Staff participate in Executive Women International Leadership Conference
Posted on October 1, 2026
Four staff members from the Whiddon College of Medicine participated in the Executive Women International (EWI) Leadership Conference and Annual Meeting Sept. 16-18 in downtown Mobile, joining professionals from across the United States and Canada for three days of professional development, networking and community engagement.
Representing the Whiddon College of Medicine were Alani Rodgers, Ed.D., associate director of the Office of Research Education and Training; Kathy Harden, secretary for the Office of Faculty Affairs and Faculty Development; Sierra Huff-Brown, assistant registrar in the Office of Student Affairs; and Marcina Lang, MPA, senior manager of COM support services in the Dean’s Office.
Marcina Lang introduces Mobile Mayor Spiro Cheriogotis
The annual conference featured keynote speakers, workshops, seminars, group discussions, philanthropic activities and EWI’s annual business meeting, with programming focused on leadership development, professional growth and community engagement.
Lang played a leadership role in the conference as chair of the Workshop Committee, helping coordinate educational programming and speaker engagement. She also introduced Mobile Mayor Spiro Cheriogotis during the conference. Lang serves as president-elect of the local EWI Mobile Chapter.
“It was a wonderful conference filled with opportunities to learn, connect, and grow alongside other executive women from around the nation,” Lang said. “It was especially rewarding to see the leadership development and community engagement come together through the conference and the support of the PASSAGE USA program.”
PASSAGE USA is an inclusive, non-degree postsecondary education program for students with intellectual disabilities. As part of the conference’s philanthropic efforts, EWI members participated in a Reading Rally drive to fulfill a wish list for Passage USA. The drive provided requested materials for the program and included a monetary donation to support its work.
Harden said the conference offered valuable opportunities for professional development while also allowing her to connect with students from PASSAGE USA, an experience she found especially meaningful.
Kathy Harden, Marcina Lang, MPA, and Alani Rodgers, Ed.D.
“I am deeply grateful to have had this experience,” Harden said. “It was a privilege to connect with so many executive women who were remarkably generous with their time, insights and support. Every session provided actionable takeaways for me to bring back to campus — from grant writing skills and active listening to public speaking. As an advocate for individuals with support needs, highlights for me were hearing Grace Key’s inspiring journey as an entrepreneur and connecting over lunch with the PASSAGE USA students.”
Rodgers said the conference provided an opportunity to gain new perspectives and practical skills that she can apply in her role at the Whiddon College of Medicine.
“Attending the EWI Conference was a wonderful opportunity to connect with professionals from across the United States and Canada and learn from their experiences and perspectives,” Rodgers said. “I especially appreciated the sessions on grant writing and public speaking, which provided practical strategies that I can apply in my professional role. I left the conference with new ideas, valuable connections, and a renewed appreciation for the importance of continued professional growth.”
