Sixth Annual Women’s Empowerment Conference Shares Messages of Body Positivity and Self-Advocacy
From left to right: Westchester County District Attorney Mimi Rocah; Rene Parmer, dean of the School of Education at Lehman College of the City University of New York Rocah; Joi Sampson, associate director of career and professional development at Mercy College.
Mercy College hosted its sixth annual Women’s Empowerment Conference – “I Am Enough: The Journey of Women to Empowerment,” – on Friday, March 18. The full-day conference featured a panel discussion with community and academic leaders, interactive workshops run by Mercy College faculty and staff, and a virtual keynote speaker.
Sonya Renee Taylor, the conference’s keynote speaker, is an award-winning performance poet, author and activist. She presented her talk, “The Body is Not an Apology: From Body Empowerment to Global Justice,” which was introduced by Mercy College psychology student Roshauna Brown ’22.
Edie Magnus, executive director of media and innovation for Mercy College, moderated a panel of impressive speakers, including Mimi Rocah, Westchester County District Attorney; Joi Sampson, associate director of career and professional development at Mercy College; and, Rene Parmer, dean of the School of Education at Lehman College of the City University of New York. The panelists discussed how they rose in the ranks of their respective fields, overcame obstacles that women can face in assuming leadership roles, and the importance of intentional mentorship.
Carolyn Cullen, assistant professor in the Mercy College Counseling Department, and Counselor Karen Reed ran the workshop, “The Body as a Scorekeeper and Compass.” Associate Professor of Special Education Ilene Rothschild and Sampson ran the workshop, “Looking at Ourselves Through the ‘ism’ Prism.” Associate Professor of English Dana Horton ran the workshop, “Our Words, Ourselves: The Language of Self-Advocacy and Empowerment.”
The event was organized by the event chair Abby Hirsch, lecturer for the Mercy College School Counseling Program. The conference planning committee members included Horton, Cullen and Rothschild, as well as: Alexandra Enderle, assistant to the dean of the School of Health and Natural Sciences; Jodi Epstein Hoellger, assistant director of college communications; Minerva Guerrero, assistant professor in the counseling department; Professor of Legal Studies Diana Juettner, J.D.; Maureen MacLeod, program director and assistant professor with the History Program; Lisa Mills-Campbell, director of community programs and events; Marla Moulton, coordinator, School of Social and Behavioral Sciences; Sara Venezian, director of the Office of ACCESSibility; Wendi Vescio, associate dean for administration; and, Raynell Webb, HEOP specialist.
