Selecting From an Impressive Competitive Field, the Women in Leadership Initiative Announces Cohort 2, Expands by Adding Cohort 3

Advancing its mission to make the University a pacesetter among higher education institutions for cultivating women leaders, Syracuse University’s Women in Leadership Initiative (WiL) is proud to announce the members of its second cohort. The fall cohort will include 25 of the University’s most promising women and non-binary people, offering a personalized, intensive professional development experience.

The Women in Leadership Initiative cohort experience is led by Candace Campbell Jackson, senior vice president and chief of staff to the Chancellor; Dara Royer, senior vice president and chief marketing officer; Marcelle Haddix, associate provost for strategic initiatives; and Jamie Winders, associate provost for faculty affairs. The WiL steering committee will continue to advise the cohort leaders and engage the cohort members.

The WiL Initiative’s cohort experience’s objectives include:

• Foster self-discovery in work/life exploration and identity while enhancing personal and professional leadership strengths and heightening overall emotional intelligence.
• Expand upon and improve skills in areas of personal branding, public presentations, management, negotiation, collaboration and conflict resolution.
• Provide enhanced knowledge of University governance, academic leadership and the overall educational enterprise.
• Explore career options in higher education and academic leadership in a post-pandemic world.
• Build an extended network of referrals and contacts of women leaders within and beyond academic settings.
• Help participants attain new success—on or off campus.

The 25 fall cohort members are listed below and individual bios can be found on the cohort webpage.

Fall 2023 Cohort:

• Eliana Abu-Hamdi
• Simone Adams
• Shannon Andre
• Carlota Deseda-Coon
• Emily Dittman
• Melanie Domanico
• Maithreyee Dubé
• Kirsten Elleby
• Sara Garvey
• Amanda Griffin
• Chandice Haste-Jackson
• Candace Hayden
• Dawn Johnson
• Déirdre Joyce
• Elizabeth Kubala
• Jing Lei
• Laura Machia
• Cory Miller
• Huong Anh Murphy
• Melissa Pepling
• Abby Perer
• Rachel Razza
• Jennifer Ross
• Amy Schmidt
• Bei Yu

“The Women in Leadership Cohort experience is a brilliant plan to invest in staff and faculty who are committed to the mission of Syracuse University,” says Maithreyee Dubé, manager for enrollment services at the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families. “As an alumna, staff member, parent, facilitator for First-Year Seminar, and the outgoing staff representative to the University’s Board of Trustees, I have lived experience with collaborative efforts across our campus community. Being selected for Cohort 2 and working collectively to enhance our leadership and impact for the betterment of our students is exciting.”

Campbell Jackson says she is encouraged by the interest and commitment of the University community to develop and support leadership opportunities. In fact, interest was so great during the application process that the WiL initiative will offer a third cohort later this fall.

“We continue to be inspired by how many individuals have demonstrated a deep commitment of time and talent to strengthen their career development and life experience through the WiL initiative,” says Campbell Jackson. “The outcomes of this effort thus far are a testament to what we hoped Women in Leadership could become here at the University. The WiL steering committee, cohort leaders and I will do everything we can to ensure future cohorts have incredible experiences that incubate and foster great colleagues and leaders.”

Cohort 3 participants were selected from the nearly 120 applications received for Cohort 2 and will be announced in October.

For more information, visit the Women in Leadership webpage or email womeninleadership@syr.edu. All community members can participate in WiL programming.