Legacy of Leadership

Empowering student leaders is one of the pillars of Student Life's mission. Most often, this involves Student Life staff and administrative leaders sharing their experiences and passing on their knowledge to the next generation of leaders. As exciting as it is to see students begin to shape their world through their pursuits on campus, oftentimes, it's years before we see how leadership has fully manifested itself in a former student's life.

University Residences' Women's Leadership Series has provided the unique opportunity to see how this leadership manifests across generations of Boilermakers. This year's series provided several examples of Purdue connections that have empowered individuals to impact the world around them.

One such connection is between Betty Nelson, dean of students emerita and a participant in the series, and Teresa Roche, chief human resources officer for the City of Fort Collins (Colorado), who presented as a speaker. Roche and Nelson have enjoyed a relationship built upon friendship and mentorship that can be traced to their first meeting in the mid-1970s, when Roche interviewed to become a member of the Association for Women's Students. 

Nelson mentored Roche through her work with AWS and, later, as a graduate intern in the Office of the Dean of Students. Nelson's friendship, Roche says, has been a constant in her life for four decades. During that time, Roche has worked in the private sector, returned to Purdue with her husband and newborn child to pursue a doctorate, and negotiated several career moves.

Roche says she specifically selected the dates of her stay as part of University Residences' Executive-in-Residence program so she could participate in the series as a speaker. Her message centered on experiences in her life that connect with the book "The Gifts of Imperfection," by Brené Brown, which participants in the series read as part of their experience. 

"I just feel that one of the best ways I can thank Betty and these other women is to give to others as others have so generously given to me," says Roche. "The ability to bear witness to others' stories and their journeys is truly a gift."

Nelson has been a role model and mentor for generations of Purdue students like Roche. She became Purdue's third dean of students in 1987 after 20 years as an assistant and an associate dean, and served as an advisor for several student organizations. She is perhaps best known as being a champion for women's causes on campus through her work at the University.

"I've had a lot of opportunities along the way to feel very keenly about girls and adolescents needing to understand their options, to value themselves and to respect themselves," says Nelson. "The Women's Leadership Series here was natural for me to be a part of. If I'm available to be part of something like this that shows support for women being all they can be, I'm there."

Furthering the connection across generations were two Women's Leadership award nominees, each of whom are daughters of women who once worked with Nelson when she was Dean of Students. Anna Szolwinski, the winner of this year's award, cited her mother, Jenni (Birch) Szolwinski, as an influence in her choice to pursue leadership opportunities on campus.

"My Mom has definitely been a big role model in my life, especially as a woman who is strong and confident and can empower other women as well," says Szolwinski. "She's really encouraged me to dive in to leadership positions here at Purdue and really get involved on campus because that's something that made her college experience so rich when she was here."

The series is one of several experiences that has helped cultivate Szolwinski's desire to pursue leadership opportunities at Purdue. She currently serves as director of Rising Professionals, an organization that works alongside Old Masters to unite distinguished young Purdue alumni with current underclassmen. She is also a member of the Purdue Foundation Student Board and serves as a mentor for incoming freshman in the Honors College. Szolwinski has also been in contact with Kristin Van Busum, one of the guest speakers from Women's Leadership Series, to receive guidance about her future plans.

"It's experiences like this series that allow me to learn more about myself and learn more about my interests and passions, which are building blocks to where I want to go," says Szolwinski. "I think as I go through the next three years of college, I will be participating in experiences and having these connections that make me learn more about what I want to do later on."

The Women's Leadership Series consists of multiple events featuring a guest speaker or two who present on topics related to their area of expertise, share meaningful experiences and answer questions from participants. The events also include group discussion and networking opportunities for guests and attendees. This fall, the series will expand to include more events throughout the school year and include a collaborative event with Men's Leadership Series participants.

Since its inception, more than 700 students and 120 staff have participated in Women's Leadership Series. It is hoped that current participants will return to Purdue as alumni to continue to inspire and connect with future generations of student leaders.