→ WHY I GIVE: DEANNA YAMEEN

MCGINTY: You’ve had a very successful career. Give us a thumbnail sketch of your background.

YAMEEN: I’ll start at the beginning and fast forward quickly. Over 35 years ago, I got an accidental part-time job at a community college with a college professor who asked for a favor. I left that campus nine years later with a master’s degree, having served as faculty and Associate Dean. Then spent most of my career on community college campuses as a professional staff member, tenure-track faculty, Director, Associate Director, Assistant Dean, Associate Dean, Dean, Vice Provost, and Provost. I also ran a nonprofit in Boston for anyone from underrepresented groups. The last 15 years were spent at Massasoit Community College, where I served in a variety of roles. I started as a dean, and thanks to my HERS project, I became the vice provost and helped restructure Student Success. When a new president came in, I was offered the Provost and VP of Academic and Student Affairs role. Six months ago, I made a very large job change. I was nominated, and I’ve since accepted the position as the graduate dean of the School of Arts and Social Sciences at Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

MCGINTY: You have been exceptionally generous with HERS in terms of giving your time, talent, and resources. Talk to me about why and how you give.

YAMEEN: When I attended HERS, I worked at a community college, and my institution couldn’t afford the full cost. Thankfully, HERS offered scholarships for participants from HBCUs, tribal colleges, and community colleges. The fact that someone else made it possible for me to experience the HLI was not lost on me. I want to ensure women in that same situation don’t lose out on the opportunity. Currently, I’m serving as a faculty-in-residence at the WHLI. The first time I got invited to serve, I was like a little kid over the moon. Being able to do this means so much to me. There are many ways to say thank you to an organization that has given me so much. In my last two jobs, I successfully negotiated significant salary increases, and I would not have known how to do that had it not been for HERS. So, every time I get an increase, I give to HERS. Also, to formalize support for HERS, I’m working with the advancement office at my university to establish a scholarship in my mom’s name to support staff members to attend HERS. Our faculty have greater access to professional development, but staff members do not. I want them to be able to access that money to attend the HLI. Whatever I give pales in comparison to what I’ve received from HERS. But it feels good to be at a place in my career where I’m fortunate enough to have some money to give.

MCGINTY: What advice would you offer women leaders about giving and supporting other women?

YAMEEN: Think about the link between being an ally and a co-conspirator. Being an ally is passive. Understanding issues on an intellectual level doesn’t necessarily create change. When you have a position of power and/or privilege, do something meaningful with it to help others. Stop being afraid and jump in! Don’t forget the fiscal part. HERS is not going to exist without financial support!