BALTIMORE — Olympic gold medalist and Hall of Fame gymnast Dominique Dawes is the featured speaker at the Women of the World (WOW) Festival Baltimore, presented by Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU), on Saturday, April 5, 2025, from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Rita Rossi Colwell Center in downtown Baltimore.
The WOW Festival Baltimore is part of a global movement to celebrate the achievements of women and girls while addressing the challenges they face. Founded by Jude Kelly in the United Kingdom in 2010, the WOW Festival has brought together over five million people through more than 100 festivals and events across six continents.
WOW Baltimore offers a day of inspiring speakers, interactive sessions, live performances, and networking opportunities representing diverse viewpoints, including leadership, mental health, creativity, and activism. It brings together thought leaders, changemakers, and community members to celebrate women’s achievements and find solutions to overcome inequities.
The line-up of acclaimed speakers and performers include:
• Dr. Gary Barker, president and CEO, Equimundo: Center for Masculinities and Social Justice
• India Gary-Martin, founder and CEO, Leadership for Execs
• Jude Kelly, founder, WOW Foundation
• Amber Wendland, AIA, AICP, associate principal, Ayers Saint Gross
• Dr. Tina Bloom, associate professor & Frances K. Pitts '96 Endowed Chair for Leadership in Women's and Children's Health, Notre Dame of Maryland University
• Nicholé Gatewood, Esq., owner and founder, Gatewood & Associates
• Lady Brion, an international spoken word artist
• Bele Bele Rhythm Collective, a global African drumming group
Local media personalities and journalists participating in the festival include Denise Koch, news anchor, WJZ CBS News Baltimore; Ashley Sterner, co-host of “On the Record,” WYPR; and Lisa Snowden, editor-in-chief, Baltimore Beat.
The featured speakers and performers, as well as a complete festival schedule, can be found online at wowbaltimore.org.
This year’s WOW Festival Baltimore marks 130 years since the founding of Notre Dame of Maryland University. In 1895, the School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSNDs) founded the College of Notre Dame of Maryland, now NDMU, as the first Catholic college for women to award the baccalaureate degree. Today, NDMU is open to students of all genders and remains true to the vision of the SSNDs, promoting the advancement of women and providing a liberal arts education in the Catholic tradition.
Tickets to the WOW Festival Baltimore are on sale online now at wowbaltimore.org: $30 for a day pass and $10 for student tickets (with a a valid ID). Festival sponsors include LifeBridge Health, Harford Mutual Insurance Group, and BrightView Senior Living.
Established in 1895, Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU) is a private, Catholic institution in Baltimore, Maryland, with the mission to educate leaders to transform the world. Notre Dame has been named one of the best "Regional Universities North" by U.S. News & World Report.
Notre Dame of Maryland University’s Board of Trustees was honored with a 2025 John W. Nason Award for Board Leadership recognizing higher education governing boards that demonstrate exceptional