Leadership Lab Hosts Interdisciplinary Panel on the Menopause Transition

Wesleyan College’s Leadership Lab recently hosted “Level Up: The Menopause Transition,” an interdisciplinary panel that brought together faculty experts and community voices to explore menopause through scientific, medical, psychological, and cultural perspectives.

Held as part of Wesleyan’s Women’s History Month programming, the event encouraged open dialogue about a biological transition that affects millions of women but is still too often under-discussed across disciplines and communities.

Panelists emphasized that menopause is not a single experience. In fact, women may experience more than 70 different symptoms, and every individual’s journey is unique. Throughout the evening, speakers encouraged attendees to advocate for their health, have direct and informed conversations with trusted medical providers, and rely on credible, science-based resources when seeking information.

The panel featured the following speakers:

• Holly Boettger-Tong, PhD, Professor and Chair of Biology

• Ernest H. Carlton, MD, FACOG, Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

• Brooke Bennett-Day, PhD, Professor and Chair of Psychology

• Deidra Donnmoyer, PhD, Professor of Communication and Women, Gender, & Sexuality

• Alex Ward Roberts, DNP, AGACNP-BC, Associate Professor of Nursing

• Audrey Kendrick, Wesleyan College Senior

  
  

The discussion was moderated by Karen Lockwood, MSN-Ed, RNC-MNN, Assistant Professor of Nursing.

Together, the panelists explored menopause from multiple angles, examining hormonal changes, clinical care, psychological impacts, and the broader cultural narratives surrounding women’s health. The conversation reinforced the importance of education, advocacy, and community support in empowering women during this stage of life.

Events like this reflect Wesleyan’s longstanding commitment to advancing conversations that support women’s health, leadership, and well-being—values that align closely with the College’s mission and its celebration of Women’s History Month.

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