Nakedness, female sex workers and body image were a few of the topics discussed at the Women’s Wellness Conference.
The event was held from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.  on April 18 in the Markee Pioneer Student Center.
The idea for the conference came from Audera Cox, junior criminal justice major, who, according to the program brochure, wanted to create a space where men and women could engage in healthy dialogue with one another and learn from interactive sessions, documentaries, and conversations.
“I feel like a lot of times women don’t necessarily support one another as they should. I don’t want to be the straw that breaks another woman’s back,” Cox said.
Cox also serves as the student senate director of diversity and inclusivity on campus. In order to make the conference possible and free for University of Wisconsin-Platteville students, she reached out to many campus and community organizations to sponsor the event.
The conference attracted a diverse audience, including male and female students from UW-Platteville and other campuses, faculty and staff members.
Some students saw the conference as a way to get involved on campus.
“I just felt like I need to get going somewhere in my life and get more empowered about myself,” Alex Waller, freshman graphic design major, said.
For sophomore computer science major Dexter Bland, the conference was an opportunity.
“My friends really encouraged me to come here, and I am really open to learning about new and different perspectives,” Bland said.
He attended sessions such as “Get Naked! Feel Good in the Skin You’re In,” led by keynote speaker Susan Leahy and “Sex for Pleasure or Sex for a Relationship?” led by Kristin Anderson-Bricker, associate professor of history at Loras College in Dubuque.
Cox and fellow committee members Raven Weems, Tiffani Jones, Dakota Methvin and Mallory Jasicki began planning for the event a year ago, booking the rooms in the Markee Pioneer Student Center in May 2014. Cox said that she was overwhelmed by the support she received for the conference.
“I was astounded by the content and the submissions that we received,” Cox said. “It was really hard to tell people we can’t accept you because we have too many submissions.”
Leahy spoke throughout the day on topics including how to be a balanced leader, creating healthy relationships, and developing a healthy body image.
Leahy was a first generation college graduate and went on to earn a master’s degree. According to the conference brochure, she has been a motivational speaker for over 15 years, and currently resides in California.
During her keynote speech, she spoke about letting go of behaviors that focus on the past, and instead rallied in favor of focusing on the present and the future. Her speaking style was highly interactive, drawing audience participation by asking them to shout words or share thoughts.

During her keynote speech, she spoke about letting go of behaviors that focus on the past and instead rallied in favor of focusing on the present and the future. Her speaking style was highly interactive, drawing audience participation by asking them to shout words or share thoughts.
Leahy emphasized that leadership does not necessarily mean having a title. She asked Cox what title she had when she came up with the idea for the conference, to which Cox replied, “I didn’t have a title.”
Some of the speakers who were selected to speak at the conference came from the UW-Platteville campus.
UW-Platteville Counseling Services Counselor Teresa Miller led a conversation about the portrayal of sexuality in the popular book and movie Fifty Shades of Grey. Her session included a conversation on how women can define their own sexuality.
“I think it is important for this conference to be on campus as a chance for women to get together, talk about what’s important in their lives, how they take care of themselves, their relationships and emotional wellness,” Miller said.
Sandie Brick-Margelofsky, director of the Patricia A. Doyle Center for Gender and Sexuality, co-hosted a session on turning passion into reality. Along with photographer and writer Anne Stack Connor, she discussed setting goals and ignoring negativity.
Further sessions included discussions on birth control, sexual assault, historical and contemporary perspectives on African American women’s health and more. The event was a cooperation between students, area organizations, sponsors and speakers.
Cox said she is pleased with how the conference turned out and is looking forward to next year.
“I would love to do the Women’s Wellness Conference again,” Cox said. “I don’t want it to be just about women and that we alienate men. In the future I would love for more men to be more involved and be allies for women, and speak up against things that may happen on campus. I want it to be inclusive.”