Athena Center Newsletter, Summer 2010

About the Athena Center: Launched in fall 2009, the Athena Center for Leadership Studies is an interdisciplinary center devoted to the theory and practice of women’s leadership. The Center offers specialized academic courses, mentoring and leadership opportunities for Barnard students, and sponsors public lectures and forums with notable leaders from across the globe.

Its Leadership Lab workshops, open to women across the region, teach the practical elements of leadership—from the art of negotiation to effective public speaking, from financial fluency to management savvy.

SAVE THE DATE: October 5, 2010 Building Partnerships: What Men Can Do to Advance Women’s Leadership. Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, authors of Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide will keynote the opening luncheon and half day conference. Two panels with notable men from both the public and private sector and a cocktail reception will follow.

excel collaborate lead February 10-13, 2011 The Athena Film Festival... a celebration of women who bring the art of film to light. Through feature films, documentaries, and shorts from across the globe, the festival will examine the values women leaders share—vision, courage, resilience— and will explore the wide diversity of women’s leadership in both real life and the fictional world. The weekend festival, held on campus, opens with the screening of a feature film, including red carpet arrivals and a VIP reception, and continues with 25 films and panel discussions.

In this issue Leadership Lab Launches in September

2

Summer Fellows Start Jobs

2

Who are Athena Leaders?

2

Dubai Symposium: A Resounding Success

3

Athena Center Welcomes Climate Wise Women

3

Save the Date

4 Front row: Marci Leveillee; Katie Palillo, Jessica Stevenson, Amy Chen, Stephanie Stroup Second row: Lili Chargin, Kelly Ann Taddonio, Emma Siesfeld, Angel Lam, Maisha Rashid Missing: Rachel Wilkinson, Whitney Hoot

Inaugural Class of Athena Scholars Graduate

3009 BROADWAY

NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10027

Graduating this May were twelve highly accomplished seniors of the inaugural class of Athena Scholars. These students set a remarkable precedent for this new program, completing the Athena Center’s core curriculum, participating in internships with leaders in the workplace, and wrapping up social action projects to demonstrate their leadership skills in an off-campus setting.

“I feel proud to be part of a new network at Barnard—people who genuinely care about advancing women’s leadership,” said Amy Chen, an Athena Scholar and winner of this year’s Bryson Prize for her contribution to student life.

The seniors’ social action projects were as fascinating as they were diverse.

Just a few examples: Whitney Hoot created Youth Climate Network NYC, an on-line space for students to submit essays and artwork related to climate change.

Rachel Wilkinson developed a series of workshops called “Lessons from the Campaign Trail” to encourage young women to run for office. Angel Lam developed a fundraising toolkit for the PEER summer camps in China which bring together disadvantaged rural Chinese students with college student volunteers from across the globe. At the end of the semester, the students chose four of the projects to pass down to next year’s class of Athena scholars.

This first class of Athena Scholars also served as the Student Advisory Board, helping to shape its mission, course content and the values we hope to engender in future Athena leaders. Several of the students plan to remain involved with the program after graduation, as mentors and program advisors.

Summer 2010

WHO are Athena Leaders?

The Athena Center’s Board of Advisors and Leadership Council met together in March to provide their guidance and expertise to the Center. At the meeting, there was a lively discussion about the values and skills that are necessary for leadership.

After additional input from faculty and student advisors, we have identified key attributes we would like to inspire in Athena leaders.

In coming months, we will evaluate the Athena program components to ensure that they reflect and nurture these aspirations.

Athena women should be: • Visionary • Courageous and resilient • Bold and innovative • Globally aware and culturally sensitive • Determined to make the world a better place And, of course, they should embrace diversity and inspire other women to lead.

Athena Leadership Lab Launches in September

Dubai Symposium: A Resounding Success

Beginning this September, the Athena Leadership Lab will offer workshops and hands-on seminars designed to teach women the practical elements of leadership—from the art of negotiation to effective public speaking, from financial fluency to management savvy. The 70 non-credit workshops teach skills in six areas: non-profit management, communication, financial fluency, negotiation, courage and resilience and entrepreneurial skills. Workshops will be held on Barnard’s campus in a variety of formats: one to three-hour classes, full-day or weekend sessions. Check out the Fall Catalogue at www.barnard.edu/athena.

Barnard College’s second annual Global Symposium—Women in the Arab World—held on March 15 in Dubai, was a tremendous success.

Approximately 300 accomplished women from across the United Arab Emirates and other parts of the Middle East were in attendance. The event showcased women’s leadership in the region and gave the Athena Center an opportunity to interact with and learn from women in this important part of the world.

The Leadership Lab has been created for women interested in improving their leadership skills. Whatever her stage of life or circumstance—the current student developing her presentation skills, the recent grad climbing the career ladder, a woman reentering the work force or changing careers, an executive or community leader honing her management skills—a distinguished set of instructors will help her gain the skills and know-how needed to lead in her career and community.

Barnard’s Financial Fluency program that until now has been housed in both Alumnae Affairs and Career Development will become a part of the Athena Center. By combining the alumnae and student programs and offering the courses as part of the Leadership Lab, we have a wonderful opportunity to expand the program. Christine Valenza Shin has become the Associate Director and will oversee the Athena Leadership Lab. Welcome Christine!!

Summer Fellows Start Jobs Through a competitive selection process, the Athena Center has chosen ten exemplary students as its first class of Athena Summer Fellows. The students, who began 10-week paid internships in June, are living together on campus and are meeting regularly to discuss their experiences and meet leaders from across the city. This first group of fellows has a wide range of interests from human rights to journalism to entrepreneurship.

Also this summer, a great crew of interns is helping to launch the Leadership Lab, the Building Partnerships Conference and the Athena Film Festival.

Many thanks to Barnard students Nina Ahuja, Ashley Bush, Natalia Quintero and Patricia Urena and to Laura Shields who is interning for WomenandHollywood.com, the producer of the Film Festival.

The half-day program opened with a luncheon and stirring keynote address

by Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, the UAE Minister for Foreign Trade. Pointing to the fact that in the UAE today women are represented in all aspects of business and civic life, Her Excellency cautioned, In many parts of the Middle East, family, cultural, business and political structures still limit the full development of women’s potential.

We need forums such as these to erase the popular stereotype of women as the ‘weaker’ sex with

criticism. The discussion, moderated

by President Spar and featuring Egyptian scholar and critic Samia Mehrez, Tunisian filmmaker Moufida Tlatli, and Egyptian novelist Ahdaf Soueif, explored how the arts and literature expand women voices and experience.

limited social roles. We need to encourage young Arab girls to believe more in themselves and have confidence in their ability to achieve and excel.

An afternoon panel, Voices of the Region, tackled issues facing women in the region through the lens of the arts: film, literature, and literary

The second panel, Conversations on Leadership, examined the changing face of women’s leadership across the region. Athena Center Director Kathryn Kolbert moderated a panel of extraordinary trailblazers including investment banker Loulwa Bakr, the first woman trader in Saudi Arabia; Dr. Houriya Kazim, the first female surgeon in the UAE; Federal National Council Member Najla Al-Awadhi, one of the first women in the UAE Parliament and CEO of Dubai’s government-run cable television channels; and fashion designer Rabia Zargarpur (known as Rabia Z), whose award-winning designs incorporate the hijab or traditional Muslim dress. The Athena Center has printed a monograph with the complete remarks of Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi.

Athena Center Welcomes Climate Wise Women On April 8, 2010, the Athena Center, in cooperation Kim Knowlton of the National Resources Defense Council with Climate Wise Women, hosted Her Excellency Mary and Jean Gardner from the Parsons School of Design/The Robinson, President of Ireland (1990-97), and a panel New School also participated in the panel. of grassroots activists from across the globe. President Robinson talked about how droughts, floods and other climate changes cause social upheaval and political instability, particularly for women and children. Constance Okollet, with Osukura United Women in Eastern Uganda, spoke about how she became an activist after heavy rains destroyed the homes and food supply of her village. Ulamila Kurai Wragg, with WAVE in Raratonga, who has witnessed first-hand the diverse effect of climate change in Fiji and the Cook Islands, and Sharon Hanshaw, with Coastal Women for Change, who is helping to rebuild Biloxi, Mississippi following Hurricane Katrina, urged the audience to spread the word about the effects of climate change and the difficulties women are facing across the globe.

WHO are Athena Leaders?

The Athena Center’s Board of Advisors and Leadership Council met together in March to provide their guidance and expertise to the Center. At the meeting, there was a lively discussion about the values and skills that are necessary for leadership.

After additional input from faculty and student advisors, we have identified key attributes we would like to inspire in Athena leaders.

In coming months, we will evaluate the Athena program components to ensure that they reflect and nurture these aspirations.

Athena women should be: • Visionary • Courageous and resilient • Bold and innovative • Globally aware and culturally sensitive • Determined to make the world a better place And, of course, they should embrace diversity and inspire other women to lead.

Athena Leadership Lab Launches in September

Dubai Symposium: A Resounding Success

Beginning this September, the Athena Leadership Lab will offer workshops and hands-on seminars designed to teach women the practical elements of leadership—from the art of negotiation to effective public speaking, from financial fluency to management savvy. The 70 non-credit workshops teach skills in six areas: non-profit management, communication, financial fluency, negotiation, courage and resilience and entrepreneurial skills. Workshops will be held on Barnard’s campus in a variety of formats: one to three-hour classes, full-day or weekend sessions. Check out the Fall Catalogue at www.barnard.edu/athena.

Barnard College’s second annual Global Symposium—Women in the Arab World—held on March 15 in Dubai, was a tremendous success.

Approximately 300 accomplished women from across the United Arab Emirates and other parts of the Middle East were in attendance. The event showcased women’s leadership in the region and gave the Athena Center an opportunity to interact with and learn from women in this important part of the world.

The Leadership Lab has been created for women interested in improving their leadership skills. Whatever her stage of life or circumstance—the current student developing her presentation skills, the recent grad climbing the career ladder, a woman reentering the work force or changing careers, an executive or community leader honing her management skills—a distinguished set of instructors will help her gain the skills and know-how needed to lead in her career and community.

Barnard’s Financial Fluency program that until now has been housed in both Alumnae Affairs and Career Development will become a part of the Athena Center. By combining the alumnae and student programs and offering the courses as part of the Leadership Lab, we have a wonderful opportunity to expand the program. Christine Valenza Shin has become the Associate Director and will oversee the Athena Leadership Lab. Welcome Christine!!

Summer Fellows Start Jobs Through a competitive selection process, the Athena Center has chosen ten exemplary students as its first class of Athena Summer Fellows. The students, who began 10-week paid internships in June, are living together on campus and are meeting regularly to discuss their experiences and meet leaders from across the city. This first group of fellows has a wide range of interests from human rights to journalism to entrepreneurship.

Also this summer, a great crew of interns is helping to launch the Leadership Lab, the Building Partnerships Conference and the Athena Film Festival.

Many thanks to Barnard students Nina Ahuja, Ashley Bush, Natalia Quintero and Patricia Urena and to Laura Shields who is interning for WomenandHollywood.com, the producer of the Film Festival.

The half-day program opened with a luncheon and stirring keynote address

by Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, the UAE Minister for Foreign Trade. Pointing to the fact that in the UAE today women are represented in all aspects of business and civic life, Her Excellency cautioned, In many parts of the Middle East, family, cultural, business and political structures still limit the full development of women’s potential.

We need forums such as these to erase the popular stereotype of women as the ‘weaker’ sex with

criticism. The discussion, moderated

by President Spar and featuring Egyptian scholar and critic Samia Mehrez, Tunisian filmmaker Moufida Tlatli, and Egyptian novelist Ahdaf Soueif, explored how the arts and literature expand women voices and experience.

limited social roles. We need to encourage young Arab girls to believe more in themselves and have confidence in their ability to achieve and excel.

An afternoon panel, Voices of the Region, tackled issues facing women in the region through the lens of the arts: film, literature, and literary

The second panel, Conversations on Leadership, examined the changing face of women’s leadership across the region. Athena Center Director Kathryn Kolbert moderated a panel of extraordinary trailblazers including investment banker Loulwa Bakr, the first woman trader in Saudi Arabia; Dr. Houriya Kazim, the first female surgeon in the UAE; Federal National Council Member Najla Al-Awadhi, one of the first women in the UAE Parliament and CEO of Dubai’s government-run cable television channels; and fashion designer Rabia Zargarpur (known as Rabia Z), whose award-winning designs incorporate the hijab or traditional Muslim dress. The Athena Center has printed a monograph with the complete remarks of Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi.

Athena Center Welcomes Climate Wise Women On April 8, 2010, the Athena Center, in cooperation Kim Knowlton of the National Resources Defense Council with Climate Wise Women, hosted Her Excellency Mary and Jean Gardner from the Parsons School of Design/The Robinson, President of Ireland (1990-97), and a panel New School also participated in the panel. of grassroots activists from across the globe. President Robinson talked about how droughts, floods and other climate changes cause social upheaval and political instability, particularly for women and children. Constance Okollet, with Osukura United Women in Eastern Uganda, spoke about how she became an activist after heavy rains destroyed the homes and food supply of her village. Ulamila Kurai Wragg, with WAVE in Raratonga, who has witnessed first-hand the diverse effect of climate change in Fiji and the Cook Islands, and Sharon Hanshaw, with Coastal Women for Change, who is helping to rebuild Biloxi, Mississippi following Hurricane Katrina, urged the audience to spread the word about the effects of climate change and the difficulties women are facing across the globe.

About the Athena Center: Launched in fall 2009, the Athena Center for Leadership Studies is an interdisciplinary center devoted to the theory and practice of women’s leadership. The Center offers specialized academic courses, mentoring and leadership opportunities for Barnard students, and sponsors public lectures and forums with notable leaders from across the globe.

Its Leadership Lab workshops, open to women across the region, teach the practical elements of leadership—from the art of negotiation to effective public speaking, from financial fluency to management savvy.

SAVE THE DATE: October 5, 2010 Building Partnerships: What Men Can Do to Advance Women’s Leadership. Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, authors of Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide will keynote the opening luncheon and half day conference. Two panels with notable men from both the public and private sector and a cocktail reception will follow.

excel collaborate lead February 10-13, 2011 The Athena Film Festival... a celebration of women who bring the art of film to light. Through feature films, documentaries, and shorts from across the globe, the festival will examine the values women leaders share—vision, courage, resilience— and will explore the wide diversity of women’s leadership in both real life and the fictional world. The weekend festival, held on campus, opens with the screening of a feature film, including red carpet arrivals and a VIP reception, and continues with 25 films and panel discussions.

In this issue Leadership Lab Launches in September

2

Summer Fellows Start Jobs

2

Who are Athena Leaders?

2

Dubai Symposium: A Resounding Success

3

Athena Center Welcomes Climate Wise Women

3

Save the Date

4 Front row: Marci Leveillee; Katie Palillo, Jessica Stevenson, Amy Chen, Stephanie Stroup Second row: Lili Chargin, Kelly Ann Taddonio, Emma Siesfeld, Angel Lam, Maisha Rashid Missing: Rachel Wilkinson, Whitney Hoot

Inaugural Class of Athena Scholars Graduate

3009 BROADWAY

NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10027

Graduating this May were twelve highly accomplished seniors of the inaugural class of Athena Scholars. These students set a remarkable precedent for this new program, completing the Athena Center’s core curriculum, participating in internships with leaders in the workplace, and wrapping up social action projects to demonstrate their leadership skills in an off-campus setting.

“I feel proud to be part of a new network at Barnard—people who genuinely care about advancing women’s leadership,” said Amy Chen, an Athena Scholar and winner of this year’s Bryson Prize for her contribution to student life.

The seniors’ social action projects were as fascinating as they were diverse.

Just a few examples: Whitney Hoot created Youth Climate Network NYC, an on-line space for students to submit essays and artwork related to climate change.

Rachel Wilkinson developed a series of workshops called “Lessons from the Campaign Trail” to encourage young women to run for office. Angel Lam developed a fundraising toolkit for the PEER summer camps in China which bring together disadvantaged rural Chinese students with college student volunteers from across the globe. At the end of the semester, the students chose four of the projects to pass down to next year’s class of Athena scholars.

This first class of Athena Scholars also served as the Student Advisory Board, helping to shape its mission, course content and the values we hope to engender in future Athena leaders. Several of the students plan to remain involved with the program after graduation, as mentors and program advisors.

Summer 2010