As Women’s History Month comes to a close, we’re reflecting on the women we know and look up to who are changing the game in higher education every day. Women have come a long way since those first pioneering women to earn their degrees, and we love how these strong women continue to lead us in the field of higher education every day. They have all been featured in either First Generation or Unlikely and are passionate about making college a better place for everyone. 

Michele Siqueiros is the President of the Campaign for College Opportunity. A first-generation college graduate, herself, she is passionate about making college accessible for all. Under her 11 years as President, she has championed efforts to increase the percentage of Californians both going to college and earning a degree. This includes her efforts to make it as smooth as possible for students to transfer from a community college in California to any of the University of California schools. She is a true champion for all California students!  Learn more about President Siqueiros here. 

Executive Director of the University Innovation Alliance, Dr. Bridget Burns, has served tirelessly in the name of innovation in higher education – so much so that the Washington Post named her one of the “16 Most Innovative People in Higher Education” in 2016. With the UIA, she has worked with public higher education institutions to make them more student-focused and get them graduating more people. She has worked closely with many schools, and believes in change that can scale. Learn more about Dr. Burns here and catch our most recent post about her here. 

At Rutgers University-Newark, they have a Chancellor with big changes on her mind. Dr. Nancy Cantor is a Chancellor for change, having left her previous position at Syracuse University to go to a new school where she knew she could make an impact. Her career has been packed with lifting up diverse voices in higher education and she believes firmly that a higher education institution that serves its community can become the cornerstone of one. She believes strongly that people of every background should have access to a quality education, and that, through education, our world becomes a better place to live. Learn more about Chancellor Cantor here.

Dr. Sara Goldrick-Rab is shaking the ground over at Temple University, acting as a driving force for colleges across the nation to tune into what the disadvantaged students on their campus may need. She founded the Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice, which has been critical through the COVID-19 pandemic by putting up guides for students and colleges. Dr. Goldrick-Rab is constantly poised to help students in crisis, and vehemently advocates for students to be treated humanely at every level of the education system. Learn more about Dr. Goldrick-Rab here and see our latest post about her here. 

We’d also like to take a moment to shine a light on one of the founders of Three Frame Media, Jaye Fenderson. This strong leading lady worked as an admissions counselor at Columbia University, and has been combining her passion for filmmaking and making college more accessible for every type of student ever since. Her award winning film First Generation and the newly released Unlikely are films that uplift student voices. Learn more about Jaye here. 

These are still just a few of the women we know that are leading the charge for higher education to be the best it can be. In this month and in every month, thank you for all you do. 

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Cate Fitzpatrick is an executive assistant with Three Frame Media and a recent alumna of USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. When she’s not working or writing, she’s baking over at https://film-baker.com/.