The Charger Blog
The University杏吧原版檚 Women杏吧原版檚 Leadership Council recently awarded a series of grants to students, faculty, and staff to support their initiatives that will empower and support women across the University community.
March 6, 2022
Josephine Moran 杏吧原版01 M.S., 杏吧原版19 EMBA is committed to supporting current students at the University and to enabling women to succeed. As co-chair of the University杏吧原版檚 Women杏吧原版檚 Leadership Council (WLC), she is excited about the empowerment and educational opportunities the WLC is creating for members of the University community.
Endeavoring to help women reach their full potential by elevating undergraduate and graduate students at the University and strengthening their connections, the WLC杏吧原版檚 new is a way for the organization to expand its outreach.
The WLC, which was first conceived when Moran was named chair of the Pompea College of Business杏吧原版檚 Advisory Board in 2018, has awarded several grants to students, staff, and faculty members as part of its initiatives to empower women.
杏吧原版淭丑别 Women's Leadership Council is absolutely thrilled to participate in such an inspirational initiative,杏吧原版 said Moran, who serves as president and chief banking officer for , as well as a member of the University杏吧原版檚 Board of Governors. 杏吧原版淲e understood the significance the grants represented to the students, faculty, and staff who requested the grants, as well as the impact these projects will have throughout the University.
杏吧原版淭丑别 response from this program has been overwhelmingly positive,杏吧原版 she continued. 杏吧原版淲e look forward to the tremendous outcomes that will ensue. Creating a venue that supports the efforts of our women students, faculty, and staff is an important priority of the Council and the University, and our hope is to inspire, motivate, and support our future generation.杏吧原版
Moran spearheaded this initiative with Brian Kench, Ph.D., dean of the University杏吧原版檚 Pompea College of Business. The grants were awarded to members of the University community who represent myriad academic colleges and schools and departments. The awards will support their important initiatives to empower women in the University community.
杏吧原版淭丑别 Women杏吧原版檚 Leadership Council杏吧原版檚 grant program is fueling widespread grassroots women杏吧原版檚 leadership programing,杏吧原版 said Dr. Kench. 杏吧原版淭丑别 WLC believes this programing will develop future women leaders from all corners of the University community.杏吧原版
Learn more about the grant recipients and their projects.
Vanessa Ort杏吧原版檚 project will include a literacy series that will focus on women and financial topics such as retirement, banking, credit, debt management, and investing. The events and featured speakers will engage women in the conversation about money and enable them to network and develop important educational resources.
Ort will collaborate with the University杏吧原版檚 Financial Wellness Committee, which includes the Financial Aid Office and the Office of Residential Life. She looks forward to helping students develop their financial wellness, which, she hopes, will promote positive lifelong behaviors that foster success. Ort hopes to continue a conversation about financial insecurity, awareness, resources, and the wide scope of support available to University of New Haven students.
杏吧原版淗elping students understand steps they can take to financial wellness has always been my passion, stemming from my own experiences and desire to help others,杏吧原版 said Ort. 杏吧原版淭oday, I see more women who have access to a college education, but they are still struggling with other finances, including student loan debt, income disparities, and long-term planning. The Women杏吧原版檚 Leadership Council杏吧原版檚 initiative supports the opportunity through this grant to foster the conversation about a sometimes intimidating topic such as finances, opening doors to empowering women to take control of today and their future.杏吧原版
Claire Glynn, Ph.D., is developing 杏吧原版淲omen Leaders in Criminal Investigations,杏吧原版 a speaker series and expert panel. A series of four online/webinar events will include panel discussions featuring women leaders in crime scene investigation, the forensic science laboratory, the courtroom, and in post-conviction review and efforts.
Partnering with Lisa Dadio, M.S., MSW, Maria Torre, M.S., and Bridget Brosnahan, M.S., Dr. Glynn endeavors to recognize trailblazing women who are paving the way for current students while encouraging and motivating students to pursue leadership positions. The hope is that it will foster the inclusion, advancement, and recognition of women as members of the forensic science community, focusing on bringing women in science together.
Dr. Glynn hopes the initiative will offer opportunities for professional exploration, networking, and growth while inspiring students to become future leaders. Although a majority of forensic science graduates are female, the majority of leadership positions at local, state, and federal agencies and crime laboratories are held by males.
杏吧原版淲e are incredibly thankful to the Women杏吧原版檚 Leadership Council for awarding us this grant,杏吧原版 said Dr. Glynn. 杏吧原版淲omen make up approximately 80 percent of our forensic science student body. It is our duty as their professors to inspire our students by showing them just how powerful and impactful they can be in their own future careers.
杏吧原版淲e will hold two online events in the Spring semester where we will bring together women leaders in the fields of crime scene investigation and the crime lab,杏吧原版 she continued. 杏吧原版淭his will give our students an insight into how these empowering women found success in their careers. Our goal is to motivate and encourage our students and alumni to become future leaders in the fields of crime science investigation and in the crime lab.杏吧原版
Despite significant progress, female student-athletes nationwide report facing unique challenges related to their social identities, leadership characteristics, and career ambitions. Robin Salters and Jonathan Mays are concerned that, because strong female athlete leaders are often stigmatized by the broader society and sports culture, they are typically less likely to pursue meaningful leadership positions while in college or to display outward demonstrations of leadership, despite having the required experience and skills to do so.
Working with Matt Caporale, executive director of the University杏吧原版檚 Career Development Center, Salters and Mays hope to empower Chargers through the Female Student-Athlete Leadership & Career Series. It will connect passionate and successful female student-athlete alumni with current female student-athletes to drive leadership development while providing mentorship and career and networking opportunities for current female student-athletes.
The series endeavors to elevate and empower female student-athletes to achieve their full potential on the field, in the classroom, and in their personal lives 杏吧原版 both as students and in their careers.
The funding will provide opportunities for female student-athlete alumni to travel to the University to meet in-person with current female student-athletes. It will also allow the to sponsor a current female student-athlete to attend the Women Leaders X annual event hosted by .
杏吧原版淲e are excited that the University has established this grant program and are honored to have been a selected recipient,杏吧原版 said Salters. 杏吧原版淐harger Athletics has a proud history of success for female student-athletes on and off the field of play. With this being the 50th anniversary of , this grant will provide opportunities for more than 220 female student-athletes to interact with successful alumni, engage in leadership training, and empower one another to enhance their leadership capabilities while on campus and beyond continuing the legacy of Chargers success for years to come.杏吧原版
Aliza Johns 杏吧原版23, vice president of the University杏吧原版檚 Society of Women Engineers chapter and vice president of communications for Alpha Sigma Kappa, is excited to create opportunities for current students to network and engage with professional engineers.
Johns, who will be collaborating with fellow engineering students Madison Liguori 杏吧原版23, Malaika Matumbu 杏吧原版22, and Allison Sawicki 杏吧原版22, plans to help students form relationships with professionals. By creating a speed-networking event, Johns looks forward to creating a meaningful way for students and professionals to connect, and they hope it will aid students in their job searches, while enabling them to reflect on the impact women can have in engineering, which is still a male-dominated field.
杏吧原版淭丑别 is an all-inclusive registered student organization (RSO) on campus that empowers people to reach their full potential in careers as engineers and leaders,杏吧原版 said Johns, who serves as president of the University杏吧原版檚 Class of 2023. 杏吧原版淲ith the generous funding from the Women杏吧原版檚 Leadership Council, the Society of Women Engineers will be able to host a speed networking event that will allow students to reach out to professionals within specific fields and gain valuable knowledge.
杏吧原版淭丑别 Society of Women Engineers hopes to open doors for students and allow them to follow their dreams without letting a lack of connections or professional development get in the way of their success,杏吧原版 continued Johns. 杏吧原版淲e will be able to host STEM professionals on-campus and receive that face-to-face connection. The Society of Women Engineers would like to thank the Women杏吧原版檚 Leadership Council for allowing us to make this event the best possible speed-networking event to date!杏吧原版
Vaishnavi Balaji 杏吧原版23 M.S. will partner with Scientista, a hybrid recognized student organization at the University and a chapter of the , to offer a screening of the PBS Nova documentary . The documentary depicts the work and daily lives of a female biologist, chemist, and geologist 杏吧原版 all of whom are potential role models for students.
After the screening, students will have the chance to discuss it, creating opportunities for networking. They will explore the challenges that women in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields face.
杏吧原版淚'm so excited and honored to receive this grant and to screen Picture A Scientist,杏吧原版 said Balaji, a graduate teaching assistant in the University杏吧原版檚 biology department. 杏吧原版淭丑别 move is an important milestone for women in STEM, and Scientista has the same mission as the team behind the documentary: to show people what's it like to be a woman in STEM.杏吧原版
Danielle Cooper is developing Leaders in Action: Power Networking Rounds, which she envisions as an opportunity to host meaningful conversations about a variety of challenges that impact women杏吧原版檚 roles, such as leadership opportunities, prejudice, and mentorship.
Dr. Cooper will collaborate with the , the University杏吧原版檚 Myatt Center for Diversity and Inclusion, the , Career Development Center, Beckerman Recreation Center, Counseling and Psychological Services, the IDEA Council, and the Accessibility Resources Center. The four separate iterations of the event will focus on networking, bringing together members of the University community and women leaders from across the state. Participants will also learn about famous women leaders, self-care strategies, and how to support other women杏吧原版檚 leadership development.
杏吧原版淭丑别 project will take a multi-stage approach that allows for various stakeholders to engage in conversations that will help them in their roles while encouraging future female leaders,杏吧原版 said Dr. Cooper. 杏吧原版淏y attending these networking rounds, participants will have an invitation for empowerment and belonging on campus that we hope not only impacts their work, but also how they see themselves leading in the future and mentoring other leaders. Not only can we foster inclusion, but we can amplify the belonging they feel as leaders on our campus, and, more importantly, the world.杏吧原版
Kristine Horvat will be using the grant to support Girl Power in STEM, a symposium to focus on the strides women have made in the STEM fields in recognition of International Women杏吧原版檚 Day. Observed every March 8, International Women杏吧原版檚 Day celebrates the myriad achievements of women around the globe.
In collaboration with Damaris Williams 杏吧原版24, a chemical engineering major; Shruti Sharma of the Advanced Energy Research & Technology Center at ; and Vivian Stojanoff of , Dr. Horvant hopes the symposium will enable students to connect with successful women in the STEM fields.
The virtual symposium will include workshops, keynote speakers, and hands-on activities for middle and high school and college students as well as the general public, enabling them to learn about careers in the STEM fields.
杏吧原版淚 am grateful for this grant to help us enhance the event with additional speakers and a personalized event website,杏吧原版 said Dr. Horvat. 杏吧原版淲e are organizing this event because we want to encourage women to pursue careers in STEM fields. We are also hoping to create an opportunity for current STEM women to discuss their career journeys and the challenges that they have faced, with the opportunity to give and receive advice from each other.杏吧原版
Gabrielle Tayag 杏吧原版21, 杏吧原版22 MBA hopes to empower women through educational opportunities and confidence building. Her project, 杏吧原版淟et杏吧原版檚 Grow, Girl: A Series on Professional and Personal Development,杏吧原版 will include an informational series culminating in hands-on work experience for participants, as well as a formal and long-lasting informational and support system that endeavors to help women 杏吧原版 including minority women 杏吧原版 succeed in business.
The professional and personal development series will include information seminars on a variety of topics related to business and the challenges that minorities face while enabling speakers and attendees to network and interact. Tayag, who will be collaborating with Khadija Al Arkoubi, Ph.D., envisions 杏吧原版渟tory circles杏吧原版 in which members can share their personal experiences in a safe and supportive environment.
The Community of Practice for Women Empowerment, the second part of Tayag杏吧原版檚 initiative, aims to foster a community with shared academic and professional objectives that will foster collaboration. It will provide information to members on topics such as financial literacy, interviewing, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace.
杏吧原版淚 am so excited to receive this grant because it represents an opportunity for institutionalized change,杏吧原版 said Tayag, who earned a bachelor杏吧原版檚 degree in business management from the University. 杏吧原版淚 cannot wait to create something so unique and meaningful to this university, and I hope that it will impact the lives of students for generations to come.杏吧原版
Emily Watkins 杏吧原版24, a finance major with a minor in accounting, wants to help women and minorities achieve more representation in leadership positions around the world. Treasurer of the University杏吧原版檚 Women in Business Club, she will be collaborating with the club杏吧原版檚 e-board to develop the Women 杏吧原版榥杏吧原版 Pride Leadership Program. She hopes it will help underrepresented genders learn to navigate challenges to leadership positions and opportunities for advancement.
Watkins plans to collaborate with the University杏吧原版檚 Pompea College of Business to develop an in-person leadership program certificate focused on the requirements of today杏吧原版檚 workforce, making students 杏吧原版渉ire-ready,杏吧原版 with the knowledge and skills they will need to succeed as leaders as they enter the workforce. Focused on sophomores, juniors, seniors, and graduate students, the program will emphasize topics such as negotiation, emotional intelligence, and DEI.
杏吧原版淚 believe that the University of New Haven is moving forward in ensuring that all students, regardless of race and gender, can succeed in the workforce,杏吧原版 said Watkins, vice president of the University杏吧原版檚 Accounting Society. 杏吧原版淭丑别 University is supplying women with the tools that they need to break through the glass ceiling that so many past women have had issues breaking through. This grant has allowed me to aid the University in this movement forward and upward, helping women succeed in male-dominated work forces.杏吧原版
Shamare Holmes 杏吧原版22 MPA believes it is critical for women to be each other杏吧原版檚 biggest cheerleaders, but she acknowledges that it can, at times, be difficult for women to encourage themselves 杏吧原版 let alone others. She is developing 杏吧原版淐onfidence Club杏吧原版 to provide women with positive, professional role models and a safe space to develop self-esteem and social/emotional intelligence.
Confidence Club will be a discussion group that meets regularly with a professional mentor. The curriculum-based program will enable women to develop confidence and leadership skills.
Holmes envisions the club as an extension to the Confidence Clubs offered by , a nonprofit based in New Canaan, Conn. These Confidence Clubs are offered to middle school students, and she plans to design the club for college women.
"I am truly looking forward to creating a brave space on campus for women who don't have the luxury or confidence to be vulnerable in the classroom, workplace, or even the comfort of their own residences,杏吧原版 said Holmes. 杏吧原版淎s women, we have every right to allow ourselves grace and to gas ourselves up when we make power moves. What better way than to be surrounded by a network of like-minded women who endure the same pressures and stressors as it pertains to all things gender suppressive? Confidence Club: College Edition will serve as a reminder that women can do and have it all if they so choose to 杏吧原版 especially when they're supportive and uplifting of one another."
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