CWU to host Women in Leadership panel Thursday

Central Washington University’s College of Education and Professional Studies (CEPS) will host the inaugural Women in Leadership panel Thursday, October 12, from 4-6 p.m. in the SURC Theatre and via Zoom.

The panel will feature five female alumni who have risen to the top in their respective fields discussing the status of the ongoing movement for equality in the workplace. The participants also will share their leadership journey and strategies for navigatingbarriers in a world that’s still coming to terms with centuries of gender disparities.

This year’s panel is being coordinated by CEPS Alumni Engagement Coordinator Xiaoyin Zhong, who said events like this help attendees gain a broader understanding of what their fellow human beings might be going through.

“The rush of work often makes people forget about the identities of their colleagues outside of the workplace,” she said. “In addition to being coworkers, they may also be the daughters of sick mothers, single fathers, or students who work and go to school at the same time. Panel discussions like this allow the audience to communicate closely with alumni, and better understand the little-known stories and hardships behind their success. This fosters deeper thinking about the importance and necessity of equality in the workplace.”

Pursuant to CEPS’ strategic priorities, the panel was designed with intentional focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, featuring panelists from broadly diverse backgrounds and a variety of fields to give attendees a more complete understanding of the ways in which they can help foster equity in the workplace and beyond.

The five panelists are retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel DeAnna Bridenback, retired Boeing Senior Project Engineer Teresa King, Associated General Contractors of Washington Director of Safety Mandi Kime, Boeing Project Manager Allyson Chopic, and Morgan Middle School Spanish Teacher Sia Aronica.

Zhong said that CEPS hopes attendees are inspired to reassess their assumptions about their peers and find their confidence in the face of prejudice.

“I hope the audience will be encouraged to acknowledge the importance of female leaders in the workplace, and recognize their contributions,” she said. “There is still a long way to go for women’s equality and sense of belonging in the workplace. We firmly believe that with your understanding and support, our road will go smoother and farther.”

The Women in Leadership panel is open to the public, and no prior registration is required.