Celebrating Women’s History Month

“My sincere hope is that the work I am doing will allow the future women of Lafayette to believe in themselves and their dreams. I am a big believer in representation—it is easier to navigate the path before you, if you can recognize yourself in others who have achieved that dream. I know that I am constantly inspired by other women—women who shatter glass ceilings, women who serve their communities, women who bring peace and reconciliation into spaces that need it, women who bring their love and light into the world. Lafayette women—students, faculty, staff, alumni—are courageously sharing their light. Whether as artists, scientists, engineers, teachers, writers, and on, they have changed and continue to change the world. It is an honor to be part of this tradition of Lafayette women leaders and to forge a path so that future generations of women have even greater access to opportunity and ability to achieve their dreams.” – Nicole Farmer Hurd, 18th president of Lafayette College

“On the court, I hope the work my teammates [on the women’s volleyball team] and I put in set a new standard for Lafayette volleyball and athletes, raising the level of expectations. No longer can Lafayette be overlooked or ignored in the Patriot League. I’m proudest, though, off the court of the marks the women of our team have made on the campus and the classroom—and will make in life going forward.” – Leanna Deegan ’22

“Ensuring the preservation of the historical record of Lafayette College includes documenting and celebrating the experiences of the pioneering women students, faculty, and staff who transformed a predominantly male institution in the early 1970s. I hope that by surfacing the struggles and successes of our first female students, professors, coaches, and athletes, future generations of Lafayette women will be inspired to think about their legacy. How will they make an impact at Lafayette College?” – Elaine McCluskey Stomber ’89, college archivist

“I’m very passionate about squeezing every ounce out of life. That’s only possible when you know how to manage your time, prioritize, and live with intention. I hope my work on campus and how I lead my life will show future women of Lafayette that they can be a boss both inside and outside the classroom—all they need is the right system.” – Shantae Shand ’21

“I hope the work I do today will inspire current and future women not to hold back their ambitions and to strive to achieve their goals even if others doubt them. My hope is that everyone’s contributions will be valued and their aspirations supported.” – Melissa Gordon ’11, assistant professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering

“Each day, I strive to provide strong leadership for Lafayette athletics that will have a lasting positive impact on the College community. As a woman in this industry, I often reflect upon the tremendous women that have blazed a trail for me and other women to play and work in sport. I hope that my efforts to provide a positive student-athlete experience and to serve as an example of what you can accomplish in this profession is an example for young women that will come after me. We have phenomenal women within Lafayette athletics that are tremendous leaders on their teams, in the classroom and within the community. Our goal is to continue to empower our women with opportunities for development and growth that will propel them to the greatest level of future success.” –Sherryta Freeman, director of athletics