Syracuse Sun

Twenty-eight women from Syracuse University have been selected for the Women in Leadership (WiL) Diane Lyden Murphy Cohort 4 Experience. This initiative is designed to advance women leaders in higher education. The program has engaged nearly 75 participants since its inception in the 2022-2023 academic year.

The new cohort, which includes faculty and administrative staff, will begin their sessions in January 2025 and conclude by May with five experiential learning sessions. Participants include Cathy Bottari, Colleen Burton, Rachel DuBois, Lynn Farquhar, Maria Ferrara, Aileen Gallagher, Tamara Hamilton, Stephanie Jensen-Moulton, Hua Jiang, Veronica Jones, Elizabeth Kubala, Liz Lance, Lisa Liparulo, Yanhong Liu, Ashley Lopez, Jody Nyboer, Andrea Persin, Paula Possenti-Perez, Farzana Rahman, Kamala Ramadoss, Anne Rauh, Shannon Schantz, Brianna Shults, Yvonne Smith, Emily Stewart, Brooke Wears, Melissa Young and Michaline Younis.

These sessions focus on building leadership skills such as active listening and navigating change while providing insights into university operations. Co-founder Candace Campbell Jackson highlights the importance of creating a leadership community: “Higher education demands and depends upon a team of collaborative leaders who can thoughtfully and authentically make decisions for the greater good.”

Dara Royer emphasizes WiL's role in developing future leaders: “Syracuse wants to be known as a pacesetter in developing the talents and traits of tomorrow’s leaders.” She adds that WiL demonstrates the university's commitment to fostering growth among women ready to influence higher education management.

Elisa Dekaney notes that WiL helps bridge gaps between different roles within academia: “We’re bridging the divide that often exists between those who seek to lead in teaching and research and those who desire to head up the operational aspects of the University.”

For further details about WiL programs or participation inquiries can be directed to their webpage or email address provided by Syracuse University.