. Women in Healthcare
Janet Houser Ph.D.

10:05 a.m. Women in Art
Robin Hextrum, MFA

10:50 a.m. Break

11:05 a.m. Women in Non-profit
Carolyn Love, Ph.D.

11:50 a.m. Lunch

1:00 p.m. Women in Tech
Shari Plantz-Masters, Ph.D.

2:15 p.m. End

Please register for events you plan to attend ahead of time. Registering allows us to plan appropriately for food, beverages and seating. Your registration also helps us comply with the latest COVID-19 safety guidelines.