Institute for Women’s Leadership turns 20
The Institute for Women's Leadership at CSB celebrated their 20-year anniversary with a gathering on the CSB Mall. Since 2003, the IWL has held events and hosted speakers encouraging female empowerment.
Empowering, creative, inclusive, strong and capable are words used by senior and Student Director Ellie Schmaltz to describe the Institute for Women’s Leadership (IWL).
The IWL marked its 20th birthday with a celebration on Tuesday at the CSB Mall. Attendees enjoyed pizza, desserts and music as they celebrated 20 years of female empowerment programs through the IWL.
The IWL focuses on intersectional programs, feminism, outreach and diversity and fights for both women and other underrepresented groups.
“Our job is to represent all Bennies on campus,” Schmaltz said.
Schmaltz said she is most excited to carry out the legacy of previous Bennies and to continue fostering change and growth at CSB as the student director. Schmaltz has a deep appreciation for the rich history of the IWL and their advocacy.
Schmaltz’s admiration for the IWL stems from witnessing the organization overcome countless circumstances. She said the IWL’s involvement and support in the St. Patrick Hall incident in 2021 was critical to help the community deal with the incident. The IWL spearheaded this issue, which broke Title IX policy, and held a sit-in protest for Bennies to share their concerns.
“The IWL represented us in a time we really needed them,” Schmaltz said.
The IWL was established in 2003 as an idea of former student Molly Oberweiser (class of 1999). Geller explained how the center for women was met with the opposing argument that CSB did not need a specialized organization for women, seeing that the college is already for women. Students fought for the IWL despite this objection.
Mary Geller, advisor of the IWL, has been a part of the organization for all 20 years.
Geller is most proud that the IWL was started and is run by students, while other centers for women are strictly run by faculty or administration.
Geller mentioned that before the IWL, students like Oberweiser felt CSB needed more speakers and events teaching modern feminism. The IWL continues to remain true to its mission and holds events for Bennies to educate each other and come together as women all year long.
Attendees at the 20th celebration displayed a strong Bennie connection and an appreciation for the IWL.
IWL Leadership Program Coordinator and CSB senior Annika Gothmann said the IWL is an opportunity for Bennies to have a community that allows them to succeed.
“I’ve become so much more confident in myself being surrounded by so many women who uplift me every single day,” Gothmann said.
CSB junior Sophia Maldonado said the IWL acts as a way for women on campus to come together to become better versions of themselves.
“It’s a place where I’ve been able to find support among other women and a place that facilitates a lot of growth,” Maldonado said.
Geller said she is proud of the power and voice young women bring to CSB, and that the history of IWL is rooted in teaching women how to overcome societal barriers and lead unapologetically.
“IWL helps continue our mission that says women are shapers of the world,” Geller said.
