At Bryant, women students find a dedicated network of inspirational mentors. The Gertrude Meth Hochberg Women’s Center of Bryant’s PwC Center for Diversity and Inclusion enhances the quality of life for the community of University women by providing a forum for discussion and engaging the campus community in meaningful discussions and activity surrounding women's empowerment, gender and sexuality. During the month of March, Bryant recognizes Women’s HerStory Month with a wide variety of programs and speakers.
On Tuesday, March 1, Trustee D. Ellen Wilson ‘79, Executive Vice President of UnitedHealth Group, Inc. shares her story. Ms. Wilson has forged a dynamic career with key industry leaders in the health care and financial sectors, including UnitedHealth Group, Optum and Fidelity Investments. Appointed Chief Human Resources Officer at UnitedHealth Group in 2013 and named to the Office of the Chief Executive in 2014, she has been responsible for all aspects of human resources for more than 300,000 employees, including compensation and benefits, talent management, leadership and employee development, rewards and recognition and organization development.
“In a world with a lot of smart people in leadership, courage differentiates you,” she says. “You need courage to step into situations that you really want to run from, courage to make a difference in your company and the world, and courage to make unpopular decisions and be a truth-teller.”
On March 8, International Women’s Day, Bryant hosts an evening with Reverend Nontombi Naomi Tutu. The talk, Our Shared Humanity: Exploring the Conversation of Race, Gender, International Affairs and Equity, takes place at 7pm in Janikies Auditorium. The daughter of 1984 Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Rev. Tutu is the Missioner for Racial and Economic Equity at the Cathedral of All Souls, Asheville, NC. The challenges of growing up black and female in apartheid South Africa have been the foundation of her life as an activist for human rights. Her professional experiences include serving as a development consultant in West Africa, program coordinator for Race and Gender and Gender-based Violence in Education at the African Gender Institute at the University of Cape Town, and program Coordinator for the Race Relations Institute at Fisk University.
“We are grateful to have so many organizations on our campus working together to support women’s leadership,” noted Mailee Kue, Ph.D., Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs & Title IX Coordinator. The HerStory event with D. Ellen Wilson is sponsored by the Hochberg Women’s Center, University Advancement, and the Women’s Leadership Living and Learning Community. The evening with Rev. Tutu is made possible with support from the Hochberg Women’s Center, International Affairs, Women’s Leadership LLC, Alliance for Women’s Awareness and Global Studies.
Additional programs in March include the series, Women at Bryant: Sharing our Story, hosted by the Alliance for Women’s Awareness. The first event, to be held March 8 from 11am-1pm in the Rotunda, will capture the stories of women-identified community members. A follow up Community Conversation, in which participants will continue to reflect on their experiences of being women at Bryant, will be held March 9 from 3-4pm in the Fisher Student Center, 2A.
HerStory Month is also pleased to feature a faculty and staff luncheon hosted by the Women’s Affinity Group, a community read of portions of the book Invisible Women, and Women who Inspire Paint Night, hosted by the PwC Center for Diversity and Inclusion. Women’s HerStory Month with conclude with Gratitude for Women. Held in the Art Barn 3-6pm, the program will feature performances by Bryant performance arts groups, refreshments from a local woman-owned business, crafts and a community art project. An exciting addition to the event is a performance by indie-folk duo LVDY, which includes Bryant alumna, athlete and staff person Aubrey Mable ‘14.
“Women’s History month creates an opportunity for us to highlight the exceptional contributions of women around the world and right here at Bryant. It is a month of true celebration for the community and we are so excited for what we have in store,” said Kelly Boutin, Director of the Hochberg Women's Center & Pride Center at Bryant University and Co-Director of the Women's Leadership Living and Learning Community.
