The 2016 Inaugural Women in Leadership Summit was held at Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus (IUPUC) on Friday, March 25. 

The event spotlighted selected women in leadership roles on campus and within the community. “By doing this, we hope to incite leadership skills in the students, faculty, staff at IUPUC, and throughout the region. The event was an acknowledgment of Women’s History Month, which is the month of March,” shares organizer Tanea Herbert.  The Inaugural Women in Leadership Summit was sponsored by Campus Activities Board and Feminism Club at IUPUC.

“Women’s History Month creates an opportunity to demonstrate to students that IUPUC endorses women in roles of leadership. Additionally, IUPUC students are equipped and empowered with the knowledge and skills necessary to achieve positive leadership roles in their careers.”

Guest speaker Kelly Benjamin has been a practicing attorney for 24 years, devoting over 15 of those years to prosecuting crimes with a specialty in domestic violence, child abuse, and sexual assault cases. She is the Commissioner of the Bartholomew County IV-D Child Support Court and the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation Attorney.

Kelly’s contributions towards building a healthy community have not gone unnoticed. In 2009 and 2010 she received the “Community Safety Award” from Turning Point Domestic Violence Services. In 2011, she was presented the “Service Pillar, Healthy Communities Volunteer of the Year” award from Columbus Regional Hospital.  Later that same year, she was awarded “Outstanding Prosecutor of the Year” from the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence for her community work in raising awareness about teen dating and domestic violence. In May 2015, Kelly was one of four Bartholomew “Women in Leadership” honorees by the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce.

Guest speaker Janise Wilson is the US Liaison for a non-governmental organization that she helped found in 2010, called Kukhany’okusha Cares for Children Project, which feeds nearly 700 orphaned and vulnerable children each day in Swaziland, Africa. There are seven different community centers throughout the country that not only provides food, safety and education; it maintains two farms that provide employment opportunities for women.

Janice has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Asbury University. She interned with the Program to Overcome Violence in Geneva, Switzerland. She is the author of “Exploring Solutions: How to

Talk about HIV Prevention in the Church.” She enjoys speaking about her experiences and travel, while writing grants, creating partnerships, and working with donors for the NGO.

Panel members attending the summit include women in leadership roles at IUPUC. During the event attendees ask the panel questions relevant to their roles as leaders in higher education at IUPUC.

• Carol Branson, Director of Communications and Marketing Director
• Dr. Sandra Miles, Director of Student Affairs and University Ombudsman
• Aimee Zoeller, Sociology Program Coordinator, and Sociology Lecturer

Organizing the 2016 Inaugural Women in Leadership Summit is IUPUC student Tanea Herbert of Greensburg, Indiana. Tanea is a sophomore biology student and plans to complete her undergraduate degree at IU Bloomington and continue in pursuit of a graduate degree. Tanea has worked with IUPUC Assistant Director of Biology, Dr. Luke Jacobus in conducting biological research. She shares that in the fall of 2015, she was one of three students that received an Office of Student Research grant that allowed her to study the conservation of mayflies in Indiana.

Currently, Tanea exercises campus leadership through a high level of participation in student activities. Her activities include:

• Student assistant in the IUPUC Office of University College (UCOL)
• Academic Resource Center (ARC) as a math tutor
• President of Campus Activities Board (CAB)
• Treasurer for Feminism Club
• Student intern for the Excellence in Leadership Initiative program
• Peer Mentor
• Student coordinator for Campus Orientations

For more information on The Inaugural Women in Leadership Summit contact Tanea Herbert at tsherber@iupuc.edu.