Women’s Leadership

Voices of Leadership

Projects showcase student learning

Mount Mary’s annual Voices of Leadership is not only an event that brings to campus a groundbreaking woman leader, it provides an opportunity for vibrant student learning at the same time.

This annual event enhances curriculum and the educational experiences for students through student projects that align with course learning objectives and also incorporate the themes from the keynote address.

On November 4, Mount Mary welcomed barrier-breaking businesswoman Linda Alvarado to campus (for details of her speech, see page 23). The courses represented in the student projects this year include dietetics, interior architecture and design, human resources in business, world languages, Spanish, studio art and fashion, and the event included displays that showcased the breadth and depth of these projects.

The dietetics students started off the day by creating a breakfast buffet specifically designed to combat stress. The menu included seven tested and modified recipes, and the students sourced, priced and prepped many of the ingredients themselves for the event. Among the menu were selections like the Midwest Bake and Morning Glory Muffins, rich in vitamins A, B, C, and D, which are beneficial because they assist in producing dopamine and serotonin and positively influence anxiety and academic performance, among other things.

Interior architecture and design students drafted activity and education centers for women, known as “Women’s Houses,” in Senegal, Africa to promote gender equity. They created spaces that will encourage local meetings to discuss equality and human rights through designs filled with symbolism and local traditions that are also ecological and sustainable.

Student Catherine Starosta describes the project as influencing her educational experience by showing the power of collaboration between the Women’s Leadership Institute and Mount Mary.

“Such a fitting team; it would almost be silly if opportunities like this were not created!” Starosta said.

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Students in the business department Minorities represent 37 percent of the U.S. population now, compared with less than 17 percent in 1970. Women earn 82 cents for every dollar a man makes. The start of 1979, by comparison, was 75 cents.

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The World Languages program students chose to write aspirational pieces for their class project. Those double-majoring in Spanish wrote essays about how they will break barriers with college degrees in a language that will support their goals to bridge the communication gap in their career.

New program extends leadership learning

A new program provides further support for students who have attended the Summer Leadership Academy in high school and have enrolled at Mount Mary. L•E•A The Women’s Leadership Institute’s Leadership Education Leadership Education And Development And Development (LEAD) program gathers for a monthly lunch-andlearn program to further develop their skills and allow them to make connections within the school and local community.

“I have been able to make friendships before I even started my freshman year,” said Megan Frerichs, who started at Mount Mary this fall.

“The LEAD program has helped me strengthen my relationships and made me feel more connected to both staff and students here on campus.”

The program develops leadership skills, expanding knowledge of career skills and choices, and becoming more thoughtful, self-aware and confident students and leaders. The Leadership for Social Justice students put a spin on the required class text, “Great Peacemakers,” and wrote chapters on some peacemakers of their own choosing, based on what the class learned about race, gender, class and intersectionality. Their entries included information about their peace leader, as well as 10-20 notable quotes in a format that mimics the text.

Three-dimensional design students

discussed the social impact of Alvarado’s leadership. Students learned woodworking skills to create a series of three sculptures. In the process of research, students discussed equity and the importance of access to resources in our communities.

Fashion design students, inspired by the story of Ana Kraft, founder and CEO of the Milwaukee company Xena Workwear, chose to research and design items for either tradeswomen or professional women. They researched the challenges women face when shopping for functional workwear. and went through the steps of the design process to develop one complete look and an outerwear piece that address at least three key issues for their target customers. n