The cohort engages women in faculty and administrative positions, with three cohorts and nearly 75 participants since launching in the 2022-2023 academic year. Cohort 4 will begin meeting in January 2025 and will complete five experiential learning sessions by May. This newest cohort includes:

• Cathy Bottari
• Colleen Burton
• Rachel DuBois
• Lynn Farquhar
• Maria Ferrara
• Aileen Gallagher
• Tamara Hamilton
• Stephanie Jensen-Moulton
• Hua Jiang
• Veronica Jones
• Elizabeth Kubala
• Liz Lance
• Lisa Liparulo
• Yanhong Liu
• Ashley Lopez
• Jody Nyboer
• Andrea Persin
• Paula Possenti-Perez
• Farzana Rahman
• Kamala Ramadoss
• Anne Rauh
• Shannon Schantz
• Brianna Shults
• Yvonne Smith
• Emily Stewart
• Brooke Wears
• Melissa Young
• Michaline Younis

Cohort participants join capacity building sessions to practice and perfect essential leadership skills such as active listening, navigating change and how to inspire and influence others. Participants also gain institutional insights through presentations that afford a more comprehensive understanding of University operations and how to effectively manage cross-functional and inner disciplinary tasks.

One of the most important legacies of WiL and the cohorts, says co-founder Candace Campbell Jackson, lies in creating a true leadership community.

“Higher education demands and depends upon a team of collaborative leaders who can thoughtfully and authentically make decisions for the greater good,” says Campbell Jackson, senior vice president and chief of staff to Chancellor Kent Syverud. “This can happen when individual leaders know and respect how to engender mutual trust and show up, not just for themselves, but also for others. It’s incredibly rewarding to bring together women eager to cultivate those skillsets to make a difference for themselves while also lifting up their colleagues and collaborators.”

Co-founder Dara Royer, senior vice president and chief marketing officer, notes that WiL’s programs, such as Inspire speaking events and networking opportunities, are critical to the overall mission of the University.

“Syracuse wants to be known as a pacesetter in developing the talents and traits of tomorrow’s leaders,” says Royer. “WiL demonstrates the University’s significant commitment to fostering continued growth among women ready to influence all facets of higher education management.”

Steering Committee member Elisa Dekaney, who is associate provost for strategic initiatives, emphasizes that WiL represents an excellent opportunity for academic and administrative women to better understand their differing roles and work together.

“We’re bridging the divide that often exists between those who seek to lead in teaching and research and those who desire to head up the operational aspects of the University,” says Dekaney. “Further, it’s not just about career advancement. We want our graduates to be successful in their professional, personal and volunteer lives. Whatever their ‘next,’ we hope to be a catalyst that propelled women to grow and thrive.”

For more information, visit the  or email womeninleadership@syr.edu. All community members can participate in WiL programming.

The deadline to apply is Monday, Oct. 21, and selected participants will be notified by Thursday, Nov. 14. Those interested are encouraged to apply by either securing a nomination from a colleague or by submitting a self-nomination. Individuals who may have applied for one of the first three cohorts are encouraged to reapply. Applications can be .

The cohort experience offers a personalized, intensive professional development opportunity that will:

1. Provide enhanced knowledge of effective academic leadership, University governance and the overall educational enterprise.
2. Expand upon and improve key skills needed for professional leadership in areas of active listening, emotional intelligence, executive presence and personal branding.
3. Foster self-discovery in work/life exploration and identity while enhancing personal and professional leadership strengths.
4. Build an extended network of referrals and contacts of women leaders forming positive collaborations to strengthen the University.
5. Help participants find a next step or places to serve—on or off campus.

This latest cohort experience, the Diane Lyden Murphy Women in Leadership Program, recognizes former Dean Murphy as a pioneer of academic achievements and outstanding advocacy for women on campus. The 25-person cohort will include emerging faculty and staff leaders. Sessions will combine group experiential learning or hands-on assignments, executive and peer coaching, personal skill development, self-assessments that promote greater emotional intelligence, and networking for professional and personal growth.

Seventy-two Syracuse University women have participated in the first three cohorts and more than 1,000 community members have attended a WiL event. Past cohort participants have credited the initiative for helping them build professional capacity, growing their confidence and cultivating a community of supportive women.

Selection criteria will include such factors as a commitment to complete the cohort experience and advance personally and professionally, job and responsibility focus, years of experience, expertise, and interest and desire for self-development. Applicants should have at least seven years of professional experience and have served for at least three years in a leadership role (this could be through research, teaching or service for faculty or through a supervisory or committee leadership role for staff). For those wondering whether this program is a good fit, staff members may contact or and faculty members may contact .

With questions about the nomination form itself, contact Souher Cosselman, director for strategic initiatives, at sscossel@syr.edu. To learn more about the Women in Leadership Initiative, visit the  or email womeninleadership@syr.edu.

From left to right, Chinny Nwagbo, Felisha Legette-Jack and Vera Jones, panelists for the “Breaking Barriers and Empowering Women in Sport” discussion Sept. 13 at Falk College.

When Tatiana Warren ’04, G’06, was a student-athlete at Syracuse University, she received support from all corners of campus: her track and field coaches; faculty and staff in the Department of Exercise Science; and her advisors in the Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Program, which prepares high-achieving undergraduate students for success in graduate/doctoral studies.

Knowing first-hand the benefits of mentorship and allyship in breaking barriers for women in all fields of work, Warren will be spending this year’s Coming Back Together weekend giving back to current students during two signature events at Syracuse University’s .

(CBT) is a triennial event for Black and Latino alumni to return to campus and celebrate their accomplishments, meet current students and remain connected to Syracuse. For this year’s CBT from Sept. 12-15, Warren will participate in a networking event for current students and moderate a star-studded panel discussion called “Breaking Barriers and Empowering Women in Sport.”

“Having mentors and allies who believe in your potential can make a significant difference in one’s career trajectory,” says Warren, a member of the Falk College Advisory Board. “Additionally, creating inclusive environments where diverse voices are heard and valued is essential for driving systemic change. It’s not just about giving women a seat at the table, but also ensuring they have the support and opportunities to thrive.”

Warren, fellow members LaTisha Marshall ’98 and Andrea Massop Ramos ’85, MCN, and member Jasmine Jordan ’14 worked together to create the Falk networking and panel discussion events.

Warren earned her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Exercise Physiology degrees from Syracuse University and her Ph.D. in public health with a focus on health aspects of physical activity from the University of South Carolina. Affectionately known as “Dr. Tati,” Warren is a distinguished health equity strategist and the founder of , a multimedia initiative dedicated to disseminating accurate, evidence-based health information to diverse audiences. Warren consults with health professionals, community leaders, educators and community members to implement and evaluate effective health programs.

During Coming Back Together weekend, Falk College Advisory Board member Tatiana Warren will participate in the networking event and moderate the panel discussion at Falk.

Warren attended CBT for the first time in 2017 and says the weekend “was incredibly nostalgic” for her as she played in the inaugural CBT Celebrity Basketball Classic for former student-athletes.

“I’ve learned that Coming Back Together is a fantastic opportunity to bridge the gap across all generations, especially for Black and Latino communities, and invest in the future Syracuse leaders of tomorrow,” she says.

To that end, Warren, Ramos and other notable Syracuse University alums will participate in a speed networking event with students from 12-12:45 p.m., Friday, Sept. 13, in Room 335 at Falk College. Ramos is a clinical nutritionist, private health chef and entrepreneur who in 2018 founded Healthy FRIENDZ Nutrition to build independence and confidence in youth, students with disabilities and the aging.

Warren says networking is a crucial gateway to establishing and advancing your career, and she has a wealth of knowledge and experience to share after spending nearly two decades specializing in community engagement and improving health in underserved populations.

“My first job opportunity after completing my doctoral degree in healthcare was at a hospital, and it came about because I was a Syracuse University alumna,’’ Warren says. “I remember that interview being effortless; I simply discussed my experiences at Syracuse, highlighting how being a student-athlete and specifically a student-athlete of color laid the foundation for my commitment to community-based work from an equity perspective.”

The panel discussion featuring Syracuse women’s basketball head coach Felisha Legette-Jack ’89, NFL Players Association Director of Player Programs and Engagement Chinny Nwagbo ’05 and award-winning broadcaster Vera Jones ’88, G’91 (all former Syracuse basketball players) will run from 1-1:50 p.m., Sept. 13, in Grant Auditorium at Falk College.

Jones will also be the emcee and announcer for this year’s CBT Celebrity Basketball Classic. “This game is for those who can walk the walk,” says Jones. “I can talk the talk and that’s what I plan to do!”

Warren says the panel topic–Breaking Barries and Empowering Women in Sport–is important to her because she has spent her professional career breaking barriers as often the only woman or person of color serving boards or advisory groups that helped shape the future of health programs for people of color or people from marginalized communities.

“Empowering women in sports is close to my heart; as a former track and field athlete and recipient of the , I understand the unique challenges and triumphs women face in this field,” she says. “This discussion’s theme extends beyond the sports industry as it highlights the broader issues of gender and racial equity, representation and empowerment in all sectors of society.”

In addition to the networking event and panel discussion, Falk is sponsoring a table at the Saturday, Sept. 14, “Shades of Orange Sneaker Ball,” a fundraising and alumni awards gala at the JMA Wireless Dome to support the . Here’s a complete  Visit the  to register for the program through Saturday, Aug.��31.

Here’s more information about the guests for the Falk College panel discussion:

Head Coach – Syracuse University Women’s Basketball

“Coach Jack,” a Syracuse University alumna with degrees in child and family studies and psychology, returned to lead the Orange basketball program in 2022. With over 30 years of coaching experience, she has guided three Division I programs to 13 winning seasons, nine postseason berths, and six 20-win seasons, amassing a 343-279 record. Legette-Jack is enshrined in several halls of fame, including the Greater Syracuse Hall of Fame, the Syracuse Urban Sports Hall of Fame and the Syracuse University Orange Plus Hall of Fame. In 2021, she became the first female in Syracuse University history to have her No. 33 jersey retired in the JMA Wireless Dome rafters.

Director of Player Programs and Engagement – NFL Players Association

Chinny Nwagbo, a former Syracuse University women’s basketball standout, graduated in 2005 with a degree in biology. She played professional basketball for 11 years in various countries and represented Nigeria in the 2006 World Championship Games. Post-retirement, Nwagbo has built a successful career in the sports industry with roles at the U.S. Department of State, PeacePlayers International, Monumental Sports & Entertainment and more. She now serves as Director of Player Programs and Engagement at the NFLPA, creating resources to help professional athletes succeed beyond their playing careers.

President. Vera’s VoiceWorks, LLC
Adjunct Professor of Public Speaking, University of North Florida

Vera Jones is a motivational speaker, communication coach, author and award-winning broadcaster. She has over 30 years of experience as a women’s basketball analyst and reporter for ESPN, Fox Sports and NBA-TV. Vera hosts the women’s basketball show “Certified Unscripted” and the motivational podcast “Perseverance Live.” She holds a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism and a master’s degree in television, radio, and film from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications.

Students from the Falk College’s Australia: Sport, History and Culture class this summer

“Falk College is creating exceptional experiential learning opportunities for future sports professionals,” says Falk College Dean Jeremy S. Jordan. “Women’s prominence in sports is growing exponentially as they lead traditional male and female teams, engage larger audiences, earn new sponsorships and gain greater media attention than ever before. This partnership integrates our students and faculty with the outstanding work of Women Leaders in Sports and guides us as we develop programming and curricula to meet the needs of this dynamic field.”

Jordan also noted that the recently concluded Summer Olympics generated tremendous excitement and support for women in a variety of sports. It was the fourth Summer Olympic Games where female U.S. athletes won more medals than their male counterparts. The was evident in Paris, from former student-athletes who competed in various sports, to faculty and students participating in academic opportunities, to those working behind the scenes—many facilitating media coverage of women-dominated and other events.

The novel partnership was inspired after Syracuse University’s Women in Leadership (WiL) Initiative hosted Women Leaders in Sports’s Chief Executive Officer Patti Phillips on campus last March for a series of meetings and presentations. The collaborative effort will create mentoring, learning, fellowship, internship and membership opportunities for Falk students, provide access to professional memberships to Falk faculty and support faculty attendance at significant events, such as the Women Leaders in Sports National Convention. The joint agreement names Phillips as special advisor to Jordan and enlists her services as an “executive in residence” at Falk. The partnership also calls for an exchange of relevant University research and co-creates a Women Leaders in Sports Fellowship.

Women Leaders in Sports is a 45-year-old organization dedicated to enhancing women’s influence and transforming leadership in sports. Phillips notes that this new partnership makes great strategic sense given the synergies between her organization and the Falk College.

“We accelerate the potential of women to positively impact sports with year-round, world-class leadership development, career training and networking,” says Phillips. “Our nearly 6,000 members share Falk College’s core commitment to mastering all facets of sports, whether business management and human performance or use of technology and marketing. Our members will gain insights that can make them even more effective administrators and executives.”

According to Women Leaders in Sports, nearly half of the women who attend one of the organization’s leadership experiences advance in their careers within a year. The organization hosted 16 national events in 2023. Beyond training and networking, the group also hosts an exclusive online career platform, celebrates member accomplishments with awards and media recognition, and engages, educates and challenges industry leaders to make more diverse and equitable hiring decisions.

Today’s announcement comes just four months after Syracuse University announced it would transform the Falk College into a first-of-its-kind College of Sport. The reimagined David B. Falk College of Sport will be the first standalone college on an R1 campus to focus exclusively on sports-related disciplines, making the University among the leading academic institutions for preparing students to lead and drive innovation in sport-related fields and industries. The transformation follows two decades of recognized excellence in sport management, sport analytics, exercise science and nutrition, and such innovative interdisciplinary majors as esports. The Falk College’s excellence, combined with the high growth of sport in the U.S. and around the world, has created unprecedented demand for talented practitioners and professionals.

About the Reimagined David B. Falk College of Sport

The reimagined Falk College of Sport will house academic programs in sport management, sport analytics, exercise science, nutrition and, jointly with the Newhouse School of Public Communications, esports. It will focus on four areas of academic excellence: Sport Business, Human Performance, Sport Technology and Innovation, and Community Sport and Wellness. The college will also launch a new research institute focused on sport and innovation that will leverage an interdisciplinary, cross-campus approach to drive innovation in sport and health outcomes and integrate expertise in business, digital media and technology, among other areas of academic focus.

About Women Leaders in Sports

Founded in 1979, Women Leaders in Sports is the only nationally recognized professional membership organization whose mission is to develop, connect, advance and champion women leaders working in sports. Women Leaders provides career and leadership training, access to a powerful network and the resources to advance women at every stage of their careers. Learn more about the organization on its and follow Women Leaders on ,��,�� ���Ի���.

Syracuse University’s WiL

Establishing Syracuse University as a pacesetter in cultivating women leaders, the Women in Leadership Initiative supports professional development for women on campus through education, awareness and mentorship. Created in 2018, the WiL seeks to catalyze the personal and collective advancement of women on campus. WiL hosts a robust professional development program, with opportunities customized to the needs of faculty and staff. Participants benefit from the real experiences and candid advice offered by panels and solo guest speakers.

Diane Lyden Murphy

Forty-eight emerging leaders from across Syracuse University were honored on April 12 as the Women in Leadership (WiL) initiative celebrated its two cohorts for the 2023-24 academic year. The cohorts were the second and third to complete the experience, which fosters professional and personal development through lectures from University and community leaders and national experts, experiential learning, and engagement opportunities.

As part of the celebration, Chancellor Kent Syverud announced the WiL will now be referred to as the Diane Lyden Murphy Women in Leadership Program. The new name recognizes Dean Emerita Murphy’s 45 years of service and leadership and honors her as a pioneer of academic achievements and outstanding advocacy for women on campus. In her remarks, Murphy encouraged the cohort members to “lead collectively, learn from the community on and off campus and to do work you love.”

“Dr. Murphy changed the game for many throughout her career at Syracuse University,” says Candace Campbell Jackson, senior vice president and chief of staff to the Chancellor and founder of WiL. “Not only is she an exemplary faculty member and administrator, but she is also a champion of opportunity and access for all women at Syracuse University. Dr. Murphy has paved the way for so many women to open new doors and break through glass ceilings.”

Those opportunities were not lost on the cohort graduates who reflected on their own experiences at Syracuse and as part of WiL, which was founded in 2018 to catalyze the personal and collective advancement of women on campus.

Chancellor Kent Syverud

Maithreyee Dubé, who leads enrollment services at the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), a member of Cohort 2, spoke to the power of the cross-campus connections she has developed—both inside and outside the structured cohort experiences. Dubé says the experience had profound impact on her.

“I learned so much throughout the experience, but especially appreciated the opportunity to engage with fellow cohort members, explore complex questions around bias and discover the importance of giving trust to earn trust,” says Dubé. “Hearing from colleagues across the University has allowed me to grow as a leader and positioned me to communicate with my team about how our daily work influences the bigger picture and advances the strategic priorities.”

Likewise, Cohort 2’s Laura Machia, associate professor of psychology, spoke to the power of “making a space to find a network that’s specifically about leading and providing a cross-functional group of role models for different types of leadership and strengths.” She added that the cohort experience helped her to “be more intentional about what I say yes to, which resources I will need when I say yes to opportunities and to think critically about when I take on a new role, what I need to be successful.”

Beverly Kirk, a Cohort 3 member, says getting to know others across the cohort and beyond equipped her to be able to advocate for students across campuses and, in her case, across cities as she serves as the director of Washington Programs with the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications in Washington, D.C. After meeting an School of Information Studies student at an immersion program in D.C., she connected with a fellow cohort member to collaborate in supporting the student’s participation in the Newhouse D.C. semester away program.

Marcelle Haddix

“Getting to know so many women across Syracuse as part of this experience will allow me to partner with others to be more successful and innovative in my work, ultimately opening up more opportunities to support students,” Kirk says.

WIL’s cohort experience, a highly competitive program, was cofounded by Jackson; Dara Royer, senior vice president and chief marketing officer; and Marcelle Haddix, associate provost for strategic initiatives. The cohorts are intentionally curated to include and promote women from across the University of diverse backgrounds, career experiences and perspectives who are at the emerging, mid and senior levels of their careers and create a cross-functional, inclusive leadership community.

For more information about the Women in Leadership, please visit its .

About the Women in Leadership Initiative

Establishing Syracuse University as a pacesetter in cultivating women leaders. Women in Leadership (WiL) supports professional development for women on campus through education, awareness and mentorship.

Laura Rosenbury

On Nov. 30, the University’s (WiL) will host a Lunch and Leadership Presentation with Laura Rosenbury, Barnard College’s ninth president and a leading feminist legal theorist.

The presentation and networking opportunity, a continuation of WiL’s mission to promote women leaders, is open to all faculty and staff members, regardless of gender identity or expression. Lunch will be available from 11:30 a.m. to noon, followed by Rosenbury’s presentation from 12:15 to 1 p.m. The event will be held at the Sheraton Syracuse University Hotel & Conference Center’s Regency Ballroom. Those interested should RSVP by email to Women in Leadership by Tuesday, Nov. 21.

Rosenbury became the ninth president in Barnard College’s history in June 2023. She began her career as a litigation associate at the global law firm Davis Polk & Wardwell in New York City and went on to clerk for numerous federal judges. From 2015-23, Rosenbury served as dean and the Levin, Mabie & Levin Professor of Law at the University of Florida (UF) Levin College of Law, the first woman to hold the role. During her tenure, UF Law extended its reach around the globe, increased incoming applications by 200%, enrolled seven of the most accomplished and diverse classes in history, and hired 39 new faculty members.

Before joining the UF Law community, Rosenbury was professor of law and vice dean at the Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. She also has served as a visiting professor at Harvard Law School, Stanford Law School and University of Chicago Law School.

Rosenbury’s research and teaching focus on the law of private relationships, exploring how law and social norms interact in family law, employment discrimination law and property law. Her work has been published in the Yale Law Journal, Michigan Law Review, University of Pennsylvania Law Review, Cornell Law Review and other publications.

Rosenbury was elected to the American Law Institute in 2010 and named a fellow of the American Bar Foundation in 2014. She has taught courses on negotiation, nonadversarial communication, team building and leadership for practicing lawyers and other executives. Rosenbury received an A.B. degree summa cum laude in women’s studies from Harvard-Radcliffe College and a J.D. degree cum laude from Harvard Law School, where she served as a primary editor of the Harvard Law Review.

“It’s a unique time in higher education and the WiL cohort provides a constructive forum to better understand the opportunities and issues that all colleges and departments are encountering—and come together to forge relationships that can collectively and positively impact our future,” says Heather Gaines, deputy general counsel and one of the 25 members of the newest cohort.

WiL’s third cohort begins in December 2023, offering a personalized, intensive professional development experience to the University’s most promising women and non-binary people. It will again be led by Candace Campbell Jackson, senior vice president and chief of staff to the Chancellor; Dara Royer, senior vice president and chief marketing officer; Marcelle Haddix, associate provost for strategic initiatives; and Jamie Winders, associate provost for faculty affairs. The full will continue to advise the cohort leaders and engage the cohort members.

“I have been inspired and even somewhat overwhelmed by the keen interest from so many who want to be a part of our leadership development initiative,” says Haddix.  “At a time when other institutions seem to be retreating from cultivating women leaders, it’s rewarding to know how important this work is for the women we serve and for the entire University,” she says.

“I am thrilled to join this esteemed group,” says new member Renate Chancellor. “I am especially excited to learn from leaders and mentors so that I can take this newfound knowledge into my role of associate dean of DEIA at the School of Information Studies.”

The WiL Initiative’s cohort experience creates a personalized, intensive professional development opportunity that will:

• Foster self-discovery in work/life exploration, while enhancing personal and professional leadership strengths and heightening overall emotional intelligence.
• Expand upon and improve skills in areas of personal branding, public presentations, management, negotiation, collaboration and conflict resolution.
• Provide enhanced knowledge of University governance, academic leadership and the overall educational enterprise.
• Explore career options in higher education and academic leadership in a post-pandemic world.
• Build an extended network of referrals and contacts of women leaders within and beyond academic settings.
• Help participants attain new success—on or off campus.

For more information, visit the  or email womeninleadership@syr.edu. All community members can participate in WiL programming.

The new 25 cohort members are listed below and individual bios (along with the past cohort members) can be found on the .

Women in Leadership Cohort 3 members:

• Michelle Blum
• Renate Chancellor
• Chetna Chianese
• Jennifer DeMarchi
• Sharon Dotger
• Cheryl Fabrizi
• Yoanna Ferrara
• Heather Gaines
• Deanna Grannis
• Shannon Hefti
• Tanisha Jackson
• Abby Kasowitz-Scheer
• Beverly Kirk
• Moon Lee
• Lisa Manning
• Dawn McWilliams
• Suzette Meléndez
• Laura-Anne Minkoff-Zern
• Leonese Nelson
• Alison Patteson
• Kira Reed
• Natalie Russo
• Jenny Saluti
• Katie Scanlon
• Heather Tamurian

The Women in Leadership Initiative cohort experience is led by Candace Campbell Jackson, senior vice president and chief of staff to the Chancellor; Dara Royer, senior vice president and chief marketing officer; Marcelle Haddix, associate provost for strategic initiatives; and Jamie Winders, associate provost for faculty affairs. The will continue to advise the cohort leaders and engage the cohort members.

The WiL Initiative’s cohort experience’s objectives include:

• Foster self-discovery in work/life exploration and identity while enhancing personal and professional leadership strengths and heightening overall emotional intelligence.
• Expand upon and improve skills in areas of personal branding, public presentations, management, negotiation, collaboration and conflict resolution.
• Provide enhanced knowledge of University governance, academic leadership and the overall educational enterprise.
• Explore career options in higher education and academic leadership in a post-pandemic world.
• Build an extended network of referrals and contacts of women leaders within and beyond academic settings.
• Help participants attain new success—on or off campus.

The 25 fall cohort members are listed below and individual bios can be found on the .

Fall 2023 Cohort:

• Eliana Abu-Hamdi
• Simone Adams
• Shannon Andre
• Carlota Deseda-Coon
• Emily Dittman
• Melanie Domanico
• Maithreyee Dubé
• Kirsten Elleby
• Sara Garvey
• Amanda Griffin
• Chandice Haste-Jackson
• Candace Hayden
• Dawn Johnson
• Déirdre Joyce
• Elizabeth Kubala
• Jing Lei
• Laura Machia
• Cory Miller
• Huong Anh Murphy
• Melissa Pepling
• Abby Perer
• Rachel Razza
• Jennifer Ross
• Amy Schmidt
• Bei Yu

“The Women in Leadership Cohort experience is a brilliant plan to invest in staff and faculty who are committed to the mission of Syracuse University,” says Maithreyee Dubé, manager for enrollment services at the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families. “As an alumna, staff member, parent, facilitator for First-Year Seminar, and the outgoing staff representative to the University’s Board of Trustees, I have lived experience with collaborative efforts across our campus community. Being selected for Cohort 2 and working collectively to enhance our leadership and impact for the betterment of our students is exciting.”

Campbell Jackson says she is encouraged by the interest and commitment of the University community to develop and support leadership opportunities. In fact, interest was so great during the application process that the WiL initiative will offer a third cohort later this fall.

“We continue to be inspired by how many individuals have demonstrated a deep commitment of time and talent to strengthen their career development and life experience through the WiL initiative,” says Campbell Jackson. “The outcomes of this effort thus far are a testament to what we hoped Women in Leadership could become here at the University. The WiL steering committee, cohort leaders and I will do everything we can to ensure future cohorts have incredible experiences that incubate and foster great colleagues and leaders.”

Cohort 3 participants were selected from the nearly 120 applications received for Cohort 2 and will be announced in October.

For more information, visit the  or email womeninleadership@syr.edu. All community members can participate in WiL programming.

As a graduate student in the , Donna E. Shalala G’70, H’87 was no stranger to protesting whenever she thought an injustice was occurring.

It was all part of Shalala’s plan to never play it safe, and to keep advocating for what’s right and just. Shalala, who earned master’s and doctoral degrees in social science from the Maxwell School, delivered the keynote address during Syracuse University’s Commencement on Sunday, May 15, in the JMA Wireless Dome.

She challenged the Class of 2023—consisting of more than 6,100 graduates from all 50 states and 98 countries around the world—to solve the tough challenges that await them, to demand a voice in creating a better future and to become involved global citizens.

“You have arrived!” Donna E. Shalala G’70, H’87, Syracuse University’s Commencement Speaker, told the Class of 2023, encouraging them to “never play it safe.”

“You are opening a new chapter in your lives. But ultimately, you’re not going to be judged by your degree, but by your character. You won’t be judged by who you know, but who you are. You won’t be judged by what you earn, but what you contribute,” Shalala said. “When I was in your position years ago, I didn’t exactly know where life would take me, but I promised I would never play it safe. I’ve kept that promise and my deepest hope is that you won’t play it safe, either.”

Shalala has held prominent leadership roles in higher education and the federal government since graduating from Syracuse. She’s served as U.S. secretary of health and human services during Bill Clinton’s presidency, was president of the University of Miami and is Trustee Professor of Political Science and Health Policy at the University of Miami.

Lauding the Class of 2023 as “the toughest class ever to graduate from Syracuse University and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry,” Shalala told the graduates that, as they embark on the next chapter of their lives, they already possess the skills to succeed.

“You leave this great university equipped with both the map and the compass. Your map is your degree. Your degree will open up new doors of opportunity and empower you to pursue your chosen career, or more accurately, your first career, second career, third career, fourth career and so on. The compass is something more intangible, but arguably more important. It is the spirit of community that has been part of your education here from day one,” Shalala said.

If they should find themselves struggling along the way, Shalala encouraged the Class of 2023 to rely on a familiar and friendly face: Otto the Orange. She credited Otto with two personality traits that will serve this year’s graduates well.

“Otto teaches us that a positive attitude can go a long way,” Shalala said. “Approach each day with gratitude and curiosity, with open arms, open eyes, open ears and open hearts.”

“Otto also teaches us that, as members of a community, we have a responsibility to treat every person we meet with kindness, with dignity, and with respect,” Shalala said. “Define the future in your individual relationships. The simplest kind gestures, however insignificant they may seem, can be woven into a brilliant tapestry of compassion, love and strength.”

The conference provides educational and professional opportunities for women of color and Indigenous colleagues in higher education to learn from the work of their peers regarding diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) issues and action plans. Talks and workshops are also designed to encourage leadership development, mentoring and empowerment for women of color in the academy. The conference, hosted by Virginia Tech, will be held in Arlington, Virginia.

Marcelle Haddix

Marcelle Haddix, associate provost of strategic initiatives in the Office of Academic Affairs, says the conference provides an excellent opportunity to share research, learn about special initiatives and hear different perspectives about DEIA programs and successes. “We look forward to meeting with counterparts from dozens of colleges and universities on these topics and connecting with peers in a setting that also promotes professional development and academic leadership growth,” says Haddix.

In addition to Haddix, delegates are:

• Kristen Barnes, associate dean for faculty research and professor of law, College of Law
• Renate Chancellor, associate professor of Library and information science, School of Information Studies
• LaVerne Gray, assistant professor, School of Information Studies
• Alicia Hatcher, assistant professor of writing studies, rhetoric and composition, College of Arts and Sciences
• Suzette Meléndez, faculty fellow for the Office of Strategic Initiatives in Academic Affairs and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and teaching professor, College of Law
• Ruth Opara, assistant professor of art and music histories, College of Arts and Sciences
• Jamie Perry, assistant professor of management, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
• Kira Reed, associate professor of management, Whitman School
• Rochele Royster, assistant professor of art therapy, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Danielle Taana Smith, professor of African American studies, College of Arts and Sciences, and director, Renée Crown University Honors Program
• Melissa Yuen, interim chief curator, Syracuse University Art Museum

Several University attendees are presenting talks and workshop sessions. Haddix will speak on “Writing Our Lives: Turning Service into Scholarship” with co-presenters Sherri Williams G’10, G’15, assistant professor in the School of Communication at American University, and Dani Parker Moore, assistant professor of multicultural education at Wake Forest University.

Reed, Smith and Yuen will present a poster session on “The Arts and Engagement in DEIA: A Consideration of Social and Economic Inequities.” They will discuss how they formed strategic campus partnerships with interdisciplinary constituents using art and cultural centers as catalysts for hosting conversations on DEIA topics.

Keynote conference presenters are Katherine S. Cho, assistant professor of higher education at Loyola University Chicago; Tressie McMillan Cottom, associate professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s School of Information and Library Science; and Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodríguez, a feminist, theologian, advocate and storyteller.

The initiative’s cohort offering creates a personalized, intensive professional development opportunity that will:

• Foster self-discovery in work/life exploration and identity while enhancing personal and professional leadership strengths and heightening overall emotional intelligence.
• Expand upon and improve skills in areas of personal branding, public presentations, management, negotiation, collaboration and conflict resolution.
• Provide enhanced knowledge of University governance, academic leadership and the overall educational enterprise.
• Explore career options in higher education and academic leadership in a post-pandemic world.
• Build an extended network of referrals and contacts of women leaders within and beyond academic settings.
• Help participants attain new success—on or off campus.

The cohort experience will span the Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 semesters. Those interested are encouraged to apply for one of 20 class seats by . Nominations will be accepted through April 21. Selected participants will be notified by May 12. Those who applied for the first cohort are encouraged to reapply. Your continued interest is greatly appreciated.

The cohort will include emerging leaders from faculty and staff. Sessions will combine group experiential learning or hands-on assignments, executive and peer coaching, personal skill development, self-assessments that promote greater emotional intelligence and networking for professional and personal growth.

Criteria for selecting participants will include such factors as diversity, job and responsibility focus, years of experience, expertise, interest and desire for self-development and a commitment to complete the cohort process and advance personally and professionally.

Each application should have gained at least seven years of professional experience and have served for at least three years in a leadership role (this could be through research, teaching or service for faculty or through a supervisory or committee leadership role for staff). For those wondering whether this program is a good fit,��staff members may contact Dara Royer���ǰ���Candace Campbell Jackson, and faculty members may contact Marcelle Haddix.

For questions about the nomination form itself, contact Misty Schutt. To learn more about the Women in Leadership Initiative, visit the  or email womeninleadership@syr.edu.

Gloria Somolekae

In celebration of International Women’s Day on Wednesday, March 8, the (WiL), in partnership with the , the and the , is pleased to bring Gloria Somolekae G’94, H’22 back to campus for an in-person keynote talk titled “DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality: Challenges and Prospects.” This presentation will give a global focus on technology and education, with an emphasis on how women and girls across the globe can be empowered in the digital age.

The event will be held in the Goldstein Auditorium at the Schine Student Center from 1 to 2 p.m. All students, faculty and staff are welcome and encouraged to attend. Registration is required in advance and .

As a barrier-breaking academic in her home country of Botswana and a dedicated public servant, Somolekae has been a leader in women’s rights, democracy and development in Botswana and throughout southern Africa. Somolekae, who earned a Ph.D. in public administration from the Maxwell School, was the first citizen of Botswana to earn a Ph.D. in public administration, and the first woman in the Department of Political and Administrative Studies at the University of Botswana—a trailblazer as one of only a small number of women in academics at the university at the time. In 2022, Somolekae was recognized with an Honorary Degree from Syracuse University.

More About Somolekae

Somolekae earned a bachelor’s degree in public administration and political science from the University of Botswana and Swaziland in 1981. She then earned a master’s in public policy and administration at the International Institute of Social Studies in The Hague in 1983, before coming to Syracuse.

After her studies, Somolekae returned to Botswana where she became a senior lecturer at the University of Botswana. She then worked in various policy advisor and director roles for foundations in Botswana, including as a policy advisor on rural development for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, before entering government service. The president of Botswana appointed her first to a position in the 10th Parliament of Botswana, and then to the position of deputy minister of finance and economic development. It was another first for the nation—the first woman to serve in a senior position in the Ministry of Finance. She was tasked by the president to review the country’s rural development; the Somolekae Report led to major policy shifts in the country’s rural development programs.

Along with her public service, Somolekae has had a deep presence in leading civic engagement projects, helping to energize voters and engage more citizens in politics in Botswana. She co-founded and directed the Democracy Project in Botswana, which was organized to help preserve and strengthen democracy through education of the public on their rights and responsibilities in a democracy and monitor elections. She was a board member of the organization Emang Basadi, which successfully challenged a number of laws that discriminated against women, and helped conceptualize the organization’s effort to encourage women to get involved in politics.

Currently, she serves as senior research fellow and head of the Governance and Administration Unit in the Botswana Institute for Development Policy Analysis. She is working to build capacity in governance, advocating for evidence-based policymaking.

In recognition of her public service and engagement with the citizenry, she was awarded the Presidential Order of Honour by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Botswana, the highest civilian honor in Botswana, in 2008; was named one of Botswana’s 50 Inspirational and Formidable Women by W.A.V.E. as part of Botswana’s independence celebrations in turning half a century in 2016; and was named by the All Africa Council of Churches, based in Kenya, as an Eminent Persons for Peace in Africa.

More About WiL

The WiL Initiative seeks to catalyze the personal and collective advancement of women on campus. To learn more about WiL or get involved in upcoming programs, visit the . Programs are open to all community members, regardless of gender identity or expression.

The is pleased to bring leadership expert, global speaker and author Erica Dhawan to the University for a talk on body language in the digital era.

All  faculty, staff and students are invited to Dhawan’s talk on Friday, Feb. 10, from 2 to 3 p.m. in the Joyce Hergenhan Auditorium in Newhouse 3. Registration is required. To attend, by Feb. 6:

Leadership expert, global speaker and author Erica Dhawan will address the campus community about body language in the digital era during a Feb. 10 Women in Leadership Digital Communication event.

Dhawan combines cutting-edge research with engaging storytelling to decode the new signals and cues that have replaced traditional body language across genders, generations and cultures. She investigates a wide array of exchanges from large conferences and video meetings to daily emails, texts, IMs and conference calls and offers insights and solutions to increase clarity and build trust.

Audience members will learn new rules and nuances of digital body language, the new requirement to innovate faster and further together.

From Dhawan’s presentation, participants will:

• better understand their collaboration style and what digital body language signals they are broadcasting (even unintended ones);
• create cultures of maniacal clarity in email, phone, IM, text, video mediums and even live meetings in the new normal; and
• develop a collaboration strategy to produce the highest-performing teams and relationships.

Dhawan is an internationally recognized leading authority, speaker and advisor on 21st-century teamwork, collaboration and innovation. Named as one of the top 50 management thinkers in the world by Thinkers50, she is the author of two bestselling books, “Get Big Things Done: The Power of Connectional Intelligence” and “Digital Body Language: How to Build Trust and Connection, No Matter the Distance.”

As we continue to experience an increasingly digital world where work practices are changing at a blistering pace, Dhawan shares innovative strategies to unlock the collective power of teams, build a culture of trust across any distance and create authentic engagement to ensure competitiveness. Rated No. 1 on the Top Women Keynote Speakers list, Erica frequently appears in the Harvard Business Review, Fast Company and The Wall Street Journal. Dhawan speaks on global stages ranging from the World Economic Forum at Davos, to the U.S. Army, to companies such as Coca-Cola, FedEx, Goldman Sachs, Walmart and Cisco. She holds degrees from Harvard University, MIT Sloan and The Wharton School.

To learn more about Women in Leadership or get involved in upcoming programs, visit the . Programs are open to all community members, regardless of gender identity or expression.

The book talk features Daphne E. Jones, author of “Win When They Say You Won’t: Break Through Barriers and Keep Leveling Up Your Success” and will take place along with a moderated question and answer session from 3 to 3:30 p.m. by Tuesday, Nov. 22, and receive a complimentary copy of Jones’ book courtesy of the Women in Leadership Initiative. A meet and greet reception will follow the talk from 3:30 to 5 p.m.

Jones ascended to top leadership roles in Fortune 50 companies, building on her extensive experience using digital technologies strategically and entrepreneurially within multinational corporations. Her career of 30-plus years spans roles at IBM, Johnson & Johnson, Hospira (now Pfizer) and General Electric (GE). During her tenure at GE, she served as senior vice president for future of work, senior vice president and chief information officer for product engineering, imaging and ultrasound, and as senior executive and chief information officer for global services—all comprising a $13 billion segment within GE Healthcare.

Among many achievements, Jones was the first woman and person of color to report to the chairman of the board of Hospira with accountability for all aspects of the company’s enterprise, digital and analytics technology. She now serves on the board of directors for AMN Healthcare, Inc., Barnes Group Inc. and Masonite International Corp and is the CEO and founder of The Board Curators, a company dedicating to preparing senior executives to serve on paid boards.

Jones resides in Syracuse, New York, and Miami, Florida, with her husband, the Rev. Max Jones of the Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ of Syracuse.

To learn more about Women in Leadership or get involved in upcoming programs, visit the . Programs are open to all community members, regardless of gender identity or expression.

Felisha Legette-Jack

Continuing its mission to amplify the voices of women and non-binary people in leadership roles at Syracuse University, the is pleased to invite faculty and staff to an Inspire leadership talk featuring women’s basketball head coach on Wednesday, Oct. 5, from 3 to 4 p.m.

Coach Legette-Jack will speak in the JMA Wireless Dome, followed by a WiL networking reception in Club 44 from 4 to 6 p.m. All community members, regardless of gender identity or expression, can participate in WiL programming.

Season Ticket Giveaway

In partnership with Syracuse University Athletics, WiL will also give away Orange women’s basketball season tickets to the first 100 people who for and attend the event by the RSVP deadline of Sept. 28.

About Legette-Jack

Felisha Legette-Jack is a 1989 graduate of Syracuse University and former Orange All-American. The Syracuse native and 20-year collegiate head coach took the reins of the Orange women’s basketball program in March 2022. One of the all-time Orange greats, Legette-Jack returned to her hometown with more than 30 years of coaching experience. She spent the previous 10 years building the University at Buffalo’s women’s program into one of the perennial powers in the Mid-American Conference (MAC), leading the Bulls to four NCAA Tournaments, including the 2018 Sweet Sixteen.

Legette-Jack is the all-time winningest coach in Bulls history with a 202-115 record and four MAC Tournament Championships. During her career she has guided three different Division I programs to a combined 13 winning seasons, nine postseason berths and six 20-win seasons, and has accrued a 343-279 record. On Nov. 14, 2021, Legette-Jack’s jersey was retired to rafters of the JMA Dome, joining those of 15 men’s basketball and six football standouts who have received this honor. It marked the first time in Syracuse University history that a female student-athlete was recognized in this manner.

The cohort will be led by Candace Campbell Jackson, senior vice president and chief of staff to the Chancellor; Dara Royer, senior vice president and chief marketing officer; Marcelle Haddix, associate provost for strategic initiatives; and Jamie Winders, associate provost for faculty affairs.

Campbell Jackson sees it as a “pay it forward” opportunity and an asset-building enterprise, one of many WiL programs that aim to make Syracuse University a pacesetter in developing women and non-binary leaders in higher education.

“It’s inspiring to see how many amazing women and non-binary folks were willing to make the deep commitment of time and talent to see what the cohort could contribute to their career and their life,” says Campbell Jackson. “My co-organizers and I will do everything we can to ensure this is an incredible experience that incubates and fosters great leaders and their skills.”

“I look forward to being part of an intimate group that will intentionally and regularly work together, empowering each other and learning from each other to achieve our goals,” says Emily Stokes-Rees, director of the School of Design in the College of Visual and Performing Arts and the Iris Magidson Endowed Professor of Design Leadership. “Leadership is integral to every aspect of academia, whether you’re in a staff position, classroom or laboratory. We need strong, thoughtful leaders at every level.”

The monthly experiential learning sessions embedded in the cohort curriculum will start in fall 2022. Participants will also learn from mentors, reflective reading and self-assessments.

The 26 cohort members are listed below and individual bios can be found on the .

• Carrie Grogan Abbott
• Nadine Austin
• Christine Ashby
• Sarah Azria
• Kristen Barnes
• Lynn Brann
• Urvashi Bhattacharya
• Mansi Brat
• Julia L. Carboni
• Heather Coleman
• Melinda Dermody
• Amanda Eubanks Winkler
• Heidi Hehnly
• Alicia Madden
• Katherine McDonald
• Pam Mulligan
• Shikha Nangia
• Jane Read
• Carol J. Ruffin
• Stephanie Salanger
• Yutaka Sho
• Saba Siddiki
• Danielle Smith
• Emily Stokes-Rees
• Erika Turner
• Robin Wade

For more information, visit the or email womeninleadership@syr.edu. All community members can participate in WiL programming.

• Foster greater self-discovery in work/life exploration, identify and enhance personal and professional leadership strengths, heighten overall emotional intelligence.
• Expand upon and improve skills in areas of personal branding, public presentations, management, negotiation, collaboration and conflict resolution.
• Gain greater knowledge of University governance, academic leadership and the overall educational enterprise.
• Explore career options in higher education and academic leadership in a post-pandemic world.
• Connect you to an extended network of referrals and contacts of women leaders within and beyond academic settings.
• Attain new success—on or off campus.

The cohort experience will begin in the Fall 2022 semester and continue through the Spring 2023 semester. Those interested are encouraged to apply for one of 20 class seats by . Nominations will be accepted from March 21 to April 15. Selected participants will be notified by May 9.

Successful cohort experiences typically combine group experiential learning or hands-on assignments, executive and peer coaching, personal skill development, self-assessments that promote greater emotional intelligence and networking for professional and personal growth.

“We’ve constructed the cohort with the intent to make sure all of our participants grow and benefit from their involvement,” explains Candace Campbell Jackson, senior vice president and chief of staff to the Chancellor, and one of four WiL steering committee members dedicated to designing and implementing the cohort. “An emerging body of research indicates that cohorts may prove particularly effective for women, who tend to place greater value on collaborative skills. We think it key to blend self-reflection with small group learning in a highly supportive and interactive environment.”

The cohort will include emerging leaders from faculty and staff. Forward-thinking leadership development experts contend that the best programming purposefully and creatively builds a culture of high accountability and contributes to the collective capacity for “intersystem” (not just inter-disciplinary) relationships—relationships essential to thoughtful university governance.

“Deliberately and thoughtfully including leaders from different areas of the entire institution peels back the curtain and deepens understanding about all aspects of the University’s enterprise,” notes Jamie Winders, associate provost for faculty affairs and a co-designer. “The more faculty and staff understand about other colleges and overall operations, the better each can interact, collaborate and lead within Syracuse University and beyond. In addition, the networks ignited and reinforced by diverse cohorts ensure that our alumni continue their relationships in the years ahead, to their personal and institutional benefit.”

An extended opportunity for self-reflection and personal reassessment may prove especially timely, as many reexamined professional and personal goals and expectations during the pandemic.

“We intend to emphasize personal growth and a deeper understanding of who we are and how we communicate,” says Dara Royer, senior vice president and chief marketing officer and the third co-designer. “These exercises will prepare participants to unleash their full potential in their current or future roles. The focus is ensuring that participants are better positioned to achieve their own definition of success.”

Associate Provost for Strategic Initiatives Marcelle Haddix also recently joined the initiative. “I encourage the entire University community to support those who ultimately join the cohort, “she adds. “Women often assume additional responsibilities or enroll in professional development and find themselves alone when attempting to juggle priorities. Let’s make an institutional commitment that we will collectively do what we can so cohort participants fully benefit from the experience.”

Criteria for selecting participants will include such factors as diversity, job and responsibility focus, years of experience, expertise, interest and desire for self-development and a commitment to complete the cohort process and advance personally and professionally.

Each application should have gained at least seven years of professional experience and have served for at least three years in a leadership role (this could be through research, teaching or service for faculty or through a supervisory or committee leadership role for staff). For those wondering whether this program is a good fit, staff members may contact Dara Royer or Candace Campbell Jackson, and faculty members may contact Marcelle Haddix. For questions about the nomination form itself, contact Mallory Mitchell. To learn more about the Women in Leadership Initiative, visit the or contact womeninleadership@syr.edu.

With help and guidance from Liz Green, executive director for online student success in the College of Professional Studies, and a pre-workshop CliftonStrengths assessment, participants will explore how their top five strengths can help them support, engage and advocate for themselves and others in leadership. The cost of the workshop supports Nanhi Kali’s initiative to raise funds for uniforms, school supplies and tuition costs for girls in India who are otherwise unable to attend elementary or middle school on their own.

Two Zoom workshop options are available and open to all on April 1 and April 8 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET. The cost to attend is $52.

The workshop will donate 100% of the profits to Nanhi Kali, “an organization initiated by Mahindra in India, with a goal to educate underprivileged girl children,” says Ruchita Harsora, Nanhi Kali’s Syracuse University chapter president.

The workshop will donate 100% of the profits to Nanhi Kali, “an organization initiated by Mahindra in India, with a goal to educate underprivileged girls,” says Ruchita Harsora, Nanhi Kali’s Syracuse University chapter president.

“The workshop will encompass multiple avenues for self-reflection and engagement activities for participants to better understand their individual Top 5 Strengths and communicate with others about their strengths,” Green says. “CliftonStrengths provides a common lens for us to share and connect with our colleagues, coworkers and friends, and provides a foundation for us to effectively advocate for ourselves and others.”

As a registered graduate student organization, the Nanhi Kali Syracuse University chapter aims to raise awareness about the importance of educational access, Harsora says.

“This specific opportunity helps us give back to the community one of the essentials—education. Education is the steppingstone to success in any field and it’s a golden opportunity for us to give something back to an underserved community,” Harsora says. “We get a chance to give the privilege of education to the generation that is going to shape our future.”

To learn more or to register, visit the .

Small group discussion at a recent Women in Leadership Crucial Conversations session

March 8 marks , a global day of celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. Here on campus, the Women in Leadership (WiL) Initiative is fulfilling its mission to be a catalyst for the individual and collective advancement of women on campus since its founding in 2018. All community members are invited to participate in WiL programming.

Each spring and fall semester, the initiative offers unique experiences that help build strong leaders at all levels and in all areas of the University. Past programming has included panel discussions, workshops, peer mentoring, design thinking sessions, clinics on promotion and tenure, a shared reading experience, and virtual and in-person networking opportunities.

Recently, the initiative hosted , an engaging and interactive discussion on leadership, resiliency and change between Provost and Chief Academic Officer Gretchen Ritter and Chief Marketing Officer Dara Royer. Later this month multiple cohorts will begin the Resilient Leadership and Change program, with sessions on Cultivating Positive Mindset Practices; Strengthening Emotional Intelligence and Resiliency; Communicating With Agility; and Creating Your Change Journey.

“At the core of our mission, we seek to inspire, uplift and amplify the experiences of women on our campus, and come together in an authentic way to discuss opportunities and challenges they face, collectively and individually,” says Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff to the Chancellor Candace Campbell Jackson, founder and chair of the initiative. “Our programs range from hosting empowering speakers from across academia to workshops that help build skills related to having difficult conversations and managing conflict. It is the hope of our Steering Committee that everyone can benefit from these offerings.”

Last year, WiL underwent a strategic planning process to refine its vision and mission and ensure its work continues to align with the hopes and expectations of women on campus. While programming is centered on topics and issues that primarily impact women, faculty, staff and graduate students of any gender identity are welcome.

Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs Jamie Winders, a member of the WiL Steering Committee, says she was eager to get involved with the initiative because she has benefited immensely from peer mentoring groups during her academic career.

“I’ve seen the power of bringing people together from different parts of campus, from different schools and colleges and in different kinds of roles,” she says. “That kind of mix can be difficult to replicate in our everyday lives, where we tend to work within our departments, school or college. Finding ways to facilitate the creation of and support those networks is really important.”

As part of their strategic planning process, WiL adopted three core strategies: to increase awareness of personalized professional development opportunities, to inspire and better prepare women for their “next,” and capture and amplify the voices and experiences of women on campus. Their work is as much about inspiring and empowering the next generation of women as it is advancing women already in leadership positions.

“The aspiration of WiL is to really put forth on a collective scale a different model of leadership—one that is collaborative and less hierarchal,” says Winders. “We’re finding ways to communicate and work across the divides, with the hope that it produces a new way of thinking about leadership, collaboration and how all the different parts contribute to the University’s overall mission of centering academic excellence and making SU a place where everybody belongs.”

WiL programs help provide a bridge between various populations on campus and promote the sharing of ideas and experiences that are unique to—or perhaps common among—individuals from all backgrounds. They use a multi-track model to target programs for both academic and administrative professionals, while also providing more general programs that inspire and provoke dialogue across a broad range of constituents.

The initiative also welcomes conversations about the overarching and day-to-day issues that can impact women and their colleagues in both higher education and the more broadly defined workplace.

Steering Committee member Elisa Dekaney, associate dean of research, graduate studies and internationalization in the College of Visual and Performing Arts and professor of music education, points out that demonstrate that with each level of professorship, from assistant professor to associate professor to full professor, women comprise smaller and smaller numbers. This is certainly not a trend exclusive to academia—there are many professions where the closer you get to the top of an organization, the scarcer women leaders are.

Last semester, Dekaney helped bring this conversation to the larger campus audience. To cap off a WiL shared reading experience, Dekaney co-facilitated a discussion of the book “Women Leading Change in Academia: Breaking the Glass Ceiling, Cliff, and Slipper” with one of the book’s co-editors, Amy Bonomi, chair and professor of human development and family studies at Michigan State University. The book shares the perspectives of diverse women academic leaders who discuss their rise to key leadership positions.

“It’s crucial for us to come together and figure out ways to support each other, whether that is with a fun event that is emotionally uplifting or with a conversation that is quite challenging or serves to educate,” Dekaney says. “We are then able to leverage our knowledge of each other’s journeys to the betterment of who we are as individuals and as a community.”

Balance is another recurring theme—not only how to balance career progression with home and family commitments, but how to balance the “masculine” and “feminine” qualities women bring to leadership roles. The concept of the “double bind” in feminist theory refers to how expectations and stereotypes about the characteristics of a leader can conflict with other identities, including as a woman or as a mother.

“If you have the characteristics of a good leader, those are traditionally masculine characteristics,” Dekaney says. “You’re demanding, you’re commanding. But sometimes when women exhibit those characteristics, they are seen as being abrasive or ‘too much.’”

Building community among participants is another priority for WiL. Meghan Florkowski says that joining the WiL steering committee has brought her closer to various women-focused initiatives across campus and helped her build stronger relationships with other women leaders.

Florkowski is the director of the WISE (Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship) Women’s Business Center in the Martin J. Whitman School of Management, which empowers women entrepreneurs in all stages of their business across a seven-county service area in Central New York. She draws energy and inspiration for her work from WiL’s formal offerings as well as informal conversations she has with fellow steering committee members.

“There’s something powerful that happens when we bring women together to engage in a trusted space and layer that with great programming,” she says. “We have so many different voices at the table, which leads to meaningful discussions about the many ways in which women lead—whether that’s in business, the workplace, their communities or in other avenues.”

To learn more about Women in Leadership or get involved in upcoming programs, visit the .

Leadership experts Amy P. Kelly (left) and Jack Slavinski will facilitate the Resilient Leadership and Change program on campus beginning this month.

The Resilient Leadership and Change program is designed to help participants cultivate positive mindset practices, strengthen emotional intelligence and communicate with agility. With input from members of the Women in Leadership Steering Committee, leadership experts, and customized a four-part workshop to engage and support Syracuse University faculty and staff. The session topics are as follows:

• Session 1: Cultivating Positive Mindset Practices
• Session 2: Strengthening Emotional Intelligence and Resiliency
• Session 3: Communicating With Agility
• Session 4: Creating Your Change Journey

This series is built to be taught as a system, with the training content layered and reinforced through each two-hour virtual session. Those interested in attending are asked to . Registrants will be contacted as dates are finalized. Please contact womeninleadership@syr.edu with any questions.

To learn more about the Syracuse University Women in Leadership Initiative visit .

Steering Committee members are Sue Ballard, vice president for alumni engagement; Candace Campbell Jackson, senior vice president and chief of staff to the Chancellor and chair of the Women in Leadership Steering Committee; Susan Cornelius Edson, executive senior associate athletics director/communications; Elisa Dekaney, associate dean for research, graduate studies and internationalization and professor of music education; Meghan Florkowski, director, WISE Women’s Business Center; Marie Garland, assistant provost for faculty affairs; Pam Gavenda, associate director, organizational development and training, Office of Human Resources; Catherine Gerard, associate director of executive education programs in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs; Marcelle Haddix, associate provost for strategic initiatives; Cydney Johnson, vice president of community engagement and government relations; Beth Myers, executive director, Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education and professor of inclusive education; Tina Nabatchi, director, Program for Advancement of Research on Conflict and Collaboration and professor of public administration and international affairs in the Maxwell School; Dara J. Royer, senior vice president and chief marketing officer; Stephanie Salanger, director of communications, Institute for Veterans and Military Families; Sarah E. Scalese, senior associate vice president for communications; Michele Wheatly, special advisor to the Chancellor and professor of biology; and Jamie Winders, associate provost for faculty affairs.

The seven-week, in-person class will begin on Friday, Feb. 25, and run through April 8. Participants must attend for all seven weeks. .

Participants will gain skills for creating alignment and agreement by fostering open dialogue around high-stakes, emotional or risky topics at all levels of an organization. These are conversations around work quality, time management, productivity, performance, sensitive issues, conflict or a strained relationship, for example. By learning how to speak and be heard (and encouraging others to do the same), you will begin to surface the best ideas, make the highest-quality decisions and then act on the decisions with unity and commitment in a respectful way.

Throughout the program, participants will have the opportunity to engage in experiential learning through exercises, practice with real issues and group discussions.

Past participants speak highly of the benefits of the program. “I developed confidence in approaching a difficult conversation and how to move it to a win-win conclusion,” says one participant.

“I enjoyed meeting and interacting with peers that we do not get to spend quality time with on a daily basis,” says another participant. “We can all learn from each other’s challenges when managing people.”

Another participant says the program is excellent training for managers and supervisors. “Success happens when opportunities are met by preparations,” the participant says. “These conversations are crucial to relationship preservations, built on a foundation where there’s healthy conflict, trust, commitment and accountability—the four main elements that produce results.”

An additional Crucial Conversations session, outside of the WiL initiative, may be offered this spring/summer depending on interest and availability. To be added to the waitlist for that program, .

Guests will gain insight from Provost Gretchen Ritter as she discusses leadership, resiliency and change with moderator Dara Royer, senior vice president and chief marketing officer at the University.

Provost Gretchen Ritter

Ritter, a leading expert in the history of women’s constitutional rights and contemporary issues concerning democracy and citizenship in American politics, joined Syracuse University in October 2021 from The Ohio State University College of Arts and Sciences, where she was executive dean and vice provost. In that position, she led Ohio State’s largest college, which is home to 38 academic departments and schools and more than 20 centers and institutes.

Ritter previously served as the Harold Tanner Dean of Arts and Sciences at Cornell University from 2013-18 before returning to the faculty. Ritter was the college’s first female dean. Prior to her position at Cornell, she served as vice provost and professor of government at the University of Texas at Austin. She has also taught at MIT, Princeton and Harvard.

Ritter is the recipient of several fellowships and awards, including a National Endowment for Humanities Fellowship, the Radcliffe Research Partnership Award and a Liberal Arts Fellowship at Harvard Law School. Ritter received a bachelor’s degree in government from Cornell and a doctorate in political science from MIT.

Candace Campbell-Jackson

The event is hosted by Candace Campbell Jackson, chair of the Women in Leadership Steering Committee and senior vice president and chief of staff to Chancellor Kent Syverud. An accomplished higher education executive, Jackson is recognized for being an exemplary strategic and operations leader with a strong record of achieving successful outcomes in all critical higher education management functions. In her role as chief of staff, Jackson works closely with the Chancellor and all members of the senior leadership team to advance the University’s key strategic priorities and operating goals. She co-chairs the Syracuse University Leadership Team with David Van Slyke, dean of the Maxwell School.

A graduate of Howard University with a bachelor of arts degree in journalism, Jackson received a J.D. from the University of Akron. To further develop her higher education administration skills, Jackson participated in the intensive, highly selective Harvard University Institute for Educational Management program. She also holds a certificate in executive leadership coaching from Georgetown University. Jackson has been a featured lecturer on the university circuit in the areas of higher education administration, leadership, sports law and administrative law.

Dara Royer

Dara Royer will moderate the discussion. Royer, senior vice president and chief marketing officer, is responsible for oversight of the University’s marketing efforts, including strategic marketing campaigns, digital and content marketing, and brand stewardship and has been recognized with an ICON Award in 2021 and 2022 as a Top 50 Marketer in the country. Royer received a certificate from Cornell University for executive women in leadership and an executive leadership certificate from Harvard Business School. She earned a bachelor of arts in history from Indiana University Bloomington and is currently pursuing an executive master of public administration from Syracuse University. Royer is a member of the Women in Leadership Steering Committee.

Those interested in attending this virtual event are asked to by Feb. 15. To request accommodations, contact Mallory Mitchell at womeninleadership@syr.edu.

To learn more about the Women in Leadership Initiative, .

Felisha Legette-Jack ’89

On Sunday, Nov. 14, the Orange Women’s Basketball team will take on Notre Dame in the stadium at noon. The campus community is invited to join the Women in Leadership Initiative in cheering on the Orange and witnessing the of Felisha Legette-Jack ’89. During halftime, Legette-Jack will become the first female athlete to have her jersey retired in the University’s history.

The Women in Leadership Initiative has arranged for to the game. Tickets are general admission and those attending with Women in Leadership are asked to meet by aisle 107, near the tunnel, at 11:50 a.m. Wear orange and join in supporting women’s athletics at Syracuse!

University parking permits will be honored for free parking during the game at the University Avenue Garage, Comstock Avenue Garage, University North and South Lots (off University Avenue) or Harrison Lot.

Programming this fall launches with an opportunity for faculty and staff to reconnect through a collaborative brainstorming “design think.”

“WiL wanted to create a space where community concern will be focused on the recent experiences of women and nonbinary faculty and staff, empowering them to process the emotional response to their experiences during the pandemic, to overcome the overwhelm, if you like,” says Wheatly. “We want to convene our community in a way that validates their feelings and reinforces the interdependence of faculty and staff. WiL will use these learnings to inform programming that will leverage skills developed during the past 18 months to propel women to leadership opportunities.”

The WiL Initiative seeks to build strong leaders that can adapt rapidly to change and adopt new skills to keep teams and organizations moving forward. All members of the Syracuse University and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry campus communities are invited to participate in these events. The initiative’s fall lineup will again include course offerings in two tracks: an academic track and an administrative track.

Community Reset

Coming Together: A Collaborative Brainstorming “Design Think” About Women and Nonbinary Faculty and Staff
Sept. 30 | 4-5 p.m. ET or Oct. 1 | 10-11 a.m. ET

Facilitators: Michele Wheatly, special advisor to the Chancellor and President and professor of biology, and Pam Gavenda, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, associate director, organizational development and training, Office of Human Resources

Before proceeding with administrative and academic programming, WiL felt it was important to convene faculty and staff (virtually) who seek to acknowledge and validate the unifying experiences of women and nonbinary faculty and staff during the pandemic. In small groups, participants will discuss skills they acquired during the past 18 months and WiL programming that will assist them in honing these skills for earlier leadership success.

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Academic Track

Two virtual Academic Track clinics and a virtual Shared Reading Experience Conversation will be offered.

Clinic on Promotion From Assistant to Associate Professor
Oct. 5 | 3-5 p.m. ET

Facilitators: Jamie Winders, professor of geography, and Michele Wheatly, special advisor to the Chancellor and President and professor of biology

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Clinic on Promotion From Associate to Full Professor
Oct. 12 | 3-4:30 p.m. ET

Facilitators: Melissa Luke, Provost Faculty Fellow and Dean’s Professor in the Department of Counseling and Human Services, and Michele Wheatly, special advisor to the Chancellor and President and professor of biology

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Shared Reading Experience: Women Leading Change in Academia—A Conversation With Co-Editor Amy Bonomi
Nov. 18 | 3-4:30 p.m. ET with an optional Q&A from 4:30-5 p.m. ET

Facilitators: Amy Bonomi [PDF] and Elisa Dekaney, associate dean of research, graduate studies and internationalization and professor of music education

You are invited to join Amy Bonomi, co-editor of “Women Leading Change in Academia: Breaking the Glass Ceiling, Cliff, and Slipper,” and Elisa Dekaney, professor of music education and associate dean of research, graduate studies and internationalization, for a discussion about this book, a groundbreaking collection of the perspectives of diverse women academic leaders. Participants will have the opportunity to come together in a virtual space to listen to Amy Bonomi’s professional and personal experiences, discuss the book in small groups and pose questions during a large group discussion. A more informal Q&A period will follow the guided discussion.

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Administrative Track

One in-person Administrative Track “deep-dive” series option will be offered.

Women in Leadership—Crucial Conversations
Fridays, Oct. 8-Nov. 19 | 9:30- 11:30 a.m. ET (Seven-part series)
On-campus location TBA

Facilitator: Certified program leader Pam Gavenda, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, associate director, organizational development and training, Office of Human Resources

This seven-week series will offer participation in the skill building Crucial Conversations program, which teaches skills for creating alignment and agreement by fostering open dialogue around high-stakes, emotional or risky topics at all levels of an organization. These are conversations around work quality, time management, productivity, performance, sensitive issues, conflict or a strained relationship, for example. By learning how to speak and be heard (and encouraging others to do the same), you will begin to surface the best ideas, make the highest-quality decisions and then act on the decisions with unity and commitment in a respectful way.

Skills learned each week build upon skills from the previous week, so it is critical that participants are able to attend all seven sessions.

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Refresher and Preview Session
Thursday, Sept. 23 | 9-10 a.m. or 1-2 p.m. ET

Facilitators: Amy P. Kelly [PDF] and

The virtual Refresher and Preview Session will cover four leadership development topics: positive mindsets, character strengths, personal style and emotional IQ. Workshop attendees from the spring 2021 cohort are invited back to share their learning and situational application of the session topics, and individuals who are curious about WiL programming for the spring 2022 semester are invited to participate to gain insight into the program and to hear the experiences of previous participants.

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Women Leaders X-Rising Stronger Together Virtual Convention
Sunday, Oct. 10-Monday, Oct. 11

Again this year, WiL announces sponsorship for 100 Syracuse University women to attend the virtual Women Leaders X—Rising Stronger Together Convention scheduled for Oct. 10-11, 2021. The convention is the annual event for the Women Leaders in College Sports organization, whose mission is to develop, connect and advance women working in college sports and beyond.

Speakers at this year’s Women Leaders X Convention include Erica Dhawan, author of “Digital Body Language”; Amy Morin, editor-in chief of Verywell Mind; and Jill Sharp, master-level performance coach.

The event schedule also includes panel sessions, live connection breakout sessions and a talk with .

Registration also includes a one-year membership to Women Leaders in College Sports.

HOW TO REGISTER: Syracuse University faculty, staff and students who work or research in and around sports, or aspire to learn more about opportunities in this field, are encouraged to . Registration will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

Watch For: Inspire Events—Fall 2021

Inspire Speaker(s) will be announced for fall 2021.

New and Returning Steering Committee Members

The WiL steering committee includes the following members:

• Sue Ballard,* vice president for alumni engagement
• Candace Campbell Jackson, senior vice president and chief of staff to the Chancellor
• Susan Cornelius Edson, executive senior associate athletics director/communications
• Elisa Dekaney, associate dean of research, graduate studies and internationalization and professor of music education in the College of Visual and Performing Arts and School of Education
• Meghan Florkowski,* director, WISE Women’s Business Center
• Marie Garland, assistant provost for faculty affairs
• Pam Gavenda,* associate director, organizational development and training, Office of Human Resources
• Catherine Gerard, associate director of executive education programs in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• Cydney Johnson,* vice president of community engagement and government relations
• Beth Myers,* executive director of the Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education and professor of inclusive education in the School of Education
• Tina Nabatchi,* director, Program for Advancement of Research on Conflict and Collaboration, and professor of public administration and international affairs in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• Dara Royer, senior vice president and chief marketing officer
• Stephanie Salanger,* director of communications, Institute for Veterans and Military Families
• Michele Wheatly, chair of the Women in Leadership Initiative; special advisor to the Chancellor and President; professor of biology
• Jamie Winders,* director of the Autonomous Systems Policy Institute; professor of geography in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs

*Indicates a new steering committee member

Questions about fall 2021 programming may be submitted to Mallory Mitchell at womeninleadership@syr.edu.

Since that time, the initiative’s 251 hours of programming has attracted more than 600 participants to in-depth experiences ranging from managing personal conflict and leading teams to exploring traditional and nontraditional academic career pathways, according to current leader Michele G. Wheatly, special advisor to the Chancellor and President and professor of biology.

“Our panels, workshops and learning experiences featured prominent women leaders from higher education and other sectors,” Wheatly notes. “Demand for these offerings was great and seats for many were nearly immediately filled. I believe that’s because we offered a wide range of topics relevant and important to faculty and staff, especially as they dedicated time to upskilling while working from home during the pandemic.”

To continue building on their success with intentionality, Wheatly and the WiL Steering Committee embarked upon a strategic planning process earlier in 2021. They sought to refine the vision and mission of WiL and ensure that their work continues to align with the hopes and expectations of women on campus as well as remain relevant to post-pandemic higher education.

The planning process drew upon research from similar programs at other institutions and nonprofits, in-depth interviews with key stakeholders, and a survey that was completed by 280 participants. The research indicates that WiL is seen as an asset by aspiring women leaders who believe the initiative should fuel a critically important pipeline that leads to more women and people of color in leadership roles. Respondents also emphasized the value of mentoring, experiential learning and networking.

The research guided WiL leadership as they reached consensus on their vision and mission. In collaboration with Chancellor Kent Syverud, they intend to make Syracuse University a pacesetter in cultivating women’s leadership talents by catalyzing the personal and collective advancement of women on campus. They also adopted three core strategies to increase awareness of personalized professional development opportunities, inspire and better prepare women for their “next” and capture and amplify the voices and experiences of women on campus.

One new addition, an intensive leadership experience for a select cohort is expected to start in spring 2022. Meanwhile, WiL will also offer a new and dynamic series of experiences, host a website that features upcoming programming and curates prior learning opportunities, and champion a more robust approach to sharing information about women leaders on campus.

Panelists for the “Careers for Lawyers in Higher Education” discussion on April 7. Clockwise from top left: Alyssa N. Campbell, Denise C. Dyce, Brittany Grimes Zaehringer and Abby R. Perer.

On April 7 from noon to 1 p.m. ET, Syracuse University’s Women in Leadership Initiative (WiL) and Women in Law Association will offer a panel discussion titled “Careers for Lawyers in Higher Education.” This discussion will feature four highly accomplished women lawyers who have successfully applied their law experience to diverse careers in academia.

Interested members of the Syracuse University and SUNY-ESF campus community can visit . There is no charge to attend.

Offering insights into opportunities and pathways for young lawyers to pursue careers in higher education, this hour-long discussion will feature:

• Alyssa N. Campbell, Esq., director of equal opportunity and inclusion, Office of Equal Opportunity, Inclusion and Resolution Services
• Denise C. Dyce, Esq., director of labor relations, labor and employment counsel, Department of Human Resources
• Abby R. Perer, Esq., associate general counsel for litigation and compliance, Office of University Counsel
• Brittany Grimes Zaehringer, Esq., MSSA, senior associate vice president for operations and strategic initiatives, Division of Enrollment and the Student Experience

Each of these women worked in diverse settings prior to a career at Syracuse University. They will share powerful stories about their personal professional journeys, advice for early-career lawyers considering a career in academia and the day-to-day life of a lawyer working in higher education. The panel will be moderated by College of Law J.D. Candidate Margaret Santandreu ’22, president of the Women Law Students Association.

The WiL Initiative seeks to build strong leaders that can adapt rapidly to change and adopt new skills to keep teams and organizations moving forward. Following participation in events, individuals will be asked to contribute their thoughts, interests and goals to help guide the development of future programming.

With any questions, or if you require any accommodations to fully participate in this program, please contact Kim O’Brien at womeninleadership@syr.edu.

Maureen Casey

Syracuse University’s Women in Leadership Initiative (WiL) is offering a virtual fireside chat, “Lessons In Leadership–Insights from a Collective,” on March 23 from 4 to 5 p.m. ET. The discussion will be hosted by Maureen Casey, chief operating officer for the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF). The panel will feature women with more than 90 years combined military experience.

Interested members of the Syracuse University and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry campus communities can . There is no charge to attend.

Offering insights into management strategies that can be applied in any professional setting, this hourlong discussion will feature professor of military science and department chair U.S Army Lt. Col. Jennifer Gotie, retired U.S. Army Col. Lynda M. Granfield and retired U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Cynthia Pritchett.  Each of these women worked in diverse settings domestically and abroad. They will share powerful stories about adapting their respective styles to respond effectively in diverse and dynamic environments.

This is the final INSPIRE event in the WiL spring 2021 program. The WiL Initiative seeks to build strong leaders that can adapt rapidly to change and adopt new skills to keep teams and organizations moving forward. Following participation in this event, individuals will be asked to contribute their thoughts, interests and goals to help guide the development of future programming.

For any questions, or if you require any accommodations to fully participate in this program, please contact Kim O’Brien at womeninleadership@syr.edu.

“Relationship building, professional development and career advancement benefit from increased opportunities for candid and constructive conversations,” says WiL steering committee member Michele Wheatly, special advisor to the Chancellor and professor of biology. “We look forward to offering WiL programs to members of the campus community that inspire meaningful insights, diversity of thought and self-reflection, with the goal of individual and collective growth.”

The WiL Initiative seeks to build strong leaders that can adapt rapidly to change and adopt new skills to keep teams and organizations moving forward. All members of the Syracuse University and SUNY ESF campus communities are invited to participate in these events. Following participation in events, individuals will be asked to contribute their thoughts, interests and goals to help guide the development of future programming.

Questions about spring 2021 programming may be submitted to Kim O’Brien at womeninleadership@syr.edu.

New Programming

INSPIRE Event: International Women’s Day Celebration

March 8 | 11 a.m.-noon ET

Neeli Bendapudi

Speaker: Neeli Bendapudi, Ph.D., president, University of Louisville

The keynote speaker for the International Women’s Day Celebration is  Neeli Bendapudi, 18th president of the University of Louisville. Bendapudi will share her personal journey to the highest level of leadership in higher education and her thoughts on the meaning of International Women’s Day during a pandemic. The forum will be held via Zoom and features the keynote address and Q&A. The event is open to University faculty, staff and graduate students.

Register for the .

Updated Programming

INSPIRE Event: A Focus on Women Veterans and Military-Connected Women – Celebration Event and Speakers Confirmed

Shared Reading Experience: Spring 2021
Celebration: March 23 | 3-5 p.m. ET

Cynthia Pritchett

The WiL seeks to reach out to pioneering women in fields that are traditionally male. The initiative will offer a shared reading opportunity for women and nonbinary staff, faculty and students with “Ashley’s War: The Untold Story of a Team of Women Soldiers on the Special Ops Battlefield” by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon. Participants will be provided with a copy of the book to read during the spring semester and come together for a shared celebration in March.

The celebration event will include:

• A book discussion (3-4 p.m. ET) for participants in the shared reading experience facilitated by Command Sergeant Major Cynthia Pritchett, U.S. Army (retired), a 36-year active service veteran who is the first female to serve as the command senior enlisted leader or a combatant command in a time of war.
  

  Jennifer L. Gotie

• A virtual “Fireside Chat” (4-5 p.m. ET), open to the campus community, about working and teaching leadership in diverse and dynamic environments. The chat features women leaders and will be facilitated by Maureen Casey, chief operating officer of the Institute for Veterans and Military Families. Panelists:
  

  Lynda M. Granfield

  • Lieutenant Colonel Jennifer L. Gotie, U.S. Army, Civil Affairs; professor of military science and department chair, Syracuse University
  • Colonel Lynda M. Granfield, U.S. Army (retired)
  • Command Sergeant Major Cynthia Pritchett, U.S. Army (retired)

Register for the .

Academic Track: Pathways through the Pyramid: Academic Women, Hierarchies and Silos – New Date, Panelists Confirmed

Feb. 18 | 4-5:30 p.m. ET

Denise A. Battles

Due to the delayed start of the spring semester the panel, originally scheduled for Feb. 8, has been rescheduled for Feb. 18.

Institution-level leadership requires experience leading others, managing resources, making strategic decisions and responding to crises.

Kami Chavis

What roles—and the experiences they provide—prepare women and nonbinary faculty to step into institution level leadership? Is there only one pathway to the top?

Menah Pratt-Clarke

Panelists:

• Denise A. Battles, Ph.D., president, SUNY Geneseo
• Kami Chavis, J.D., vice provost, professor of law and director of Criminal Justice Program, Wake Forest University
• Menah Pratt-Clarke, Ph.D., vice president for strategic affairs and diversity, Virginia Tech
• Lynn Perry Wooten, Ph.D., president, Simmons University

Lynn Perry Wooten

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Graduate Student Track: Empowering Early-Career Academics: Equity and Opportunity in a Post-Pandemic Professoriate – New Date

Co-Sponsored by the Graduate School, Women in Leadership, Women in Science and Engineering, and BioInspired
March 19 | 2-3:30 p.m. ET

Due to the delayed start of the spring semester the workshop, originally scheduled for Feb. 5, has been rescheduled for March 19.

����𲹰���:��Leslie Gonzales, associate professor, Department of Educational Administration, Michigan State University

Leslie Gonzales

Research has highlighted the differential impact of COVID-19 on the career trajectories of women and BIPOC currently in faculty roles as well as those in the pipeline to the professoriate. This workshop will offer graduate students the opportunity to consider strategies to promote completion and entry into a post-pandemic higher education landscape.

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Ongoing Registration is still open for the following spring activities:

Inspire Events

Trends in Women’s Leadership in Higher Education During and After the Pandemic(s)

Feb. 23 | 1-2 p.m. ET

����𲹰���:��., director of programs and research for .

This online, interactive synchronous session—developed and delivered by a Black woman postsecondary leader—explores how women’s leadership has progressed during the pandemic(s). The co-created learning space is for all, with the experiences of womxn foregrounded.

Womxn leaders may be noting changes in their own leadership and that of their colleagues. The time we are in—the triple pandemic—is a disruption that has rocked the foundation of who we thought we were. This session will allow time to discuss what happened and how and where womxn are thriving in this environment of frequent change. The talk’s objectives are to recognize the pandemics’ impact on womxn and encourage and empower participants and other womxn leaders.

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Academic Track

Strategic Conflict Management for Faculty

March 2 | 10:30 a.m.-noon ET

Facilitator: Tina Nabatchi, director of the Program for the Advancement of Research on Conflict and Collaboration (PARCC) and professor of public administration and international affairs in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs

Conflict is an essential aspect of leadership, and the most effective leaders learn to be comfortable with conflict and strategic in how they deal with it. This workshop will first introduce a situational model of approaches to conflict and when to choose a particular approach. Equally important is managing the emotion of conflict and maintaining the ability to both listen and assert a point of view. The session will include participation in short listening and assertion exercises, plus address patterns of communication that may be risky in a conflict situation. Exercises and sample scenarios have been selected based on common conflicts faced by faculty in academia.

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Leading Interdisciplinary Teams: The Good, the Bad and the Hairy

April 9 | 1:30-3 p.m. ET

Panelists:

• Marcelle Haddix, Dean’s Professor and chair of reading and language arts in the School of Education;
• Lisa Manning, director of BioInspired Syracuse and Kenan Professor of Physics in the College of Arts and Sciences;
• Vivian May, director of the Humanities Center and professor of women’s and gender studies in the College of Arts and Sciences; and
• Janet M. Wilmoth, professor and chair of sociology in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and director of the Aging Studies Institute

Leading an interdisciplinary team provides first-hand opportunities to develop the kind of skills and perspectives often needed in senior-level positions. They also open doors to leveraging a wide array of resources (human, financial and physical) toward a common end. Join women leaders from research clusters and interdisciplinary institutes and centers to explore the benefits and challenges of leading large-scale, mission-focused initiatives.

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Steering Committee

Steering Committee members for the Women in Leadership Initiative are Maureen Casey, chief operating officer of the Institute for Veterans and Military Families; Sue Cornelius Edson, executive senior associate athletics director/communications; Elisa Dekaney, associate dean for research, graduate studies and internationalization and professor of music education in the College of Visual and Performing Arts; Alexandra Epsilanty, associate vice president for international advancement; Marie Garland, assistant provost for faculty affairs; Catherine Gerard, director of PARCC and associate director of executive education programs in the Maxwell School; LaVonda Reed, associate provost for faculty affairs and professor of law; Dara J. Royer, senior vice president and chief marketing officer; Margaret L. Usdansky, research associate professor in the Falk College and director of the Center for Learning and Student Success; Michele Wheatly, special advisor to the Chancellor and professor of biology; and Candace Campbell Jackson, senior vice president and chief of staff to the Chancellor.

Speakers at this year’s Women Leaders X Convention include , research professor from the University of Houston; “Good Morning America” co-anchor; , Morgan Stanley vice chairman; and , University of Notre Dame Women’s Basketball head coach.

Following each keynote talk, Syracuse University will host Orange Breakout Rooms, featuring inspirational leaders who will facilitate conversations exclusively for Syracuse participants. The event schedule also includes panel sessions highlighting “Mom Truths from Working Moms,” “Racial Equity: Leading with Courage” and a talk with NCAA President .

Registration also includes a one-year membership to Women Leaders in College Sports.

HOW TO REGISTER: Syracuse University women who work or research in and around sports, or aspire to learn more about opportunities in this field, are encouraged to register . Registration will be assigned on a first come, first served basis.

Steering Committee members for the Women in Leadership Initiative are:

• Maureen Casey, chief operating officer of the Institute for Veterans and Military Families;
• Sue Cornelius Edson, executive senior associate athletics director/communications;
• Elisa Dekaney, associate dean for research, graduate studies and internationalization and professor of music education;
• Alexandra Epsilanty, associate vice president for international advancement;
• Marie Garland, assistant provost for faculty affairs;
• Catherine Gerard, director of the Program for the Advancement of Research on Conflict and Collaboration and associate director of executive education programs in the Maxwell School;
• LaVonda Reed, associate provost for faculty affairs and professor of law;
• Dara J. Royer, senior vice president and chief marketing and communications officer;
• Michele Wheatly, special advisor to the Chancellor and professor of biology; and
• Candace Campbell Jackson, senior vice president and chief of staff to the Chancellor.

Cornell University President Martha Pollack will deliver the keynote address at the Women in Leadership Initiative’s Fall Forum on Tuesday, Sept. 15.

The Women in Leadership (WIL) Initiative began two years ago with a vision to offer continuing professional development opportunities that are purposeful, focused and relevant to the University’s women faculty and staff. After a successful and well-attended pilot program in spring 2020—led by Candace Campbell Jackson, senior vice president and chief of staff, and a steering committee consisting of women leaders at the University—the WIL Initiative continues its leadership development opportunities this fall.

As the fall 2020 programming gets underway, former Vice Chancellor and Provost Michele Wheatly, who now serves as special advisor to the chancellor, will lead the initiative. Wheatly says she is looking forward to building on the success achieved during the pilot program.

“I am delighted to be focusing on supporting women development opportunities, an issue that, as a female in the STEM field, is especially important to me,” Wheatly says. “We have tremendous women on our faculty, among our staff and in leadership roles. We must continue to cultivate and catalyze their career paths by supporting, encouraging and empowering them as they pursue professional growth opportunities.”

Program offerings include the annual Fall Forum Inspire Event and this semester course offerings in two tracks: an academic track and a staff track.

The Fall Forum

The event—“Inspiration for Personal and Professional Development”—will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 15, from 1 to 2 p.m. Keynote speaker is Martha E. Pollack, 14th president of Cornell University and professor of computer science, information science and linguistics. President Pollack will share her experiences and knowledge on leadership preparation, mentorship and career encores. The forum will be held via Zoom and features the keynote address and Q&A. The event is open to University faculty, staff and graduate students.

HOW TO REGISTER: by Wednesday, Sept. 9, to register and receive additional Fall Forum information.

Academic Track

Three virtual Academic Track clinics will be offered that focus on the professional development needs of individual women faculty to build the administrative pipeline, meet them where they are, and help them advance. Participants will be assigned to teams based on shared interests (e.g., impact of lab closure on STEM researchers; impact of conference cancellation on presentation of scholarly work; impact of time spent re-engineering teaching on scholarship; impact of domestic care work on publication rate).

Clinic on Promotion from Assistant to Associate Professor
Sept. 17, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Facilitator: LaVonda N. Reed, Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs and Professor of Law

Clinic on Promotion from Associate to Full Professor
Sept. 22, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Facilitator: Elisa Dekaney, Associate Dean for Research, Graduate Studies, and Internationalization and Professor of Music Education

Non-hierarchical Leadership: Leading Through Persuasive, Identity-Based Power/“Leading from Where You Are”
Oct. 13, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Facilitators: Margaret Usdansky, Research Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Learning and Student Success; Marie Garland, Assistant Provost for Faculty Affairs

HOW TO REGISTER: to register your interest in an Academic Track workshop.

Staff Track

Leadership Development virtual offerings will be facilitated by leadership experts Jack Slavinski and Amy P. Kelly and will include the following opportunities:

Refresher and Preview Session
Sept. 30, 9 to 11 a.m. or 1 to 3 p.m.

The Refresher and Preview Session will cover four leadership development topics: “Positive Mindsets,” “Character Strengths,” “Personal Style” and “Emotional IQ.” Workshop attendees from the spring 2020 cohort are invited back to share their learning and situational application of the session topics, and individuals who are curious about WIL programming for the Spring 2021 semester are invited to participate to gain insight about the program and to hear the experiences of previous participants.

Leadership Development Training—Four-Part Series

Continuing the leadership training track begun this past spring, the workshops below are open to those who completed Leadership Development training with Jack Slavinski and Amy P. Kelly in spring 2020. Each two-hour virtual workshop is part of a comprehensive leadership system that includes pre-reading, assessments and/or personal reflection activities, as well as active participation in session activities and discussions:

Communication Effectiveness Strategies
Oct. 1, 9 to 11 a.m. or 1 to 3 p.m.

Leadership communication is often cited as the most important of dozens of competencies. In this session, the group will look at problematic leadership communication blind spots and how this impacts relationships and trust. The group will learn conflict management tips to gain greater initiative commitment, incorporating emotional IQ training. Several challenging biases prevalent in the workplace will be discussed, and proven debunking methods will be shared. Finally, the group will learn how to seek feedback using best practice strategies.

Relationship Management and Trust Building
Oct. 13, 9 to 11 a.m. or 1 to 3 p.m.

Our relationships and trust levels are built through our communication effectiveness and how we connect with others. This session will focus on integrating communication and other strategies into relationship building. The team will explore key elements of building trust and the trust “lens” others use with us. This includes the way people manage character strengths, relationship connections and position competency. Participants will develop a trust action plan.

Developing High Performing Teams (HPT)
Oct. 27, 9 to 11 a.m. or 1 to 3 p.m.

The highest performing teams have a strong foundation of positive relationships and trust. They are more resilient and adaptable. The team will learn proven HPT criteria and techniques to assess, design and develop teams to improve culture, performance and results. Discussion will focus on what defines HPT players in the context of participants’ work. Participants will develop techniques to gain more consistent HPT change adaptability and behavior accountability.

Leading Organizational Change
Nov. 10, 9 to 11 a.m. or 1 to 3 p.m.

Gaining buy-in to major change initiatives can be highly challenging. Many key factors must be focused on to achieve greater levels of sustained success. These include, but are not limited to, change-mindset, trust, goal clarity and culture. The team will learn what is required to prepare systemically for organizational change to gain a greater level of adoption using a proven framework. Participants will apply a comprehensive model to assess change readiness. The team will develop a change action plan to prepare individuals for greater levels of change adaptability.

HOW TO REGISTER: to register your interest in a Staff Track workshop.

Steering Committee members for the Women in Leadership Initiative are: Maureen Casey, chief operating officer of the Institute for Veterans and Military Families; Sue Cornelius Edson, executive senior associate athletics director/communications; Elisa Dekaney, associate dean for research, graduate studies, and internationalization and professor of music education; Alexandra Epsilanty, associate vice president for international advancement; Marie Garland, assistant provost for faculty affairs; Catherine Gerard, director of the Program for the Advancement of Research on Conflict and Collaboration and associate director of executive education programs in the Maxwell School; LaVonda Reed, associate provost for faculty affairs and professor of law; Dara J. Royer, senior vice president and chief marketing and communications officer; Michele Wheatly, special advisor to the Chancellor and professor of biology; and Candace Campbell Jackson, senior vice president and chief of staff to the Chancellor.

Questions about fall 2020 programming may be submitted to Misty Schutt at womeninleadership@syr.edu.

• Wanting the opportunity to know in advance what upcoming programming is being offered.
• Multiple options for workshop day and times should be offered to accommodate schedules.
• Those interested in Women in Leadership opportunities come from many sectors of the campus community and are at various stages of development. Some want to learn a concrete skill, others like hearing stories and being inspired, and some want a cohort experience to provide an intensive opportunity.

The Women in Leadership Initiative listened to this feedback and, in an effort to be responsive, are offering pilot courses in the spring semester in two tracks: Leadership Development and Coaching and Leadership Communication. Details about the pilot course offerings, and how to register, follow.

Track 1: Leadership Development and Coaching Opportunities

Amy P. Kelly and Jack Slavinski

A series of two-hour workshops and follow-up coaching sessions facilitated by leadership experts and Amy P. Kelly will be offered to all interested faculty and staff members. Each of the four sessions below is part of a comprehensive leadership system and builds upon each other from session to session. There will be multiple offerings of each workshop over a two-day period, as well as opportunities to receive personal coaching for your leadership performance and development.

• Feb. 18-19: Positive Mindsets
  Positive Mindsets covers the impacts of keeping a positive mindset, what happens when we put our brain in a negative place and how that impacts decision making and development. Our attitudes and approaches to complex conditions and situations stem from our mindset and how we “choose” to look at them. Key principles and behavioral actions that keep us positive, while learning from negativity, will be discussed. Approaches and actions to get others to change their mindsets will also be addressed.
• March 3-4: Character Strengths
  Character Strengths leverages over 20 years of work at the VIA Institute on Character, where they have identified the true 24 strengths of character. Virtually everything we do occurs through the use of our character strengths, including building trust through relationships and demonstrating competence. The impacts of recognizing and using our character strengths, individually and in teams, will be discussed.
• April 20-21: Personal Style Adaptability
  Personal Style Adaptability speaks to communication and interaction tendencies that each of us leans on when faced with diverse situations and circumstances. Some tend to be more direct and some more detailed; while others are more reserved, energetic or big picture communicators. This directly impacts our ability to persuade and influence in today’s highly dynamic, complex world. This training focuses on the importance of knowing our learned tendencies and the necessity to situationally adapt our communication and interaction style.
• May 19-20: Emotional IQ and Resilience
  Emotional IQ is about self-awareness, emotional management and how that affects personal development, decision making, interactions and social relationships. Research has identified that upwards of 80 percent of our ability to be effective in our roles is determined by our emotional IQ. Attributes of Emotional IQ are interrelated to becoming more resilient to the stress, anxiety and adversity that we face. Anyone can improve in these areas through this training.

Supportive and informative development assessments will be leveraged to increase personal reflection and self-awareness. The assessment link will be provided in advance of each session.

Track 2: Professional Skills – Leadership Communication

The following opportunities are open to all Syracuse University faculty, staff and graduate students.

Sheila Johnson-Willis

Emotional Intelligence
Feb. 19, 9-11 a.m., or Feb. 28, 1-3 p.m.
Learn about the components of emotional intelligence, explore the personal and professional benefits of emotional intelligence—including its impact on building leadership skills—and gain strategies to increase and develop your emotional intelligence. This session will be facilitated by Pam Gavenda, associate director, organizational development and training, and Sheila Johnson-Willis, associate vice president and chief equal opportunity and Title IX officer.

Introduction to Crucial Conversations
March 10, 9-11 a.m., or March 27, 9-11 a.m.

Pam Gavenda

Crucial conversations take place every day in our work and personal lives. They occur when there are differences in opinion, high stakes and strong emotions. The way individuals react and respond in critical moments affects many outcomes. In this session, you’ll learn to recognize and develop skills around moments in conversation that impact healthy dialogue, including personal motives and the stories we tell ourselves. This session will be facilitated by Pam Gavenda, associate director, organizational development and training, and certified trainer of Crucial Conversations.

Strategic Conflict Management
April 6, 1-3 p.m., or April 7, 9-11 a.m.

Catherine Gerard

Conflict is an essential aspect of leadership, and the most effective leaders learn to be comfortable with conflict and strategic in how they deal with it. This workshop will first introduce a situational model of approaches to conflict and when to choose a particular approach. Equally important is managing the emotion of conflict and maintaining the ability to both listen and assert a point of view. In this session, you’ll participate in short listening and assertion exercises, plus address patterns of communication that may be risky in a conflict situation. The session is facilitated by Catherine Gerard, director of the Program for the Advancement of Research on Conflict and Collaboration (PARCC).

Workshop locations are to be determined. to receive direct notification of Professional Skills-Leadership Communication track workshops once details are finalized.

Academic Leadership and Empowerment/Self-Discovery

Additional pilot courses, currently under development, will be offered in two other tracks: Academic Leadership and Empowerment/Self-Discovery.

Michele Wheatly and Isisara Bey

Academic Leadership pilot offerings are being finalized with input from the Special Assistant to the Chancellor Michele Wheatly. Topics, taught by distinguished Syracuse University faculty, will include Developing Impactful Collaborations, Academic Leadership Opportunities, and Current Issues and Opportunities in Higher Education. Details about these courses will be announced in February, with courses offered in March and April.

The Empowerment/Self-Discovery track offerings will be facilitated by Isisara Bey, journey agent. Workshop topics will be announced in February and offered in late spring or summer.

Workshops Sign Up

to register your interest in a workshop and to receive additional information about Women in Leadership Initiatives.

Questions about spring 2020 pilot programming may be submitted to Kim O’Brien at womeninleadership@syr.edu.