Alumnae Weekend Speaker Bios

Whitney A. White ’08

Whitney A. White '08 is an innovation leader, entrepreneur, and executive coach who helps high-performing leaders design lives and careers that reflect what matters most to them.

She is CEO of Afara Global, an innovation firm partnering with organizations to launch and scale new ideas, and Co-Founder and CEO of Equity Commons, a virtual reality company focused on strengthening leadership, empathy, and human-centered performance. Whitney is also the Founder of Take Back Your Time, where she works with senior leaders and ambitious professionals seeking greater clarity, alignment, and sustainable impact.

Whitney’s career spans management consulting at Bain & Company, senior operating roles in e-commerce and technology, and the founding of multiple ventures. Across her work, she is known for combining strategic clarity with a deeply human, values-driven approach.

Whitney founded the Davidson Tech Impact Fund and currently serves on the Davidson College Board of Trustees. She is honored to engage with fellow alumnae in reflection, connection, and possibility.

Mary Laura Philpott ’96

Mary Laura Philpott, a 1996 Davidson College alum, is the author of the memoir “Bomb Shelter: Love, Time, and Other Explosives” (2022), which was called a “masterwork” by The New York Times and a “beautifully wrought ode to life” by the Washington Post. “Bomb Shelter” was awarded the Southern Book Prize, chosen by Cheryl Strayed’s “Wild Reads” Book Club, and named an Editor’s Choice by The New York Times Book Review and one of the Best Books of the Year by NPR. It was also an Indie Next pick by booksellers nationwide, an Amazon Editor’s Choice selection, and a notable or most anticipated book according to publications ranging from PEOPLE magazine to the Washington Post to the Read with Jenna community on TODAY.com, among others. Mary Laura is also the author of the national bestseller “I Miss You When I Blink” — named one of NPR’s Favorite Books of 2019 and a finalist for the Southern Book Prize. Additionally, Mary Laura is a former bookseller and was an Emmy-winning co-host of A Word on Words, the literary interview program on Nashville Public Television. During her time at Davidson, she was an English major and member of Rusk Eating House. Today, she lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with her family.

Dr. Catherine Bagwell

Dr. Catherine Bagwell is the Virginia Lasater Irvin Professor of Psychology at Davidson College. Catherine received her B.S. in psychology from the University of Richmond and her M.A. and Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Duke University. She has spent her teaching and scholarly career at four undergraduate liberal arts schools, first at her alma mater, the University of Richmond, and then at Colgate University, Oxford College of Emory University, and now Davidson. Catherine’s research focuses on the significance of friendships for adjustment and well-being, and she teaches courses on adolescent development, child psychopathology, and interpersonal relationships.

Donna Peters ’89

Donna Peters is an award-winning executive coach and founder of The Me-Suite. Her leadership podcast ranks Top 1.5% of all podcast downloads globally. Donna's book, Options Are Power: Career Strategies for High Performers Who Want a Life, is a 4-time medal-winner. Donna recently served as the Innovator in Residence at The Hurt Hub in Davidson and Chairs the Davidson Arts and Creative Engagement Board. Prior to coaching, Donna was a senior partner at Accenture Management Consulting. Now residing in Colorado, she has lived and worked in the US, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, and the UK. Her core values are Curiosity, Freedom, Respect, Vitality and Gratitude. Donna ’89 asked Jonathan Darsey ’90 out on a date in the foyer of Cunningham in 1986 after theatre auditions. They just celebrated wedding anniversary #30!

Marya Howell ’91 P’25

Marya Howell (she/her) is a senior major gifts officer specializing in women’s philanthropy. An alumna of Davidson (B.A. English, ’91), she has devoted her career to higher education leadership, including 10 years as the college’s director of alumni and family engagement. Marya holds an M.A. in Higher Education from Stanford University, where she led the Women’s Center. Her professional journey includes 10 years directing Loyola University Maryland’s civic engagement initiatives, along with earlier experience in international service in Ecuador, secondary education, and residential life at Colgate and American Universities. Marya is also the proud parent of a recent Davidson graduate, Carter, a physics major in the Class of 2025.

Karin Douglas ’88 

Karin has experienced the social sector from several vantage points: health advocacy work with state policymakers, fundraising in higher education and global NGOs, board leadership, chief advisor for an NFL-owner’s community empowerment project, and decades of executive coaching and consulting in strategic planning, fundraising and board development. The thread woven throughout her career is a pursuit of inclusion and authentic engagement of community members. Her core belief is that when we seek diverse representation – economic, social, educational, cultural – we are rewarded with a symphony of voices, vision, gift, skills, and talents that can create sustainable models for social change.

Beth McCaw ’92 

Beth McCaw ’92 is a former estate planning attorney who transitioned into full-time philanthropy, most recently serving as President & CEO of the Washington Women’s Foundation. An expert in nonprofit governance, Beth has served as an adjunct law professor at Seattle University and chaired numerous boards, including YWCA USA. She currently serves on the Cabinet for the Dean of the Harvard SEAS and as an independent director for The Seattle Times. At Davidson, Beth serves on the Board of Trustees, co-chaired the Women ACT task force and served on the Board of Visitors. Beth holds a JD from the University of Georgia and a Masters in Not-for-Profit Leadership from Seattle University.

Patricia Massey Hoke

Patricia Massey Hoke is a dynamic, collaborative leader grounded in authenticity and courage whose background spans nonprofit executive leadership, fundraising and institutional advancement, and strategy consulting. She currently works as an independent consultant, partnering with nonprofit leaders — especially Executive Directors — who want a trusted thought partner to help them navigate complexity, strengthen their leadership, and clarify their purpose. She is especially interested in the intersection of the strategic and human elements of leadership and has a passion for nurturing the inner spirit of change leaders. Patricia was the first Executive Director of Women’s Impact Fund, a giving circle in Charlotte, NC that strengthens women’s leadership in philanthropy. Prior to joining Women’s Impact Fund in 2019, Patricia was the director of corporate and foundation relations at Davidson College. Previously, she worked as a Manager with Deloitte Consulting supporting business model transformation efforts. Patrticia holds a B.A. in Anthropology from Davidson College and an MBA from The College of William & Mary. Patricia and her husband, John, have three young boys.