The Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI) held its 10th annual Professional Development Day March 16 in Doyle Banquet Halls North and South. Approximately 55 students spent the day listening to presentations by St. Joe’s faculty and staff on a range of topics including professional development skills, networking and burnout.

Speakers at the event included St. Joe’s President Cheryl A. McConnell, Ph.D., who gave the keynote speech; Trish Shafer, executive director of the Career Center; Jennifer Fisher, therapist at CAPS; and Josephine Shih, Ph.D., professor of psychology.

McConnell told the audience about her experiences as a woman navigating leadership roles in higher education, providing career advice for students to utilize in the early, middle and late stages of their careers.

The event reflected the mission of WLI, which is to give women-identifying leaders on campus a space to develop professional and leadership skills, said WLI Co-Vice President Baylee Fingerhut ’26, who helped organize the event.

“Professional Development Day is the tangible event that brings the monthly meetings and workshops that we have to life, and provides an all-day outlet for women-identifying leaders to come on campus and really shape up or practice those skills that you might need in a job interview,” Fingerhut said.

Cassidy Cahill ’25, co-vice president of WLI, said the event addressed basic skills like resume building, networking and developing confidence in professional settings.

“WLI’s mission is really supporting young women leaders and making them feel comfortable and confident to take on positions of power and leadership positions, in addition to pursuing their career goals in general,” Cahill said.

Laura M. Crispin, Ph.D., professor and chair of the department of economics and a faculty advisor for WLI, said the event was also an opportunity for participants to practice being in a professional environment while also feeling comfortable and supported.

“What we hope to create [is] an opportunity for everyone to feel comfortable to ask questions, to learn a lot and really grow and develop whatever kinds of skills you think you may need to be successful as a leader,” Crispin said.

In addition to the faculty presentations, a mentorship lunch provided student attendees time to speak about their careers and seek advice from St. Joe’s staff, faculty and administration.

First-time attendee Bianca Brown ’27 said the event gave her an opportunity to cultivate mentor relationships.

“I think it’s important to have someone to look up to in a professional setting that is a woman because they can relate to and help you through struggles that are specific to being a woman,” Brown said.

Crispin said attendees were encouraged to interact with fellow students as well as with the mentors.

“This is a really great opportunity to build your network with one another, because all of you are going to graduate and go out into the world,” Crispin said.

Living in a male-dominated world can make it difficult for women to put themselves and their identities first, and Professional Development Day provides a space for women to do so, Fingerhut said.

“If somebody walks away today [having made] a friend or even just being able to say hi to someone on campus and to know that there is a group of women-identifying leaders who have similar goals, similar ambitions,” Fingerhut said. “We can give the attendees a sense of community.”