Alvernia University Women's Council

The Alvernia University Women’s Council (AWC) was established in 2018 to meet the demand for women’s advocacy, development, and empowerment at Alvernia. The Council reflects the needs and aspirations of women within the Alvernia University community.

The mission of the AWC is threefold:

To foster the personal and professional development of Alvernia women at all life stages
To strengthen Alvernia women’s connection to each other and Alvernia
To educate and inspire women to pursue or grow in leadership roles.

Since its inception, the AWC has spearheaded numerous programs, including the AWC Fall Luncheon, the AWC mentorship program, on-campus student programs focused on personal and professional development, quarterly networking events and cultivation events are meant to inspire and strengthen the engagement of AWC members to each other and the University.

The AWC has an established partnership with the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance’s Women2Women program to leverage and enhance programs and opportunities available to its members in the Greater Reading community.

Membership is open to the entire Alvernia community and everyone is welcome to participate. Individuals who participate in four or more programs, events, meetings or other activities annually would be considered active members. Members may include, but not limited to, Alvernia students, alumni, faculty/staff, volunteers, community members, parents, Leadership Berks graduates. Participation in AWC can be done virtually, in person or both. You do not need to reside in Berks County or surrounding communities to participate.

In This Section

Community Engagement

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Invest In Yourself Leadership Summit

Embrace. Empower. Elevate.

Date: Friday, September 5, 2025
Time: 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
Location: Redner's Center, 1900 Centre Ave., Reading
Cost: $85 (Proceeds will support the Newcombe Scholarship)
Become a Sponsor: Learn more about sponsorship opportunities
Register for the event

Meet Our Invest In Yourself Presenters

Breakfast Keynote Speaker: Katharina Stuerzl

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Leave Your Box with Kat Coaching and Consulting, LLC

Kat is a dynamic leadership coach and founder of Leave Your Box With Kat Coaching & Consulting, LLC. A certified iPEC Life and Leadership Coach and Human Design expert, she helps individuals and organizations unlock authenticity, clarity, and growth through transformative leadership, communication, and culture development.

Originally from Germany and now based in the U.S., Kat brings a global perspective shaped by her background in academia and HR. Her strategic leadership in a multinational manufacturing company led to dramatic improvements in retention and employee development.

Clients describe her as a trusted guide who helps them step beyond limiting narratives and lead with purpose, authenticity, and confidence.

Lunch Keynote Speaker: Katie P. Desiderio, Ph.D.

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Katie P. Desiderio is a proud mom, best-selling author, and passionate advocate for human-centered leadership. A Professor of Management at Moravian University and Principal Partner at Proximal Development, LLC, she combines academic insight with practical tools to drive transformative learning and performance.

Grounded in gratitude and connection, Katie helps individuals and organizations unlock their full potential. Her work spans industries and continents, championing women leaders and inspiring growth through curiosity, collaboration, and discovery.

She holds a doctorate in Organizational Learning and Leadership and has co-authored multiple scholarly works, including two national best-selling leadership fables: The Beekeeper and The Stargazer.

Session Presenters

Navixha Bagga

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Navixha is an experienced life coach with 25 years in mindset coaching, leadership, and emotional wellness. She specializes in empowering women and teens, helping them build resilience and personal growth. Having trained in diverse settings, including the Indian Army and corporate environments, she blends mindfulness and strategic thinking to help individuals and teams thrive. A TEDx speaker, Navixha is passionate about women's leadership and emotional wellness. She lives in the Philly area with her family and enjoys contributing to community projects.

Alli Blair Snyder

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Alli is an educator, author, and proud two-time Alvernia alumna. She serves as an adjunct professor, freshman advisor, and admissions advisor in Graduate and Adult Education. Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Visionary Practice and Regenerative Leadership, her research explores the healing journeys of mothers, leaders, and healers through indigenous philosophy.

A Reiki Master, trauma-informed life coach, and Shipibo-trained medicine woman, she is a passionate advocate for women’s mental health. Her work bridges motherhood, trauma, leadership, and spiritual identity. She has presented globally, led workshops nationwide, and recently completed the Camino de Santiago as part of her research on embodied becoming.

Dena Breslin

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Dena brings over 30 years of experience in transformational coaching, leadership development, and holistic wellness. A former physician assistant, she blends science with soul to guide clients through powerful mind-body shifts and authentic personal growth.

Specializing in out-of-the-box sales strategy, emotional healing, and communication rewiring, Dena helps individuals break old patterns, step into their power, and create lasting change. Her work includes 1:1 coaching, keynotes, small business mentorship, Re-Wire Your Mind & Body workshops, and This is ME healing retreats.

Rochelle Grey

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Rochelle is a seasoned wealth strategist with deep expertise in wealth and investment management, financial and estate planning, philanthropy, and wealth transition. She has a strong track record of building lasting relationships and delivering advisory-based services to affluent, high-net-worth, and ultra-high-net-worth clients. Rochelle holds an MBA from Lehigh University and a BA in Business Management from Alvernia University.

Vali Heist

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Vali is a Certified Professional Organizer®, author, and founder of The Clutter Crew in Mohnton, PA. Since 2006, she’s been helping homeowners and small businesses declutter their spaces and their lives. She is the author of Organize This! Practical Tips, Green Ideas, and Ruminations about your CRAP—where CRAP stands for Clutter that Robs Anyone of Pleasure.

With a Master’s in Education and 24 years in higher education, Vali brings expertise in training, administration, project management, and editorial work. A former columnist for the Reading Eagle, she’s dedicated to delivering practical, lasting organizing solutions that empower her clients to live and work with clarity and intention.

Chandra Mast, CGA, BCA

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Chandra is a Certified General Appraiser in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, and a Business Certified Appraiser. She specializes in econometrics and trend analysis to value a wide range of property types and going concerns, serving diverse client needs.

Chandra serves as Secretary of the Pennsylvania State Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers and teaches for the Lancaster County Association of Realtors. With a background in real estate, data analysis, and equine studies, she holds a B.A. in Philosophy with a minor in Anthropology from Dickinson College and has completed advanced coursework through the Appraisal Institute, McKissock, and Wall Street Prep. Passionate about architectural history, Chandra also chairs Ephrata Borough’s Shade Tree Commission, where she supports urban forestry efforts and Tree City USA goals.

Rosa Julia Parra

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Rosa is a creative entrepreneur and community leader dedicated to building impactful businesses. She is the founder and publisher of Palo Magazine, a bilingual publication amplifying diverse voices for over 15 years. She also leads Palo Graphics (branding and design), Palo Homes (real estate investment), and Casa Palo (Airbnb properties in Puerto Rico). Rosa supports her husband’s work at iHeartMedia through strategic advertising partnerships.

An active community advocate, she serves on several local boards and hosts the annual Vision Board Experience, inspiring others to dream boldly and act with purpose. Rosa brings heart and hustle to every venture she touches.

Bernardine Legacy Award Luncheon

Ways to be involved

In addition to attending programs or becoming a mentor/mentee, we encourage you to become involved in one of the AWC Committees. Committees meet on average once a quarter.

Events & Engagement Committee: The Events & Engagement Committee promotes awareness of the AWC and its mission and fosters relationships among AWC members through the support of quality programming. It reaches out to and engages with AWC constituencies, whether it is other AWC members, students, alumni, or the entire Alvernia community, and actively seeks ways to engage women with the AWC. The committee invites interested women to join the AWC, fosters relationships, and identifies women that could take a leadership role within the AWC. Engagement through events can be accomplished by creating new and/or stand-alone programs or by partnering with other organizations/departments/events connected to the university or other organizations that align with the AWC’s mission. These events may be held on campus or the community at large.
Professional Advancement & Opportunities Committee: The Professional Advancement & Opportunities Committee is dedicated to promoting and facilitating mentorship, internship, and job opportunities for Alvernia University students and alumni. The committee works with the O’Pake Institute, Holleran Center and Institutional Advancement to identify and secure internships, mentors and job opportunities for students. Mentor and mentee relationships can occur between current students and AWC members, alumni and community members based on matched interests.
Awards & Recognition Committee: The Awards & Recognition Committee recognizes Alvernia alumni and students who have distinguished themselves throughout their lives. The committee seeks nominations and identifies candidates for the Bernardine Legacy Award, and makes recommendations to the Steering Committee for approval. The committee also seeks nominations and identifies candidates (alumni, faculty, professional staff and students) for the Alvernia Magazine. The committee identifies ways to thank and recognize alumni and student volunteers who support the University.
Steering Committee: The Steering Committee establishes goals and identifies priorities for the Alvernia Women’s Council. The committee reviews and evaluates the results of all committees’ activities and assesses how the activities accomplish the goals and priorities of the Council. Specifically, the Steering Committee’s goals included increasing Council and committee memberships, developing a budget and creating income streams for the Council and increasing student engagement and recruitment.

Thankful to our partners...

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Giving Back

Proceeds from AWC events support the Newcombe Scholarship Fund. This fund provides support to adult students who need financial aid to complete their education at Alvernia. Learn more about Charlotte Newcombe.