2025 Young Alumna of the Year

During her time at DSHA, Betsy Stone, DSHA ’10, remembers “laughing so hard that your stomach hurts.” She continued, “I have the most positive memories of the environment, and you’d be hard pressed to find a place as nurturing and supportive anywhere else.”

Stone was involved in Campus Ministry, Model UN, soccer, and several other activities. Some of her favorite memories were planning student retreats and Masses. “The faith-formation programming at DSHA instills in you a sense of individualized faith, she shared. DSHA “allowed me to come into my faith on my own as opposed to being taught the rules or going through the actions. I asked questions and grew a relationship with God in a way I hadn’t before, and that has stayed with me.”

In the classroom, she was drawn to English and history courses, and knew debate and presenting through Model UN gave her energy. “I felt exhilarated after competing for Model UN, like I’d just won a soccer game.” She knew she was assertive, had a valuable voice, and a sense of social responsibility to others. She knew she wanted to be a lawyer.

Stone received her undergraduate magna cum laude with a double major in English and pre-law studies, as well as minors in women and gender studies and ethics from Marquette University. She then headed to UW-Madison, where she received her JD, summa cum laude.

“I did not appreciate the impact DSHA’s all-girls environment had on me until I graduated,” she explained. “In hindsight, high school is a vulnerable, formative, and an exploratory time. I’m so grateful I underwent that transformation among women and in an environment that was so committed to female empowerment.” She continued, “It instilled such a confidence in me.”

Often the only woman in the room, Stone feels that DSHA prepared her. “I know I’ve earned a seat at the table, in these rooms, and have a voice that is deserving and additive.”

Stone has been serving as a litigation attorney since 2018 at Foley & Lardner LLP, one of the 50 largest law firms in the country, representing the likes of Fortune 500 companies. She specializes in representing manufacturing companies in environmental and supply relationship disputes. In 2025, she was promoted to senior counsel; in 2023, she received the “Rising Young Lawyer” award by the Wisconsin Law Journal; and in 2022, she was awarded by the Women’s Fund of Greater Milwaukee as a female leader in her community.

At Foley, she co-chaired the local women’s affinity group and now represents her office on the committee advocating to firm executives. She serves on the Board of Directors for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin Bar Association and has been recognized by the court for her commitment to providing free legal services to vulnerable populations.

Throughout her career, Stone has stayed deeply connected to DSHA and its students. She has participated in Carla Olle, HA ’60, Career Day, spoken to the Character Driven Leadership class, and more.

“I feel so energized by DSHA students. Each Career Day, I’m impressed by the difficult questions they ask, the insights they show, and the depth of
their maturity,” she stated. “I love being a hype woman for them and reminding them of their potential and worth.”

In her spare time, she likes to spend every second with her husband and their two toddlers. Oftentimes, you’ll find her enjoying the outdoors with them by swimming, gardening, or playing soccer.