WRIN honored Jan Jones with the WRIN Leadership Award at the Rio.
Pat Mulroy, general manager of the Las Vegas Valley Water District, received the first WRIN Leadership award for her strength, dignity, and wisdom in managing the natural resources of southern Nevadans.
Thanks to a grant from the Eleanor Kagi Foundation, a Lynn M. Bennett Legacy, the WRIN website offered more information and resources with text, audio, and visual materials. The site’s make-over is supervised by doctoral student Angela Moor.
WRIN Leadership Award is presented to Thalia Dondero, resident of southern Nevada since 1943, who “mentored generations of women in politics, business, and civic life.”
The Carol Corbett Awards, WRIN’s research award, was presented to both Marie Rowley, a graduate student pursuing a Master’s degree in History at 51ԹϺ, and Katie Eubanks, who graduated in 2009 with a degree in women’s studies.
NEWL launches its 8th successful year with 20 new students. The students met a range of successful women leaders, including one-on-one with 51ԹϺ’s Sustainability Coordinator, Tara Pike-Nordstrom and a Women’s Leadership Luncheon hosted by Southern Nevada Home Builders Association President, Irene Porter. Educational workshops and panels featured Harriet Trudell, Dorothy Eisenberg, Renee Diamond, and Ruby Diamond. Rose McKinney-James, Managing Principal of Energy Works LLC, offered the Keynote speech at the keynote dinner. Two alumnae, Judi Brown (2007) and Karoline Khamis (2004) returned to the program as faculty-in-residence. Two alumnae, Ivette Sanchez (2006) and Monique Sulls (2007) returned to work as program assistants during this year’s conference.
Alumnae in Action:
Gregan Wingert (2009) worked in the Internal Communications Department through a partnership between WRIN and Harrah’s Entertainment. She also had the chance to work with the Nevada Community Foundation on special research projects. She also worked for CLASS! Magazine whe she hires, organizes, mentors, and manages 20 high school students who aided in the creation of the monthly magazine.
Maylssa Essex (2010) interned at the Rape Crisis Center (RCC). She shadowed management and learning program development, coalition building, and direct victim services.
Alma Castro (2005) attended NYU Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and received an MPA in International Development Policy in May 2011. She interned for UNIFEM (UN Women) since February 2010 for their “Say NO – UniTE Against Violence Against Women” campaign. Previously, she worked for Girl Scouts of USA Headquarters as their Global Action Coordinator writing a Peer Education Curriculum titled, “HIV-Free Generation.
Angela Moor received the university’sHarold L. Boyer and Judith Boyer History Student Scholarship for the second time
WRIN received national recognition from the National Council for Research on Women and was awarded their inaugural Emerging Center Award. The NCRW includes 120 national and international centers of research and the award recognizes a member center that has “experienced a significant change in mission or growth within the last five years.” Joanne Goodwin accepted the award in New York City at the annual conference in June.
The Eleanor Kagi Foundation bestowed two gifts upon WRIN that allow the institute to continue with research and education agenda in spite of cuts to public funding (2009 being the worst year in academic funding thus far in which student fees are increased, salaries declined, class size enlarged, and positions went unfilled).
Oral histories focused on Barbara Agonia, one of the longest serving Community Advisory Board members and first president of the board for WRIN, as well as Gene Segerblom. Agonia’s oral history focused on her move to the then small town of Las Vegas and her involvement in community of the previous 30 years, her advocacy for women, and her activity in rape crisis education. Segerblom’s oral history focused on her time and efforts in the Nevada State Assembly as a legislator as she worked to protect the rights of local fishermen and the preservation of Boulder Dam Hotel and Museum.
January 2009, WRIN awarded the WRIN Leadership Award to Pat Mulroy, General Manage of the Southern Nevada Water Authority and the Las Vegas Valley Water District. The award recognizes those that have achieved distinction in their field of endeavor, have had a positive impact on the development of southern Nevada, and have dedicated energy to mentor the next generation of women leaders.
WRIN hosted the 7th successful year of the NEWL program in which 25 additional students joined, putting the total number of graduates at 175. The students meet a range of successful women leaders, including Marybel Batjer, VP for Public Policy and Communications at Harrah’s, Assemblywomen Kathy McClain and Marilyn Dondero Loop and Flo Rogers, General Manager of Nevada Public Radio. Keynote speaker was Punam Mathur, VP for Human Resources at NV Energy
WRIN continued to develop alumni after graduation. Judi Brown (2007) returned to the program as faculty-in-residence. Jennifer Carr (2003), Lindsay Beirne 2006), and Jer Roberson Strange (2007) returned to the program as speakers, sharing stories of their NEWL experiences and professional development. Maria Luisa Paarra Sandoval (2005) and Monique Sulls (2007) worked as program assistants during this year’s conference.
Alumnae in Action:
Maria Luisa Parra Sandoval (2005), AmeriCorps Member and Volunteer Liaison, was awarded the AmeriCorps Member of the Year Award for her extraordinary national service. She was also accepted to Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government for her Masters Degree in public policy.
Lindsay Beirne (2006), Community Affairs Coordinator for MGM Mirage, also assisted with the Alpha Complex, an organization which connects Las Vegas locals with community culture and activities beyond the Strip.
Evelyn Marcelina Rangel-Medina (2005), Policy Director for the Green-Collar Jobs Campaign at Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, advocated for policy solutions to build a green economy strong enough to lift all communities out of poverty.
Three oral histories completed: Selma Bartlett who was instrumental in the growth and development of Henderson and Las Vegas’ banking industry since her arrival in 1954; Thalia Dondero who was highly influential in developing and shaping the education and political spheres of Las Vegas; and Myrna Williams who taught in 51ԹϺ’s department of social work for 11 years, she counts amongst her greatest accomplishments the work she did during her time as a commissioner.
NEWL, since 2003, graduated 145 alumnae
NEWL accepted 23 new students to the 2008 program, representing every Nevada System of Higher Education institution in the state.
NEWL students had the opportunity to meet with Assemblywoman Kathy McClain at an opening dinner hosted in her home, Assemblywoman Barbara Buckley for a one-on one session, administrative officials at 51ԹϺ, and other women legislators such as Dina Titus and Valerie Weber. They were also visited by Ruby Duncan and Alversal Veals, the women of Operation Life.
Nevada State Attorney General Catherine Cortz Masto was a Keynote speaker at NEWL.
Two alumni, Evelyn Garcia-Morales (2003) and Alisha Nielson (2007) returned to the NEWL program as faculty-in-residence. Another alumna, Monique Sulls (2007) worked with the WRIN staff as the program assistant.
WRIN collected data on the NEWL program over all the years of its operations; the following figures were determined:
Before the program, 48% of participants indicated having a high understanding of leadership, however this increased to 98% immediately after the program.
Prior to, 45% of the participants indicated a high confidence in their ability to lead others, however this increased to 92% immediately after the program.
Prior to, 55% of the participants indicated they had a high understanding of their own bias toward others, however this increased to 85% immediately after the program.
A graduate of the 2008 NEW Leadership Nevada Program and psychology student, Telia Greer, was selected as the NEW Leadership Intern for Harrah’s Entertainment in their National Diversity Relations Department.
Alumnae in Action:
Emily Powers (2005) named a 2008 Tuman Scholar and received up to $30,000 for graduate study. She is the first 51ԹϺ student to win the award since 1987.
Kenia Morales (2006) joined COLOR (Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights and advocated for reproductive rights and quality healthcare for Latina women.
Edith Gonzalez (2008) was a legislative intern for Speaker of the Assembly Barbara Buckley during the Special Legislative Season.
Juawana Grant (2006) became a case manager for Aid for AIDS Nevada (AFAN).
Jennifer Hemphill (2008) became a Deputy Field Director of Congressional District 3 for the Nevada State Democratic Party in Las Vegas.
Melinda Guillen (2008) received an internship to work with Christine Clark, Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion at 51ԹϺ.
The Women’s Legislative Network and the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) sponsored the panel, NEW Leadership: Preparing the Women Leaders of Tomorrow, which introduced the NEW Leadership program to other state legislators and representatives and how it can be developed in their states. Assemblywoman Kathy McClain, former NEWL program manager Julianna Ormsby, and NEWL program manager Diana Rhodes were asked to speak on the panel.
WRIN applied for and received one of the three Ceec Abrahams Memorial Grants in the amount of $10,000.
Favorite NEWL speaker and friend of WRIN, Ruby Duncan received the 2008 Margaret Chase Smith Award from the National Association of Secretaries of State because she showed “political courage and selfless action in the realm of public service.”
WRIN hired Diana Thu-Thao Rhodes, alumna of the NEW Leadership program (2006), as program manager.