CWC Leadership Scholars Program
I have served as Faculty Director for the CWC Leadership Scholars (CWCLS) program since 2018. This deeply rewarding and soul-expanding journey has shaped my understanding as a teacher, leader, and person.
Mission
The CWC Leadership Scholars program's mission is to develop diverse, thoughtful, civically responsible leaders who thrive at DU and beyond. Our program harnesses the open and supportive environment that is the legacy of the Colorado Women’s College.
Actions & Impact
Since arriving at DU in the fall of 2018, I have undertaken the beautiful, complex challenge of shaping and building the success of the CWC Leadership Scholars program. Some highlights of this work are detailed below.
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Program Development
- Expanded the program to support 15-19 new students annually.
- Built the Emergency & Enrichment fund for student financial support.
- Navigated significant transitions every year through 2020-2021 in changes in supervision, resources, funding, and staffing.
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Student Support
- Provide consistent check-ins to students to ensure they are doing well in their academics and personal lives.
- Have written over 80+ letters of recommendation for students applying to graduate school, study abroad, and/or career and professional development opportunities.
- Provide support and resources for students navigating personal crises including financial instability, houselessness, food insecurity, pregnancy, death of loved ones and grief, medical challenges, mental health issues, sexual assault and gender-based violence, and/or racial/ethinic discrimination.
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Alumnae Engagement
- Learned to navigate the complexities of being the legacy program of a closed historical women's college and rebuilt strong relationships with CWC/TWC alumnae.
- Formed and oversee the CWC Advisory Council, a group of five CWC/TWC alumnae who support the CWCLS program through advice, mentoring, and financial support.
- Maintain the legacy link between CWC and the CWCLS through multiple annual programs, including the Hanging of the Greens event celebrating graduating seniors for over 90 years.
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Scholarships & Fundraising
- Participate in the annual 1Day4DU to raise over $12,000 in funds for the enrichment and emergency fund.
- The program received a $2 Million gift from the Joy Burns estate to support the scholarship funding for the program.
- Collaborated with the Advancement Office to ensure the conversion of past CWC/TWC scholarships to be made available for CWC Leadership Scholars students.
- Gifts and converted scholarships now equate to an endowed scholarship fund that can support 12 scholars at $6,000 per year annually in perpetuity.
- Collaborate with the Financial Aid Office to award over $250,000 in scholarships per year to scholars based on financial need.
Belongingness
Since 2021-2022, the leadership studies programs have sent a belongingness survey to first and second-year students in the fall and spring.
For the most recent survey in Spring 2023, the data reveal that most students in the CWC Leadership Scholars program feel like they can talk to the faculty staff about academic and personal matters. They also feel like they belong in CWC. A majority, but smaller amount also note they feel like they belong at DU. Click here for a deeper dive into the data.
For the most recent survey in Spring 2023, the data reveal that most students in the CWC Leadership Scholars program feel like they can talk to the faculty staff about academic and personal matters. They also feel like they belong in CWC. A majority, but smaller amount also note they feel like they belong at DU. Click here for a deeper dive into the data.
PLP Leadership Program
I serve as a Teaching Assistant Professor in the PLP leadership program - an institutional foundation and profound leadership learning experience for over 25 years.
Mission
PLP is a transformational learning experience that combines coursework, a residential community, civic engagement, and professional networks to equip 21st-century citizen leaders.
Vision
Building Inclusive Leadership for a Just World
Actions & Impact
My role in PLP is as a colleague, teammate, and educator. I teach one PLP course per quarter and mainly support the second-year students as a coach during their CCI projects.
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Program Development
- Supported the refocusing of the program to be integrated with an inclusive-justice oriented mindset
- Assisted in developing the Belongingness surveys for program assessment.
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Student Support
- Provide consistent check-ins to a cohort of 25+ first-year students and serve as their leadership studies academic advisor.
- Have written over 25+ letters of recommendation for students applying to graduate school, study abroad, and/or career and professional development opportunities.
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Alumni Engagement
- Participate in PLP alumni events including annual connection events with students and alumni.
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Fundraising
- Participated in the annual PLP 1Day4DU.
Annual Reports and Reviews
Below you will find links to the CWC and PLP Annual Reports as well as my Annual Reviews. The CWC and PLP Annual Reports are a broad overview of efforts for the program across all elements. The CWC Annual Reports cover 2020-2023. The 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 reports are not available to me because of loss of document access during the CWC closure and transition in 2020.
