Students get ready for Voices of Leadership

Mount Mary’s annual Voices of Leadership event, which takes place Nov. 4 introduces campus a groundbreaking woman leader and provides an opportunity for student learning.

Read more about keynote speaker Linda Alvarado here.

In anticipation of Alvarado’s appearance, students from spring 2021 and fall 2021 have participated in projects that align with course learning objectives and also incorporate the themes from her presentation.

The courses represented in the student projects this year include dietetics, interior architecture and design, human resources in business, world languages, Spanish, studio art and fashion, and the event included displays that showcased the breadth and depth of these projects.

• Dietetics: Students started off the day by creating a breakfast buffet specifically designed to combat stress.
• Interior Architecture and Design: Students drafted activity and education centers for women, known as “Women's Houses,” in Senegal, Africa to promote gender equity.
• Business: Human resources students researched topics such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, trailblazers who were the first in a specific career, and industry shifts that have broken barriers within the business field. They created infographics as a visual representation of the facts on topics such as how things have changed since the Civil Right Act of 1964. 
• World Languages: Students wrote aspirational pieces about how they will break barriers with college degrees in a language that will support their goals to bridge the communication gap in their careers.
• Leadership for Social Justice: Students wrote about peacemakers of their own choosing, based on what the class learned about race, gender, class and intersectionality.
• Three-dimensional Design: Studio art students learned woodworking skills to create a series of three sculptures. In the process of research, students discussed equity and the importance of access to resources in our communities.
• Fashion Design: Inspired by the story of Ana Kraft, founder and CEO of the Milwaukee company Xena Workwear, chose to research and design items for either tradeswomen or professional women. They researched the challenges women face when shopping for functional workwear.

Interior Architecture and Design student Catherine Starosta describes the project as influencing her educational experience by showing the power of collaboration between the Women’s Leadership Institute and Mount Mary. 

“Such a fitting team, it would almost be silly if opportunities like this were not created!” Starosta said.