Joan Lunden – Keynote Speaker
Joan Lunden is one of America’s most recognized women. An award-winning television journalist, best-selling author, motivational speaker, entrepreneur, and mother of seven, Lunden defines “today’s working mother.” As co-host of Good Morning America for almost two decades, she reported from 26 countries, covered four presidents, five Olympics, and two royal weddings. Lunden currently is the host of Lifetime Television’s Health Corner. Her latest venture is Camp Reveille, a summer camp wellness retreat for women. Lunden’s dedication to family, philanthropic causes, and civic responsibility have earned her numerous honors and awards.
Regina Barreca, Ph.D., Opening Keynote Speaker
Regina Barreca, Ph.D. is a professor of English and feminist theory at the University of Connecticut. Her books include They Used to Call Me Snow White, but I Drifted; Perfect Husbands and Other Fairy Tales; Babes in Boyland; and I’m With Stupid, written with Gene Weingarten of The Washington Post. Gina has written or edited other books on vice, Victorians and sex, American humor, the erotics of instruction, The Sopranos, women’s humor, and Italian-American literature. She blogs about teaching, sex, humor, money, publishing, ambition, books, marriage, envy (professional and personal), politics (professional and personal), aging, and cartoons.
Kara Sundlun, Master of Ceremonies
Kara Sundlun is a two-time Emmy-award winning journalist with WFSB-Channel 3. She is the co-host of WFSB’s Better Connecticut weekdays at 10 a.m. She also co-anchors Eyewitness News at Noon. Kara joined Channel 3 in 2000 and has covered several of Connecticut’s biggest news events. She has traveled to Bosnia and Germany to report on local troops fighting the war on terrorism. Kara started her television journalism career with WPRI-TV in Providence, Rhode Island. Kara also has been named “Best Local TV News Reporter” by Hartford Magazine.
“The purpose of life, after all, is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experiences.”—Eleanor Roosevelt