Recognizing women who inspire

Women’s History Month may be March, but it’s every month of the year that we find inspiration in the women who make a difference in our community and our lives.

That’s why in 2015, Director of Residential Life Jennifer Adams reached out to people wanting to find a way to celebrate those women and the difference they make to the campus community and the Women Who Inspire Luncheon was born.

Now in its second year, the event serves both as a recognition of the women who make a difference but also to offer examples to female students on campus of both what they can accomplish and how they can be of help to one another through the unique situations that face.

“Women at SUNY Poly face a challenge, as they major in fields heavily dominated by men,” said Maryrose Raab, Director of Graduate Admissions and one of the organizers of the event. “We thought it would be a great way to show that there are women around them who support and hopefully inspire them to do great things while they’re here and after they graduate.”

A reception before the event featured photographs by Lynne Browne. Dr. Kathryn Stam’s delivered the keynote address: Sharing Women’s Stories, where she discussed both the inspiration of her mother, as well as the inspiration drawn from the women who have come to the Utica area as refugees, restarted their lives, and made a difference to the Mohawk Valley.

“We thought this year it would be interesting to focus on the way refugees have enhanced life in the Mohawk Valley,” Raab said. “Kathryn brought with her a group of female refugees to campus to talk about how we were inspired by them and what they’ve brought to the area as well as our appreciation for them.”

Each seated at different tables, attendees were given the chance to personally get to know these women and their inspiring stories about restarting their lives in the United States.

As the afternoon came to a close, an award ceremony was held, honoring community members who encourage the success of women throughout the SUNY Poly community. Individuals were each nominated by their colleagues from across campus.

Faculty and staff honored were Sue Kimak, Joanne Joseph, Linda Weber, Judy Wolf, Zora Thomova, Lynne Browne, Kathryn Stam, Meghan Getman, and Christine Otto.

Two students were also honored for their efforts – Aminata Jawo and Leah Segerlin.

Kathryn Stam and Lynne Browne received special recognition as Women Who Inspire for their collaboration on Faces of Hope: Portraits of Refugees in Central New York, which was a featured exhibit at Munson Williams Proctor Arts Institute for the later half of 2016.

“It’s important for the young women on campus to know they have a support system and to see examples of the great work women in the SUNY Poly community and the Mohawk Valley are doing every day,” Raab said.