KC Spotlight - Women in Student Affairs

A pearl is formed when a grain of sand enters the oyster and causes discomfort and irritation.  Despite frustrations and challenging times, may the pearl serve as a reminder through it all, we are constantly cultivating and evolving who we will become.

At the 2016 IV-WE Regional Conference, I had the great honor and privilege of helping to facilitate the first “Women’s Words of Wisdom” reception.  The “grain of sand” for this event came from a meaningful and challenging conversation between the event founder and another female colleague. That conversation inspired the creation of an event that would provide a similar type of genuine dialogue and exchange of ideas .  We wanted to assemble a powerful panel of femi-leaders in student affairs to share their herstory—their journeys, their lessons learned, their pearls of wisdom.  We aspired to create a space where women in our field and their allies could come together in community to build new relationships and grow our support networks.

And what resulted on that inaugural evening in St. Louis was truly beautiful. Dr. Claudia Mercado, Dr. Jody Donovan, Dr. Danita M. Brown Young, and Dr. Lori White exemplified what Fries-Britt and Snider’s (2015) work on women and mentoring describe as essential: authenticity, transparency and vulnerability.  Each had a unique narrative and each gave her talk in her own way.  There was singing, sharing of verse and sharing of self.   It’s because each of these wonderful speaker’s willingness to share so passionately and graciously, the room was filled with an emotional energy that was distinctive. Even now, as I reflect on that evening, I am moved to tears.

That evening left me invigorated personally and professionally.  I am grateful for the women who crafted this event, Dr. Sara Mata, Dr. Ana Rosetti-Sloan, and Kristie Jacobsen-Jerde, for the women who gave of themselves through story, and those who attended the event.  I am inspired to help cultivate the next generation of women in my field. I challenge you to do the same. How can you use YOUR story? How can you use YOUR strength to help cultivate others?

Abby Vollmer is the Director of the Hansen Leadership Program at Doane University and currently serves as the NASPA IV-W Women in Student Affairs KC Representative.  For more information please contact Abby at abby.vollmer@doane.edu. 

Source:

Fries-Britt, S., & Snider, J. (2015). Mentoring Outside the Line: The Importance of Authenticity, Transparency and Vulnerability in Effective Mentoring Relationships. New Directions For Higher Education, (171), 3-11. doi:10.1002/he.20137