Essay from Norunahar Ali, Our 2023 NCCWSL Student:
We live in a world that allows us the opportunity to live and grow with the course of the one thing we can never stop; time. With each passing dusk and dawn, the next breath we take is one of the simplest blessings. It is up to us to determine what we do with the opportunity, time, and blessings.
Through the generous funding of the American Association of University (AAUW) of both the Rochester and National organizations, I was able to attend the 2023 AAUW Conference. The preliminary process of being accepted was both exciting and a little daunting as there was a chance I would not have been picked. Seeing as I am writing this piece, I have better luck than most.
AAUW gave me many firsts that I doubt I would have had if it had been solely up to me. Right off the start, I have never been on a plane nor the Amtrak (train) prior to this event. Even before I set foot in one of my most empowering adventures, I was already being opened up to new experiences.
During the conference, I immersed myself in conversations involving the maintenance of financial freedom and how learning about financial literacy is crucial in knowing what was taught to us as children and how that mindset guides us to that freedom aspect that shows up in the financial institution. Shifting to the inner person, I committed myself to going to a workshop that taught the importance of what anxiety and self doubt does to hinder us from success. We learned multiple methods to assist in making those unwanted voices shift to positive affirmations; one being the idea of organizing calendars in color coordination to match what speaks to us as a way to motivate ourselves to get the job done. One of the main takeaways from this workshop was to not make a list of multiple chores as this feels unmanageable and never ending. Make a list of 3 to 5 realistic errands to complete throughout the day.
Aside from the more academic side of things, there was also some downtime to just be college students. Being in an environment where there were only girls, it allowed us to meet many people who were similar to us in goals and achievements and create a space to bring the best out of us. One memory I will carry with me is getting to know a few of the women over bowling. I enjoyed watching the ladies be competitive in a fun setting without truly caring who won the most points, but that we were all actually enjoying our time.
We live in a world where we often find ourselves having tunnel vision when it comes to dreams and aspirations. What we can end up doing is taking what short time we have and only filling it with opportunities for the future causing us to forget the blessings of the here and now. This conference was not only a learning experience for me to take back to my academic life, but my personal one as well
Keeper of the Dream Awards Celebration
Monday, January 20, 2020
Oakland University, Oakland Center Founders Ballroom
For helping to break down stereotypes and promote racial and cultural understanding, seven students were recognized during Oakland University’s 28th annual Keeper of the Dream Awards Celebration.
Maya Ford (Women and Gender Studies).
- Maya is president this year of the AAUW-Oakland University Student Organization that our AAUW-Rochester Branch supports.
The Keeper of the Dream Scholarship Awards Celebration honors the legacy of the late civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and awards scholarships to students that best demonstrate exceptional leadership qualities through their involvement on campus and in the community by breaking down racial and cultural stereotypes and by promoting unity among all people to foster a campus environment rich in diversity and multiculturalism. It is also an opportunity to publicly recognize students who exemplify Dr. King’s vision, and to award them annual scholarships for their efforts in promoting interracial tolerance and understanding.
Established in 1993, Keeper of the Dream provides annual scholarships of up to $5,000 for students who have demonstrated strong citizenship, scholarship and leadership.
Congratulations to Maya Ford!
Karen Li explains, “For the past few months, I have been taking software development classes and building a product for teachers and parents. I submitted my product idea to EduPitch and got it selected as one of the finalists. I will be pitching my product on Nov. 14”.
Congratulations to Karen, our Rochester, MI Branch 2015 NCCWSL attendee.
2015 OAKLAND UNIVERSITY NCCWSL ATTENDEE HOPES TO WIN $5,000 PRIZE!
Karen Li learned about TEACH FOR AMERICA at NCCWSL 2015. She is currently presenting innovative ideas to the organization and competing for the $5,000 prize. Karen thanks the AAUW-Rochester Branch for being a part of her support system as she would have never known about TEACH FOR AMERICA if she had not attended the 2015 NCCWSL Career Fair.
Karen graduated from Oakland University and is an accomplished pianist. Four of our Branch members attended her final concert at OU.
“THE FRUITS OF OUR LABOR ARE FINALLY PAYING OFF” -BRAVO ROCHESTER BRANCH!
Sharon Postnieks, Ruth Johnson, Sharon Krumrei and Josetta Wood – NCCSWL Committee members
Seated is Colleen, Katie, Alisa, Rachel, and Maya, the 2019-2020 E Board for Oakland University’s AAUW-OU Student Organization in Rochester, MI and the attendees to the 2019 NCCWSL Conference in Maryland.
In back, are the AAUW-Rochester, MI team of Sharon P, Josetta, Pauline and Ruth (msg are Shirley and Sharon K) who mentor this Oakland University AAUW Student Organization and sponsored their trip to NCCWWSL this May..
Congratulations to Lakaysha Mitchell, the president of the AAUW-OU Student Organization on the campus of Oakland University, Rochester, MI.
CONGRATULATIONS – DR. VALERIE PALMER-MEHTA
AAUW-OU STUDENT ORGANIZATION FACULTY ADVISOR
Left to Right : Dr.Jo Reger, Professor of Sociology, presenting Dr. Valerie Palmer-Mehta, Associate Professor of Communication, the Phyllis Law Googasian Award at Oakland University April 15, 2016.
Bravo to Dr. Valerie Palmer-Mehta, Associate Professor of Communication and faculty advisor to our new AAUW-OU student organization who received the prestigious PHYLLIS LAW GOOGASIAN AWARD at Oakland University’s award luncheon on April 15. This annual award recognizes extraordinary service to the university community and commitment to the positive development and advancement of women at Oakland University. We are very proud to have her on our team as a member of AAUW.
*See below Valerie’s comments regarding the recent $tart $mart Salary Negotiations Workshop given at OU by our AAUW-Rochester branch members.
Dear Women of the AAUW-Rochester,
I just wanted to send you a note of sincere thanks for coming out to elevate, educate, and edify our students today. I really appreciate the time, energy, and effort that you selflessly donate to the AAUW@OU and to the betterment of the OU community. You shared some incredible information with our students today that will help set them up for success in ways that they can’t even begin to imagine right now. I certainly wish I had had a workshop like this when I was in school!
Thank you again for your efforts–what you do is important and most definitely appreciated.
With gratitude,
Valerie
***************************************
Valerie Palmer-Mehta, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Communication
Communication Program Director
Dept. of Communication & Journalism
Oakland University
Rochester, MI 48309
ROCHESTER AAUW PRESENTS…
$TART $MART SALARY NEGOTIATION WORKSHOP
The American Association of University Women’s (AAUW) $tart $mart Salary Negotiation Workshop was presented on Oakland University’s campus by the AAUW-Rochester Branch in partnership with its AAUW-OU student organization April 6th. It was a beginning attempt to stamp out gender pay inequity. According to AAUW’s research, women one year out of college are paid only 82% of what their male counterparts receive.
Left to right : Elaine-President AAUW-OU Student Organization, Diane-AAUW-Rochester Workshop Facilitator, Valerie-AAUW-OU Faculty Advisor, Josetta and Beverly-AAUW-Rochester Workshop Facilitators, Taylor-Secretary AAUW-OU Student Organization and Alaina-Treasurer AAUW-OU Student Organization.
Trained AAUW-Rochester facilitators, Diane Kosuda, Dr. Beverly Paurazas and Josetta Wood introduced to the attendees the art of negotiating a salary for their first post graduation position. The workshop was designed to empower women with the skills and confidence to successfully negotiate salary and benefit packages. By learning strategies and effective language, participants gain valuable skills that they can use throughout their lives-well beyond their next negotiation.
The AAUW-OU student organization, led by president Elaine Taylor, booked the workshop campus location, printed the workshop materials, placed announcement flyers around OU and arranged for a lovely dinner that followed the program.
The eye-opening presentation was a success and there are plans to repeat it in the fall at Oakland University. The workshop was sponsored through a grant from The Woman’s Fund of Rochester and the O.U. Communications Dept.
For more information, please contact Diane Kosuda from Rochester, MI AAUW.
AAUW of Rochester (MI) Branch receives grant from the Women’s Fund of Rochester toward presenting the $tart $mart Salary Negotiations Workshop at Oakland University.
YOU ARE THE KEY TO A BETTER FUTURE FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS!
The Rochester Branch of AAUW will again be sponsoring female undergraduate students to attend the acclaimed NATIONAL COLLEGE CONFERENCE OF WOMEN STUDENT LEADERS (NCCWSL-pronounced “nick whistle”) in June of 2015. The three day conference in College Park, Maryland is $570 (conference, housing, meals and bus transportation)… well beyond a college student’s budget. We ARE inviting college students already showing leadership qualities to enhance their leadership skills at this conference. The program is crucial to helping young women acquire the skills they need to succeed and assume leadership roles on campus, business and in their personal careers.
In lieu of garage sales or other fundraisers, our Branch is asking its members to support the LEADERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM for our young women with a tax-deductible contribution to our Branch’s SCHOLARSHIP ACCOUNT at the COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER ROCHESTER/AAUW.
You will hear and meet, at the September POTLUCK, the scholarship winners who will tell you how life changing this conference was to each of them. You will also be receiving at the potluck your personal support letter about the leadership program. Please be generous as “IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN A WOMAN’S LIFE!” and in our lives as these women will represent us and our daughters in our cities and communities around the world.
Contributions can be made out to the
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER ROCHESTER/AAUW
Mail to SCHOLARSHIP Treasurer:
Sharon Krumrei 1494 Royal Crescent RH 48306 248-652-8059
AAUW’s research report, Graduating to a Pay Gap: The Earnings of Women and Men One Year after College Graduation, explores the earnings difference between female and male college graduates who are working full time one year after graduation. The report, which uses the latest nationally representative data, compares apples to apples by looking at the pay gap after controlling for various factors known to affect earnings, such as occupation, college major, and hours worked. It also examines one immediate effect that the pay gap has on many women: the heavy burden of student loan debt.