Innovative Women: Voices of Leadership

By Jennifer Ersalesi

To celebrate Women's History Month, the Borough of Rutherford and Felician University will host a special Panel Discussion entitled Innovative Women: Voices of Leadership. This special event will be held at Felician University Education Commons at 227 Montross Avenue on Wednesday, March 19th (more details below). Panelists will include United States Congresswoman Nellie Pou, Assemblywoman Carmen Morales, President of Felician University Dr. Mildren Mihlon, Honorable Zoila Cassanova, Commissioner Jacquelyn Suarez, President of the Lupe Fund Rosemarie Movena Matos, and Lori Rosario-Griffin, Esq. Councilwoman Stephanie McGowan will be the moderator.

This is Rutherford interviewed Lori Rosario-Griffin, Esq. and Dr. Mildred Mihlon to learn more about this upcoming event.

TIR: On March 19th, you will participate in a Panel Discussion, Innovative Women:  Voices of Leadership, to celebrate Women’s History Month.  Tell us why you are excited to participate in this event. 

Lori Rosario-Griffin: I am excited and humbled to be in the company of so many amazing women who are making a difference in our community and beyond. I am also looking forward to learning more about what they do as leaders in their respective fields. I hope my contribution will be to show how women can be leaders and have an impact on a smaller, more local level.

Mildred Mihlon: First and foremost, it's an incredible opportunity to celebrate Women’s History Month at Felician University in collaboration with the Borough of Rutherford and contribute to the ongoing conversation about the vital role women play in leadership across all sectors. As someone passionate about empowering and uplifting diverse voices, I’m excited to connect with other like-minded women who are leading change in innovative ways. Sharing experiences, challenges, and successes with other trailblazers is inspiring to our students, and I believe such conversations can ignite positive change and encourage even more women to step into leadership roles.

TIR: Why do you think it is so important to highlight women and their achievements?

LRG: I believe it is important to highlight women and their achievements because, unfortunately, women leaders often go unrecognized. We have to show our youth that having strong women in leadership can only benefit us by bringing unique perspectives and skillsets to the table. Finally, we can inspire the next generation of women to take on leadership roles.

MM: Women’s past contributions have often been overlooked and minimized. By bringing attention to their achievements, we can ensure that women are recognized for their impact. It also serves to inspire future generations of women and girls, showing them that they can excel in any field, from science and technology to art and leadership. Role models play a significant part in shaping self-esteem and ambition. At Felician University, we serve a diverse group of female learners, preparing them for a vast array of fields in healthcare, STEM, business, education, and social service. We owe it to them to bring them up and close to such successful women.

TIR: This will also be a wonderful opportunity to meet and network with other women and community members.  Why do you think these opportunities are important?  

LRG: This event is a great opportunity as it allows for the chance to meet and network with like-minded women and community members, to build relationships and get to know people who are doing the work that interests you. I am really looking forward to meeting everyone there!

MM: At Felician, we remind our students time and again how important it is to network. A panel discussion like this one can serve several purposes, including the opportunity to be in direct contact with successful women who might become future mentors. But it also provides women with a chance to hear diverse perspectives and learn about our individual journeys, struggles, and triumphs. It is a way to empower and inspire others to realize their own potential.