Leading women inspire ambition in students

C.K Magliola, left, Charissa Threat, right. RYAN CARTEE Staff Photographer

To kick off the celebration of International Women’s day, Chapman’s Women Advisory Group hosted a Women in Leadership Panel in Argyros Forum March 4. The panel consisted of four women, all in leadership positions at Chapman University. They told personal stories and gave their perspectives on their journey to where they are today.

“We think that it’s important for everyone around Chapman to see women in leadership, hear about their stories, their successes, and their obstacles,” said Naveena Chonkaria, a junior strategic and corporate communication major who helped plan the panel.

The panelists were Dr. Janeen Hill, Dean of Crean College, C.K Magliola, Doctor of the Women’s Studies Minor Program, Dr. Marisol Arredondo Samson, Director of Institutional Research and Dr. Charissa Threat, associate professor in the Department of History.

Both Samson and Threat were first-generation students in college and admit that going to school for a PhD did not seem like an obvious path; the initiative to pursue a position of power was not a given. Samson discussed her desire to prevent the same feelings in her own daughter when she began to notice a lack of self-confidence in the field of science.

“I go to her teacher and I ask what can we do to prevent this perception that she is not good in math. I feel like I already have to start being that advocate, not letting that gap in perception grow,” Samson said. Threat added to this by emphasizing the importance of her own mentor who taught her to value herself. “Sometimes women have a hard time learning that they are valuable,” Threat said.

When the panel was asked for advice for young women on how to pursue leadership positions, the panel agreed on the importance of finding a good mentor, male or female.

“Finding someone who will help you and mentor you is one of the best things you can do for yourself. That is not a sign of weakness, that is a sign of real growth,” Hill said.

Hill, the panel’s oldest participant, grew up in a time where women were not empowered.

“When I first went to graduate school, it was an oppressive place. It was really set up that if you were there, let’s get rid of you,” Hill said of her experience as a woman in higher academics at the time.

Hill is happy to see that the opportunities for women have emerged and changed dramatically.

Still, the panel unitedly agreed on wanting to see more women in leadership in general and at Chapman. The issue seems not only to be having women win these positions, but increasing the pool of female applicants, students and faculty. Magliola encouraged students to pursue leadership positions at their college campus.

“You have access to rooms, you have access to funds, you have access to faculty, you have a voice and students don’t realize it,” Magliola said.

The panel ended their talk with the encouraging words that young female students should set their imposter syndrome aside and believe that they belong in a position where they can influence and lead. “This reminds me of something Maya Angelou said,” Magliola said at the very last minute.

“You don’t come here as one, you come here as 10,000. You deserve to be here. You have 10,000 behind you that got you here.”