Chapter Updates: NYC Metro Area

AcademyWomen is excited to report the success of our inaugural launch of the NYC Metro Chapter of AcademyWomen held in April in Mid-town Manhattan sponsored by Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management Americas! Over twenty local alumni, including cadets and officers who traveled from the Merchant Marine Academy and West Point, filled our venue to capacity. We were excited to have women alumna attend such as Karyn Geringer (USNA, 1994), Katie Lunsford (USMA, 1985) and more recent New York City area arrivals, such as Brandis Kemp (USNA, 2005).

The highlight of the evening was our keynote discussion and question-and-answer period led by K.T. McFarland, a prominent New York activist, mother of five, and veteran of the Reagan Administration. K.T.'s daughter, Fiona, is currently attending the Naval Academy in the class of 2008.

K.T. spoke about her experiences as a senior woman in the Defense Department and, in particular, being inspired when she spoke to a graduating class of Marines while serving as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense. K.T. fielded questions about serving in government, mentoring in a male-dominated organization, running for political office, understanding the international political environment and achieving work-life balance in deciding how to take time to stay home with her children. The group’s questions, and K.T.'s answers, reflected the smart, dynamic and wide-ranging interests of our attendees and our amazing speaker.

The evening was inspiring! We are looking forward to continuing academy women’s professional development and community building with another gathering in the late summer/early fall of 2007.

If you are interested in information regarding the New York City Metro Chapter of AcademyWomen, or if you’re interested in planning future events, please contact me at kate.kohler@morganstanley.com.

Kate Ward Kohler, a 1996 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, was an Army Military Police Officer, an aide-de-camp and company commander during active duty. She is now an investment representative with Morgan Stanley’s Private Wealth Management Group. She develops customized asset management solutions for wealthy families and institutions, specializing in investment strategy, asset allocation and estate planning. Kate holds a Master of Public Administration from Harvard’s JFK School of Government and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Kate is the Chairperson for AcademyWomen’s NYC Metro Area Chapter.