Conference 2025
The Women’s and Gender Studies Program at Saint Mary’s College, in collaboration with the Office of Inclusion and Belonging, the Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary Club, and the American Association of University Women, held a NEW Leadership conference on “Women’s Leadership in the Current Political Moment.”
Location: The Hagerty Lounge
- 9:30 a.m. Coffee
- 9:50 a.m. Welcome and Introductions
- 10: 15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Panel with the Mayor of Berkeley, Adena Ishii; the Mayor of El Cerrito, Carolyn Wysinger; and Council Member of Richmond, Claudia Jimenez
- 12 noon. Keynote speaker: Gilda Gonzales, MPA, Outgoing President & CEO PPNorCal, SMC alumna
- 1:30 p.m. Lunch
- 3:00 p.m. Concluding Remarks by the Mayor of Oakland, Barbara Lee
- 4:00 p.m. Reception
The conference is over, but if you can contribute to the 2026 NEW Leadership Institute, we would be grateful. Donations can be made here:
What students are are saying about the conference:
"Events like this make leadership feel real and attainable. It's different from reading about justice or leadership from a textbook -- these conversations put faces and real stories to the ideas that we talk about in class. It made me feel like I'm part of something bigger and reminded me that what I'm learning now can translate into action."
"It's so important to be in touch with what's happening around our world and locally. This event not only instills a sense of duty and justice, but it raises the idea of how important a role women play in today's modern society. It's empowering and educating."
"One important takeaway for me was how education connects to civic responsibility. Being educated gives us the tools to make important decisions when it comes to voting."
"As an audience member, hearing these powerful stories from these powerful women really inspired me and gave me a sense of pride in myself."
"[This] was an enriching panel discussion of great ladies. I feel like it imparts a certain confidence level in us and motivation to keep going and being change-makers, because not only are we going to benefit from it, but others need our support as well."
"Something that I took away personally was when our peer talked about impostor syndrome. I can relate to the women [in the panel] who talked about this in such a deep level. I really have felt like I didn't fit in in certain rooms or with certain people, but I know that staying true to yourself and being your authentic self is how it needs to be."
For more information, please visit the program page
Gallery
