Appreciating significant CSB+SJU women in our lives for Women’s History Month

Since March is women’s history month, our Editorial Board felt compelled to express our appreciation for important women in our lives. At CSB+SJU, there is no shortage of impactful female leaders, and these are just a few who have made a significant mark on our lives during our time here so far.

Kayla: Two years ago, I was taking a Strategic Communication Studies course with Professor Kelly Berg. We were asked to attend a Communications and Marketing career fair for the class, which I was also recruiting for The Record at. For my class assignment, I happened to speak to some women who worked at a local marketing agency. Turns out, one of the women who owned the agency was a Bennie alumna and a long-time friend of Kelly’s, and Kelly helped get me in touch with them after they expressed interest in speaking to me. Fast forward to today, I am currently working at this agency as a Marketing and Communications Associate. I credit Kelly with opening the door for this opportunity for me, which is leading to a future career. Beyond this, she has been a consistent presence in my college life: she’s my faculty advisor, a current professor of mine, and someone I consider a friend and mentor. With her experience in marketing work, she’s been a great example and resource for me and has always supported me in personal and professional endeavors. She’s an incredibly understanding person who cares deeply about her students and pushes them to be the best they can be, always offering advice and resources when they need it. Our conversations mean more to me than I think she knows, and she is a gracious, kind, and extremely intelligent person with so much to offer students and this school as a whole. Given everything she’s done for me professionally, academically and personally, I will probably be grateful to her for the rest of my life.

Kate: Erin Szabo has been a constant for me during my time at CSB+SJU. Not only a wonderful professor, she has gone above and beyond as my advisor. She cares so deeply about the success of her students, both inside the classroom and outside the classroom, ensuring that their time at CSB+SJU is a positive, productive and memorable experience. When I transferred to CSB+SJU, Erin was welcoming and eager to take me in as an advisee, and I am so grateful for that. What is typically a 10 minute advising appointment to any other advisor and advisee turns into an hour, and then some, with Erin and I talking about school, life and everything in between. I cherish every minute of our meetings, it even became a sort of unspoken rule that I would sign up for latest spot so we could have extra time to chat. While I was studying abroad in London, her and I emailed back and forth (many, many times) to figure out my schedule and what I needed to graduate. Erin was patient with me as I went back and forth on schedule ideas, offering advice and different courses to look at that may be of interest while fulfilling the requirements. She has set such a good example of what being an empowered, thoughtful and engaging woman is, and I am forever grateful to have met her and to have learned from her.

Sarah: Last year, when I was a freshman searching for a work-study job on campus, I applied to be a Registrar’s office assistant. During my interview, I met Barb Novak who hired me for the position, and since then she has supported me in every way possible. The Registration office is primarily made up of women and they are all amazingly supportive people. Barb, in particular, has been my rock this year. At the beginning of first semester, my cousin passed away from a drug overdose, and she immediately sent me home and made sure I took the time I needed. Since then, I’ve experienced several other life-changing personal events, and she has never failed to check in and support me however she can. She also constantly supports my growth as a student and my future career, always offering to be a reference and giving me article ideas for The Record. I am incredibly grateful for my job at the Registration office and the people who have become a part of my life from the opportunity. Barb’s kindness and support has made a lasting impact on my time here at college. It is so special to be around by a strong woman leader who leads with so much compassion.

Marissa: As an out-of-state student from California, it was isolating and stressful to move across the nation from everything I knew. Adapting to the climate, the culture and life was extremely difficult while dealing with homesickness. At the start of the fall semester, I began to work for Sarah Gewirtz as her assistant in the library helping her coordinate and plan events. Sarah’s lively character and friendly personality had given me support in the times I needed it most, as she welcomed me without hesitation. She has been a pillar to uplifting my education and encouraging me to reach for greater opportunities here at CSB+SJU as she has consistently cheered me on through both troubles and achievements. Her selflessness and goodwill has been valuable to me throughout my professional and personal life. Realistically, I wouldn’t have strived for majority of the opportunities and experiences that have been presented to me and pushed myself out of my comfort zone without Sarah’s constant motivation. Her support doesn’t only pertain to my professional life, as she has shown her care reaches to my personal life as well, as she never fails to show her excitement for my success and displays compassion for my hardships. I cannot express the amount of gratitude I hold for Sarah, I am thankful to have such a strong advocate in my life that I consider both my mentor and friend.

Elise: I first took Jennifer Kramer’s Fat Studies class (yes, you read that correct) simply because it fulfilled an Integrations Curriculum credit I needed to graduate. I walked in last fall expecting another requirement to check off my list. Instead, I walked out wishing I had more time left at CSB+SJU to take many more of her classes. Kramer has a rare gift in the classroom. She knows when to be funny, when to be serious, and when to sit with difficult emotions that life can bring. Her lectures never felt scripted or distant. Instead, they felt human. She is one of the most down-to-earth professors I have encountered during my time here, and her humor makes even complex topics feel approachable. What makes Kramer memorable is not just what she teaches, but how she teaches it. As a biology student who hasn’t spent much time focusing on communication, she reminded me that communication is about understanding people, not just theories or assignments. In a world that can often feel overwhelming or heavy, Kramer is a bright light. Someone who brings warmth, honesty, and laughter into the classroom and has inspired me to strive to do the same.

Jayden: For Women’s History Month, I want to recognize Laura Hammond, a career coach in the Experience Hub who has had a meaningful impact on my experience at Saint John’s and Saint Ben’s. I first met Laura through the Intercultural Leadership Fellows program and later had the opportunity to work with her while serving as a peer mentor for the College Success course. From the beginning, she stood out for the way she treats people. She leads with empathy, patience, and a genuine desire to help students grow. In spaces where many students are still figuring out who they are and where they want to go, she has a way of making people feel supported, capable, and confident in their potential.

What makes Laura especially admirable is her deep commitment to serving the community that has supported her. She consistently shows kindness, humility, and care in the way she works with students, and that compassion carries into everything she does in the classroom and beyond. Her belief in others has a lasting impact, and for many students, including myself, it has helped build confidence and a stronger sense of purpose. Laura represents the kind of leadership that strengthens a community. She is an amazing reminder of the good that goes on in the world.

Through the end of this month (and beyond), we invite you to follow our lead. Send a note to a woman on campus that you admire — your roommate, your professor, your advisor, your coach — and express your appreciation for what they bring to your life, big and small. Honoring women doesn’t always need to mean a grand gesture. We’re committing to uplifting women in our everyday lives by vocalizing what they mean to us as often as we can, and we encourage you to do the same.