USU Eastern continues 40 year tradition with Women’s Conference

Utah State University Eastern holds an annual conference to celebrate the women involved with their program. This year featured activities, a dinner, keynote speakers and a Woman of The Year Award presentation. 

The conference is put on by a committee of dedicated staff.  

Jessica Prettyman, the business manager for statewide scholarships, heads the committee.  

“It’s been going on for over 40 years, and I had the privilege of being the chair this year,” Prettyman said. 

At each conference, the committee hosts workshops for participants.

“We have a few activities for the attendees participating, including jewelry making, self-help courses and yoga,” Prettyman said. “Things where they came in and learned specific tasks and trades and stuff like that. Then we go into different sessions related to home and community, business, resumes and fitness. Then we came together and talked about community and how we are going to empower and impact the women in our community.”  

Susan Polster, the department head for journalism and communication, has a long history with the conference. 

“It started in the 1970s, and USU and BYU would have a women’s conference in Utah, so it’s the longest-running women’s conference in Utah,” Polster said. 

The conference was nearly canceled a few years after its beginnings, but Polster thought the annual event was worth saving. She started in the late ‘90s.  

“I thought it was important for women to have a voice,” Polster said. “It was a way for women to get together and have like-minded workshops. They could be seen.”  

Committee members strive to have something for everyone, with everything from leadership courses to cooking classes to drug rehab resources. 

“We all get something different out of it,” Polster said. “I’m hoping they just learned skills. Leadership skills, organization skills — everyone is different.”  

The conference presents a Woman of the Year award, and this year’s winner was Jan Thornton, a social work professor at USU Eastern. Thornton was recognized for work in the field and her community service.  

“Together, let’s all move forward, and let’s just keep doing this for other women in our community,” Thornton said. 

Sarah Weese was on the committee for the event. 

“We just want to empower women. Our goal is to give women on campus self-care and give them opportunities to learn and educate themselves,” Weese said. 

Weese is working towards her master’s at USU and is passionate about the work the conference does for students at the Eastern campus. 

“It’s important for all of us to enjoy a nice conference, have a variety of learning things in a way that doesn’t put our brain on fire,” Weese said. 

To Prettyman, the history behind the conference is what makes it special and important to keep the tradition alive. 

“A few years ago, we started this tradition in history for our community and the people, and that got us to where we are at. That’s why we want to continue to do the women’s conferences — because it’s been a part of who we are in our community,” Prettyman said.