During Women’s History Month, Saint Ben’s senior Olivia Henson has a message for the women leaders who’ve brought us this far.
“I would say thank you – for your resilience, your courage and your refusal to accept the status quo. Every step forward we take today is because of the groundwork you laid. We honor your legacy by continuing the fight for equality and ensuring that future generations have even more doors open to them.”
Henson is a student engagement coordinator for the Sister Nancy Hynes Institute for Women’s Leadership (IWL) at the College of Saint Benedict. It’s her second year on staff with the IWL and, through a unique set of circumstances, she is this year’s only returning staff member. She’s seen positives in that transition though.
“Having a whole new team brings a sense of enthusiasm,” she says. “There’s a real drive to create engaging programs and initiatives that resonate with students. It’s been great to see new ideas come to life and to work with a new group of people who are just as excited to be part of IWL’s mission.”
That excitement has definitely shown through in March for Women’s History Month.
“Women’s History Month to me just feels like a little hug,” said junior Emily Strommen. “I feel like, being at an all-women’s campus, it highlights how powerful we are as a collective group to be able to do this. It’s a chance to dive into the things I love about being a woman and to share that openly with people. There’s just a lot of empowerment.”
Strommen is this year’s student director of the IWL. She and her team are carrying forward a mission that’s lived on this campus now for over 20 years: To empower women to become local and global leaders by engaging in inclusive dialogue, reflective thinking and values-based leadership that celebrates and recognizes women as shapers of the world.
“If we want equality and equity, we all have to work together,” explained CSB junior Sophie Heck, this year’s IWL marketing coordinator. “So I think the IWL is very important to have. We want women to know there are opportunities for them, not just here but everywhere. We want CSB students to become leaders not just on campus, but in the world. And our mission helps them achieve that.”
This year’s turnover in staff, admittedly, led IWL to a slow start – including the pause of the popular Hynes Scholars program for sophomores. “We chose to take a step back and pause that program for this year,” said Strommen, “in order to make sure that when it comes back it’s what it’s supposed to be. The students who take part as Hynes Scholars need to know they’ll be getting the full experience and that it’s up to our standards.”
“The Hynes Scholars program provides a unique space for sophomore Bennies to develop their leadership skills,” explains Henson, who is a key driver in reviving the program. “More importantly, it’s a safe place for students to take risks, make mistakes and experiment with what it means to be an informed leader. Leadership isn’t about having all the answers – it’s about learning, growing and discovering how to lead with authenticity and confidence.”
Applications for next year’s Hynes Scholars program will open to current first-year Bennies later this semester.
Despite the slow start, IWL staff ramped up strong in preparation for Women’s History month. They packed a calendar full of art, film, dialogue and keynote speaker Amanda Rees (the co-founder and CEO of Bold, the leading healthy aging platform, who shared her journey from studying at a women’s-serving institution to stepping into the role of caretaker and navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship).
“Women’s History Month has been filled with great events,” said Strommen. “We’ve had lots of programming, plenty of tabling and have been spreading the word. It’s time to celebrate, especially here at a women’s college.”
Henson is optimistic for the future. “I hope women continue to support each other, breaking down barriers and redefining what leadership looks like. I hope every woman feels empowered to step into her potential, knowing she belongs in any space she chooses to be in.”
What is the IWL?
On March 29, 2004, the “CSB Women’s Center” held its first program, a discussion about feminism titled “The ‘F’ Word.” Not long after, in September 2007, the center was dedicated to Sister Nancy Hynes, OSB, because of her dedication to the women’s movement and her activism concerning women’s issues. And in Fall 2009, the Sister Nancy Hynes Center for Women became the Sister Nancy Hynes Institute for Women’s Leadership. The change in the name indicated a change in the institute’s focus, centering primarily on gender issues and women’s leadership.
The Institute for Women’s Leadership is a unique, student-run program. The program is led by a student director working 10-15 hours per week, leading a staff of seven to nine fellow students. The student director also works closely with a program advisor. Guided by a dynamic advisory board made up of faculty and administrative staff, students are ultimately in charge of the direction that the institute takes throughout the year – what programs are put on, what themes programs center on, and how to further advance the institute and its role on campus.
In this process, students gain hands-on leadership experience, find their leadership style and discover firsthand how gender influences leadership. This allows them to continue developing quality programs and help students learn the importance of understanding gender and leadership.