Network of Women
by Dale Smith
In 2005, when the Mizzou Alumni Association asked Jill Brown to be part of the launch of a new mentoring and networking organization for female graduates and students, it sounded like a great fit. “This gave me the chance to get involved at Mizzou in a meaningful way, to connect to the broader university in a way that fits my talents, interests and time constraints,” says Brown, BS BA ‘78, principal of Caldwell Brown LLC in St. Louis.
Brown is one of a record 256 members of the Griffiths Leadership Society for Women. The society not only pairs alumnae mentors with student mentees but also holds biannnual conferences with programming on leadership and networking skills. “The idea is to promote personal and professional development,” says Carin Huffman Grinch, BA BA ‘00, assistant director of alumni relations for the association.
For instance, the fall 2010 conference included time for networking as well as presentations from campus and alumni experts. Psychologist-researcher Kennon Sheldon outlined evidence-based prescriptions for increasing happiness. Regional Director of Health and Human Services Judy Baker, BS ED ‘91, MHA ‘02, talked about key issues in state politics and health care reform. Anne Deaton, spouse of Chancellor Brady J. Deaton, spoke about different types of mentoring relationships. Other presentation topics included an update on campus research, developing sensitivity to others religious and cultural beliefs, and how to manage across cultures.
Brown enjoys keeping up with campus happenings through Griffiths and finds it rewarding getting to know the students and other graduates. “The most frequent comments I hear from alumni after a conference are how refreshing and energizing they are,” she says. “When people hear the word ‘mentoring,’ they often think of it as a work relationship between superior and inferior. We’ve learned there are many kinds of mentors, and Griffiths mentoring is more about acceptance, affirmation and role modeling. We are giving the students a leg up in the life skill of relationship building and networking. Mentors and students may or may not be in the same fields. My background is in business, and I have often been paired with students from the sciences. It is fascinating to be exposed to and learn about their fields.”
Brown met Tommi White when she was a doctoral student in biochemistry. Now White, BS ‘00, PhD ‘07, works at the National Institutes of Health near Washington, D.C. “As a student, I thought it would be a great opportunity to learn from women who had been in the work force and gain the insights on being a woman in leadership and teamwork roles.” White points out that all the members are potential resources. “I discovered it’s also a great support system for anything from pursuing graduate studies to balancing work and family to becoming a great mom. I like to get as many perspectives as possible, so having a network like Griffiths is really helpful.”
The society is named for the late Martha Wright Griffiths, BA ‘34, LLD ‘75, who served in the U.S. Congress from 1955 to 1974 and as lieutenant governor of Michigan for two terms.
“Martha had a lot of firsts,” says Arts and Science Dean Michael O’Brien, who spent time with Griffiths in 1998, when she returned to campus to receive an award from the College of Arts and Science. “She was the first woman to serve on the powerful Ways and Means Committee. What she is most remembered for, however, were her efforts to pass the Equal Rights Amendment. In 1972, she was able to get 354 ERA votes in the House and 84 in the Senate, but ratification fell three states shy of the 38 needed.”
Pam Benoit, former provost for advanced studies and dean of the Graduate School, received the first Spirit of Martha Award from the society in 2007. In her acceptance speech, she said, “Martha Griffiths has been described as colorful, feisty, outspoken, a fighter, widely revered and a legend. This is the spirit of Martha - a passionate believer in the importance of making a compelling case in what she believed, a woman with a strong commitment to service and making a meaningful difference, and an individual with a willingness to push the boundaries so there would be fewer restrictions for others.”
Brown likes the group’s connection to Martha Griffiths. “Griffiths was a pioneer. The working world has become more balanced than in Martha’s day, yet it is important for women to be mindful of those who have gone before and to help those who come after. In Griffiths, we support and guide one another. And it is especially fun to get to know the talented students and to try to do our part to help them grow and develop further. It is all about connecting.”