Women's Alliance Leadership Award Ceremony (From Left to Right): Becky Sierp, Content Lead; Tara Wilkinsons, Award Recipient; Kelly Podach Francis, Communications Lead; Melynda Davis, Future Chair
“There are some women you cross paths with in life that impact you in ways you’d never imagine. These women push us out of our comfort zones and challenge us to do things differently, allowing us to be the change we want to see.” Melynda Davis, Director of Housing at UMass Boston
Birmingham, AL (PRWEB) April 20, 2020
Capstone On-Campus Management (COCM) is proud to announce its first inaugural award for the Women’s Alliance Award for Leadership. Award recipients are higher education leaders in the student housing profession and beyond, who prioritize educating and engaging with other women leaders nationwide.
Its first annual award recipient is Tara Wilkinson, the Senior Vice President of Administration of COCM. Wilkinson, who has been on COCM’s team since 2004, has held positions as the Vice President of Operations and New Business Specialist. Tara has experience with both small and large, private and public higher education institutions. Her time in residence life prepared her for her role in operations with experience in crisis management, policy development/implementation and team building. Tara is also engaged in a variety of community service and social justice efforts mostly focused on those living in poverty.
“Because of people like Tara seeing the light in people like me—especially women like me—she provides space to leverage our leadership potential in ways we would not if we did it alone,” said Jenn Hornebuckle, Regional Manager and current chair of the Women’s Alliance Council Leadership. “I’m eternally grateful for our connection and honored to have her as the first and well-deserved recipient of this award.”
The COCM Women’s Alliance is intending to present the Women’s Leadership award annually to a member of the higher education community. COCM works with 43 campuses filled with talented, intelligent and inspiring women. The Alliance looks forward to recognizing women who live the goals of the Alliance in their own community and for their students.
Inspired by professional organizations such as the Women’s Leadership Institute (WLI) from the Association of College Unions International (ACIU), COCM created the Women’s Alliance Council in 2012 to assist in professional advancement and personal financial health.
“There are some women you cross paths with in life that impact you in ways you’d never imagine,” said Melynda Davis, Director of Housing at the University of Massachusetts Boston and future lead of the Women’s Alliance Council “These women push us out of our comfort zones and challenge us to do things differently, allowing us to be the change we want to see.”
Capstone On Campus Management (COCM) is proud to have a Women’s Alliance Council to educate and engage not only within COCM but those in higher education. In 2019, COCM rebranded the women’s group to include a Chair, Chair Elect, Historian, Content Lead, Communication Lead and advisor. These eight women are collaborating to: cultivate connections for women, identify and navigate barriers through education and empowerment, encourage and support women in current and new initiatives and recognize and celebrate the contributions, challenges and success of women. Efforts of the Alliance have included hosting monthly conversations on sponsorship, evaluation basis, workplace negotiation, “2nd shift,” executive presence, sexual harassment and discrimination and political awareness.
