Leading the Way: Cultivating Leaders, Defining Careers

In the United States, women's colleges have a rich tradition of advocating for fairness and opportunity. In the 1800s, as the number of women pursuing advanced education increased, they faced the reality that only 30 percent of American colleges welcomed both genders. Most educational institutions were only open to men, but forward-thinking people started creating universities exclusively for women, offering them a challenging education as tough as that available to men.

According to the Women's College Coalition, the U.S. has seen a drop in the number of women's colleges from more than 200 in the 1960s to just 30 now. However, despite this decrease, women's colleges remain incredibly significant because women and gender minorities still encounter various social obstacles and entrenched prejudices, notes Anjali Anand Seth, who holds the position of Associate Vice President for International Admissions at Wesleyan College in Georgia. This college was the first to be established to provide women with higher education degrees.

Presently, institutions exclusively for women provide a secure and cozy environment where students can flourish, excel, and receive support in their careers. Ishita Tibrewal, a Mount Holyoke College alumna from Kolkata, remarks, “From the moment I stepped onto the campus, I was enveloped by a nurturing and empowering community, where camaraderie and solidarity among students were palpable.”

Learning in an atmosphere with similar-minded individuals helps build supportive relationships with fellow students and mentors. This setting gives students confidence, reinforcing their belief in their capabilities, assisting them in discovering their unique voice, and advancing in their chosen areas. A significant emphasis is placed on promoting women to leadership positions among many of these educational bodies. Several schools incorporate leadership training and resources within their offerings.

Leadership has played a crucial role in advocating for fairness and opportunity. Despite the significant decline in the number of institutions, their impact remains profound. Women's colleges have provided a challenging education comparable to that offered to men, creating an environment where women and gender minorities can thrive. 

Tibrewal was involved in the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, held various roles on campus, participated in national National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Student-Athlete conferences, and undertook an internship at the U.S. Open tennis championship. "Each of these experiences played a vital role in my development and prepared me for my current position," she notes.

Following her time at Mount Holyoke, Tibrewal pursued further studies at the Mark H. McCormack Department of Sport Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, up until 2023. She has subsequently taken on the role of Director of Marketing and Sponsorship Analytics within the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics. 

Having established strong connections within women's colleges plays a significant role in career advancement, particularly in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields where women are typically underrepresented. This point is highlighted by the tale of Suneeta Krishnan, who became an epidemiologist and graduated from Barnard College in 1992. She has since risen to the position of Deputy Director for Strategy, Portfolio Management, and Evaluation at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s office in India. Krishnan attributes her career success at Barnard to several factors: 

"The small class sizes, the dedication of the faculty to women, and the opportunities to directly engage with professors, particularly in a laboratory setting, all contributed to boosting my confidence to chase my aspirations," she explained.

The Barnard network played a crucial role in Krishnan's path. “When my first-year seminar professor learned about my interest in becoming an epidemiologist, she invited me to dinner with her husband (who later became the dean of the Harvard School of Public Health) and two leading epidemiology professors at Columbia,” she says. “I ended up taking a graduate course in epidemiology during my senior year, which propelled me right into a Ph.D. program at Berkeley.”

Research indicates that graduates of women's colleges often spearhead innovation and challenge the status quo in areas such as boardrooms, government, scientific research, the arts, and more. As Seth points out, “It is no exaggeration that women’s colleges offer a safe space for women to learn and lead so that they can change the world.”

NOTE: Published with inputs and permission from SPAN Magazine