WLN Information

In an effort to continue building bridges and further dialogue, we seek your presence at the WLI Networking event as a means of creating ties between the SUNY Geneseo community and neighboring communities; reconnecting ties between alumni and SUNY Geneseo; developing ties with future, prospective SUNY Geneseo students; and fostering communication and relationships between the various networking participants.

Rationale 

The Women’s Leadership Network (WLN) event will bring together women of diverse backgrounds.  WLN will involve SUNY Geneseo Women’s Leadership Institute college students, SUNY Geneseo faculty and staff members, Rochester and Geneseo area professional women, and Rochester and Geneseo area middle and high school students.  Who will engage in activities that will allow them to exchange perspectives and personal stories, and will be involved in enhancing their leadership skills in their classrooms and communities. The purpose of this event is to give participants additional resources to continue to be exemplary models of leadership within their academic and social communities. WLN will be an opportunity to enlighten current SUNY Geneseo and community leaders about the concerns and motives of up and coming female student leaders, and will give the participants access to a network of women and promote leadership through mentor relationships, networking and professional development opportunities.

Activity  

The activity of the evening is “Speed Networking”. All attendees will have the opportunity to interact in discussions on six different topics. All professional guests will be separated into six groups and all students will also be separated into six groups. The student groups will move from each guests group in 15 minute intervals. As each student group changes location, the discussion topic will also change. After “Speed Networking” is complete and all groups have conversed, each student participant has to invite one of the professionals to her dinner table. The students will report their dinner partner choice to the coordinator and the coordinator will inform the professional guests of their dinner seating assignment.  

Dinner 

The dinner portion will serve as an opportunity for the young women to have an extended conversation with the person of their choice. The dinner will include a presentation explaining the role of Women’s Leadership Institute on SUNY Geneseo campus.

Keynote Speaker

Ms. Tre Jerdon (B.A. SUNY Geneseo, 2007 Fellow on Women and Public Policy) 

Ms. Jerdon pursued a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning at the University at Albany with a concentration in local economic development, community planning, and urban policy. Her decision to study urban and regional planning was shaped by firsthand experiences which exposed her to the “impacts of living in a lower-income neighborhood, where special services and affordable housing opportunities are inaccessible.” Tre is a certified teacher whose teaching experiences in New York City and Japan exposed her to diverse pedagogical approaches. Her travels to Asia helped her gain valuable insights into policy development from a comparative perspective. Tre volunteers extensively with different community events including the Midnight Run for the Homeless of New York City and Habitat for Humanity. She is a strong advocate of public service. She has profound passion to work within low-income and minority communities, focusing on advancing affordable housing strategies and community revitalization, and advocating for responsive public policies. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from SUNY College at Geneseo.