ITHACA, N.Y. -- Women students will have a unique opportunity to network with some of Cornell's most distinguished alumnae during a three-day conference on campus sponsored by the President's Council of Cornell Women (PCCW) April 26-28.

The conference will include a mini town meeting to explore the climate for women on campus and in the workplace and a luncheon for students and PCCW members.

Joan G. Wexler '68, dean of the Brooklyn Law School, will moderate the mini town meeting, which will include student panelists and audience members, on Friday, April 26, from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Statler Amphitheater.

PCCW extended an open invitation to women students to register to attend the networking luncheon to be held in the Statler Hotel's Terrace Restaurant from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, April 27. The purpose of the luncheon is to provide students the opportunity to meet and learn from successful women in their chosen career fields.

"Working with members of PCCW is inspiring," said Karin Klapper '96, student-elected trustee. "Each member is a unique, exciting individual who is a success story in her own right. Just listening to their stories and finding out about their lives says to me, as a college undergrad, 'You, too, can achieve anything you set your sights on.' I encourage women students to attend the conference forum and networking luncheon."

"PCCW members are very committed to playing an active role on campus, especially in working with students," said Deborah Kates Smith M.A. '71, the group's chair. "We feel it is vitally important to share the expertise of this group of dynamic Cornell alumnae with students by serving as professional contacts and mentors."

Also included in the conference are a reception with women faculty members; dinner with a presentation by Phyllis Moen, director of the Bronfenbrenner Life Course Center in the College of Human Ecology; situational performances on issues of social climate by the Cornell Interactive Theater Ensemble; reception and dinner with President and Mrs. Hunter Rawlings and a presentation on the Women's Studies Program.

PCCW was established in 1990 as an advisory council to the university's president, with the mission of advancing the involvement and leadership of women students, faculty, staff and alumnae both on campus and in constituent groups. There are approximately 275 members, invited by the president to serve three-year renewable terms. All current women trustees serve as ex-officio members.

Within the past few years, the group has: " Funded a total of 61 research studies and projects by women faculty and graduate students;

" Made possible the publication and distribution earlier this semester of the first student-written Cornell Women's Handbook;

" Sponsored the first Women in Leadership at Cornell conference in December 1994;

" Advised Cornell's president on issues of importance to women;

" Undertaken numerous projects to expand the role of women at the university and provide greater involvement for alumni.

In a targeted effort to provide even more service to the campus community, PCCW has begun an outreach program that will include distributing directories of members interested in making presentations to classes or being mentors to students.

"We have a wealth of talented women in the group," said Leigh Warner AB '76, MBA '78. "A number of our members are highly distinguished in public service, while others head very successful enterprises and not-for-profits. Among our accomplished members are the U.S. attorney general and the president of the country's largest university system. Two of our most well-known members who appeared on campus recently are Sheryl WuDunn, who won the Pulitzer Prize in journalism last year, and Mae Jemison, the former astronaut. We will continue to explore ways for the campus community to tap into this rich resource."

For more information about the conference or PCCW, contact Martha Eller in the PCCW office at 255-6624.