Celebrating Women's History Month at Dean: Empowering Voices & Inspiring Futures

As March and Women’s History Month come to an end, we at Dean College are filled with a deep sense of honor and appreciation for the amazing women in our community. This month serves not only as a celebration of the contributions of women throughout history, but also as a reminder of the ongoing journey towards gender equality and empowerment. Women's History Month gives us the opportunity to amplify the voices of those who have historically been marginalized. It’s the perfect time to highlight the stories of women from diverse backgrounds and experiences, including women of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and women with disabilities, whose contributions have often been sidelined or erased from mainstream narratives.

We were thrilled to be able to welcome some extraordinary women to our campus in March as guest speakers, and the lessons they imparted were empowering and inspirational to us all.

FEMITA AYANBEKU

On March 20, we spent an evening with Femita Ayanbeku, a U.S. Paralympic track and field athlete and the fastest female amputee in the country. At age 11, Femita was in a car accident that resulted in the amputation of her right leg below the knee. But, despite the challenges, Femita went on to become the 100-meter national champion at the age of 23, breaking the American record (AR) that she still holds eight years later. Femita has participated in all major world competitions representing Team U.S.A., including the Rio 2016 and the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, World Championships (2017 and 2019), and the ParaPan American Games (Lima 2019). She is currently training for the Paralympic Games of Paris being held this summer.

“I’m 31 now and I just feel like there have been so many things that I’ve overcome just to get to this point,” Femita told the audience. “But, as the obstacles continue to come, I’m always ready to face them. I’m always looking to push forward and just keep trying to be great.”

While maintaining her athletic career, Femita also went on to earn her MBA in 2019, as well as a certification through ACE® as a personal trainer. She was also the first American amputee woman to be featured in a Victoria's Secret campaign and she is a FitBit and Ossur prosthetics spokesperson. And this year, Femita has added being a mother to her long list of accomplishments, welcoming a baby girl in January. Femita has also invested her time in giving back to the community, even starting her own non-profit, Limb-it-less Creations, Inc. And, she currently holds a board position on two non-profits, The Born to Run Foundation and Adaptive Sports New England. Her nonprofit work is specifically aimed at providing sports and equipment opportunities to kids and adults with physical disabilities and offering mentorship to those who need it.

When asked how she manages to do it all, Femita replied, “You have to be able to prioritize. I knew that I wanted to be an elite athlete, but I also knew that getting my education was really important. So, I had to fully commit to both. So, my advice is to stay present and committed to whatever it is that’s in front of you and to just show up.”

We thank Femita for sharing her incredible story of resilience, tenacity, and hope with the Dean community.

WOMEN IN BUSINESS CONFERENCE: FIND YOUR VOICE, DEFINE YOUR JOURNEY

On March 22, the newly created Women in Business club at Dean held its first annual Women in Business Conference. This empowering, student-organized event was designed to inspire and support Dean’s female-identifying alumnae and students who aspire to excel in the dynamic landscape of business. The invited speakers shared invaluable insights and guidance, encouraging our young women to thrive in their respective industries.

Dominica Ribeiro, a Dean College alumna, and currently the Chief Marketing and Distribution Officer at Breckinridge Capital Advisors, shared her experiences navigating the male-dominated financial services industry.

“Gender equity is about fairness to all genders. It’s not just a fundamental human right, it’s essential for building peaceful societies, unlocking full human potential, and ensuring sustainable development,” Dominica told the conference attendees. “Research shows that when women serve as leaders and employees in traditionally male-dominated industries, businesses benefit, and company performance improves.” She went on to say, “Resilient workplaces and inclusive cultures foster innovation, creativity, and better consumer understanding. Together, let’s continue to break down barriers, navigate the path to gender equality, and create a more prosperous world for all.”

Maggie Keohan earned her MBA from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business and is currently the Managing Director & Region Head of Goldman Sachs Private Wealth Management in New England. Having ascended the corporate ladder at this global financial institution during the last 24 years, Maggie shared her advice for succeeding, despite the obstacles.

“My advice to you is to say yes to new opportunities. If something comes your way, don’t be afraid of it. If it looks interesting, go do it. Give it a try and be bold as you pursue it.” She continued by advising the young women to “work hard at the things that interest you because they will create the next opportunity. Do, act, engage, and step forward. You’ll find that through action, you’ll believe more in yourself as you go along.”

Kathleen Ralls, PhD, is an empowerment leader, author, athlete, and Fulbright scholar whose mission is to provide female empowerment and leadership training to change the world, one unique voice at a time.

Sharing her wisdom, Kathleen asked the audience, “Why are we told over and over again that talented, competitive women must be enemies? That they cannot disagree, battle, and still be friends and colleagues. The answer is glaring: because, when women team up, we are unstoppable. So, together, let’s rewrite this boring and outdated narrative that women can’t lead together.”

She went on to educate the young women at the conference on how to become a valuable member of a team, instructing, “Don’t forget to continue to explore and strengthen the skills and talents that make you a valid team member. Use your unique voice, even if it’s unapologetically. But, don’t forget to build up the voices of your teammates, because none of us stand alone.”

Thank you to Dean’s Women in Business Club and to the inspirational speakers for supporting and empowering our future leaders.

KENYATTA BERRY

On March 27, Kenyatta Berry—author, attorney, professional genealogist, podcaster, and television personality—spoke to the Dean community about the path she's taken to reach success in her field, and why she is so passionate about making genealogy accessible to everyone. Kenyatta ignites the desire in others to connect to their pasts in order to find out who they really are. As demand grows for people to learn more about their lineage and DNA, she continues to innovate, transforming the world of genealogy by making it more accessible to the masses.

Supporting the importance of this field, Kenyatta said, “I think we need to explain to folks why it is important to know your family history. If you’re a student seeking knowledge, your family could have contributed something to the world that you don’t even know about. You all have stories. These stories are important. And do you want someone else to tell them, or do you want to write them yourselves?”

Kenyatta energizes the genealogy world with an illustrious career spanning more than 20 years of data collection, in-depth genealogical research, and historical content in the discipline of genealogy. Her vast knowledge in the areas of African American genealogy, enslaved ancestral research, and DNA has made her an invaluable expert on the subject. In fact, she is a contributor to the groundbreaking “1619 Project” an ongoing initiative from the New York Times Magazine that aims to reframe our country’s history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the center of our national narrative.

“My advice to young adults is to find out what you’re passionate about. For me, it was discovering what I would do for free,” she told the audience. “If you want to be part of the change, you need to go out and do something.”

Thank you to Kenyatta for sharing her enthusiasm, stories and expertise with our Dean community.

At the heart of Dean lies a commitment to diversity, inclusivity, and recognition, and we are grateful to our guest speakers and the community for embracing our mission and celebrating Women’s History Month this March. But, our commitment to women's empowerment extends far beyond the confines of a single month. It is a year-round endeavor that requires dedication, advocacy, and allyship from all members of our community. By championing gender equality, fostering diversity, and amplifying the voices of women, we can create a more inclusive and equitable society for all.