For more than a decade, FSU’s College of Communication and Information, or CCI, has hosted an annual conference in honor of Women’s History Month for students, faculty, staff, alumni and local community members to discuss communications, business, leadership and more.
With a mission to inspire, educate and engage, the Women in Leadership Conference offered attendees a variety of sessions and panels to learn from experienced women in an array of career fields.
“I attend the conference each year and leave energized, educated and most of all inspired,” said Michelle Kazmer, dean of the College of Communication and Information. “Amazing women leaders from all career phases teach and network with us. Everyone leaves with new knowledge and new connections. It is a really extraordinary opportunity for our students, and I am already looking forward to next year’s conference.”
The conference is unique in that the speakers are primarily CCI alumni who have become leaders in their industries.
Kim Kelling, director of content and community partnerships at WFSU, moderated the session “Run for Elected Office,” featuring panelists City Commissioner Jack Porter, City Commissioner Dianne Williams-Cox, Public Defender Jessica Yeary and 2nd Judicial Circuit Judge Nina Ashenafi Richardson.
“What struck me in listening to the four panelists was that running for office is hard work, but the work once you are in office is even harder, especially for women,” Kelling said. “They still face bias and prejudice from male counterparts, which makes them all the more determined to encourage more women to run for office. They all do this work with the hope of improving people’s lives and making a difference.”
This year’s conference included panels and sessions on finding mentors and community, building wealth and brands, creating content, tips and tricks for the job search and much more.
For more information about the College of Communication and Information, visit cci.fsu.edu.
