Dawson Institute Diaries: Discovering Superpowers
Laura Wahlquist Stockdale, Gamma Zeta–Louisiana State, is from Dallas and now lives in Austin with her two children and three grandchildren. She’s been a “professional volunteer” for over 30 years, putting her communications, marketing and strategic planning skills to work for organizations including Goodwill of Dallas, Texas Historical Foundation, Delta Gamma, Dallas Alumnae Panhellenic and Parish Episcopal School. Laura attended Dawson Institute as a participant in 2024 and returned to the experience as a facilitator in 2025.
In spring 2024, an email popped into my inbox about something called the Dawson Institute. I tried to find out what the agenda was… no luck. (Classic me.) But since my calendar was clear, I hadn’t been to Columbus in a while, and the idea of spending time with DG sisters sounded great, I thought, "why not?" So, I filled out the form. And guess what? I was in!
Fast-forward a few months, and I’m walking into a room with 60 DG alumnae from across the U.S. and Canada of different ages, careers, backgrounds… but all Delta Gammas through and through.
We kicked things off with introductions and then split into small groups of ten, each with two leaders. The first activity was finding out our top five strengths.
Now, I have no idea how they got this information. It was so accurate it felt like I had undercover spies following me around. And apparently, I’m not the only one who felt that way. Here’s the thing—I already knew I had these traits. But what I didn’t know was that they were my superpowers! That simple shift in perspective was like dropping a pebble in a pond and watching the ripples spread.
As the weekend went on, sharing stories, analyzing results, laughing until my cheeks hurt, it hit me. I’ve been hiding my accomplishments behind the curtain for years. I just do the work without talking about it. But here, I was reminded: I am worthy. I am smart. I have a lot to offer. (Oh, and did I mention I’m 63? It’s never too late for a confidence boost.)
By the end of the weekend, we’d experienced it all—loud laughter, jaw-dropping moments and some full-on ugly crying. We weren’t trying to impress anyone. We were just showing up as ourselves and supporting each other.
A special shoutout to Julie Whitney Dawson, Gamma Iota–DePauw, who dreamed up this alumnae opportunity and funded it. Her vision? “…to give women the skills needed to lead confidently with dynamic, forward-thinking and inclusive ideas.” Mission accomplished!
I would recommend this experience a thousand times over. If you ever get the chance to attend the Dawson Institute, take it. You’ll leave with new friends, a deeper sense of who you are and a reminder that your strengths are worth celebrating.
Delta Gamma’s newest leadership development initiative is back for another session this year! This is an in-person personal and professional development event for Delta Gamma alumnae. Dawson Institute reimagines the future of lifetime friendship by creating meaningful cross-generational connections. This event equips attendees with the skills to champion leadership potential in themselves and others in all phases of life. Apply here by Monday, September 1.