For those who don’t know, March is Women’s History Month. Throughout American history, women have had to struggle to be taken seriously, often being disregarded under the law, in academia and in their workplaces. Luckily, this is beginning to change, and we are seeing more women in positions of leadership than ever before. We can see this even at Drury, where several women hold leadership roles, both in the faculty and the student body. To help celebrate Women’s History Month, the Mirror talked with some of these female leaders to showcase their success and listen to their stories.

Drury’s faculty is made up of many strong female leaders. One of these women is one that almost all new students know: Jennifer Stewart. Jennifer Stewart is the Director of New Students Program, which means she is the one who runs orientation, helps new students become acclimated to Drury and assists them with any problems they may have during their first year.

When asked how she got to where she is today, Stewart said, “The simplest answer to this would be a lot of hard work and determination. I did not have the traditional college experience. I attended a two-year institution out of high school, and since I had a good job, I decided to delay furthering my education and I got married. After a few years, I decided I had waited long enough and enrolled at a four-year university. I was working full time, learning the ropes of being a wife and became a mom all while taking a full course load. When I graduated, with honors, I had a two-year-old and was six months pregnant with my second child. There were many challenges along the way, but it is possible. That is the message I would share, if you want it bad enough and are willing to work hard for it, it is possible.”

Stewart also indicated that the Drury difference extends to equality in the workplace. She said, “In previous positions, there were times I felt I had to work harder or be smarter to be taken as serious as my male colleagues, but I believe we have made great strides in this area. At Drury, I feel that having a great work ethic and truly caring about your role in helping students be successful is what matters. I have never felt being a woman was a hindrance in my position.”

Female leaders do not only exist in Drury’s faculty, but also in our student organizations. One of the most influential student organizations on campus, Student Union Board (SUB), has a woman at its helm. Izzy Jaynes, an undergraduate student of Psychology and Criminology, is the president of SUB and has a lot to say about what it means to be a female leader on campus.

“Being a woman in a leadership position is very empowering,” she said. “I know there was a time in the not so distant past that a woman could have never been in a position like I am now, so to live in a time where my thoughts and opinions are not only taken seriously, but also valued is something that I am very grateful for.”

Jaynes indicated that earning her leadership position was not without its challenges. “Challenges that I have faced throughout my journey of getting where I am today have really revolved around not being taken seriously because of the fact that I am a young woman, but those instances have taught me how to have tough conversations with people in positions of authority above me. So good things have come from the challenges that I have faced.”

Like Stewart, Jaynes said that Drury has not held her back due to her gender, which can not be said for every institution. “Luckily, I really have not faced many obstacles here at Drury, but I definitely did throughout high school,” she said. “I worked various retail/food service jobs and had managers and customers treat me as if I were incapable or talk down to me simply because I was a young woman.”

When asked what advice she would give to other women seeking leadership roles, Jaynes had wise words to give. She said, “I would encourage other women seeking leadership roles to work harder than everyone around you, make yourself a standout candidate and just go for it. I think people have a fear of the bad things that could potentially happen, but as long as we let fear hold us back we cannot move forward.”

Stewart also had some sage advice to pass on. “Some advice I would give would be to not let fear or self-doubt keep you from trying,” she said. “Whether that be a new position or for a promotion. I tell my own daughter this quite often, don’t be afraid to shine. If you know what you are capable of, show the world. Don’t let others put limits on you and set your bar high.”

Article by Sammie Ellis