(New Rochelle, NY) — Judith Huntington, the president of The College of New Rochelle, spoke on March 8, 2012 to women student leaders from New Rochelle, Pelham, and Mount Vernon high schools on how to plan their future education and careers, as part of the Y Power UP Program, sponsored by The College of New Rochelle and the New Rochelle YMCA.
President Huntington was introduced as a passionate and visionary leader by CNR Trustee Saddie Smith, Vice President of Enterprise Shared Services- Facilities at Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc., a woman who is balancing family responsibilities with a demanding and successful career.
Addressing the young women in Romita Auditorium on the CNR Main Campus, President Huntington described how a liberal arts education is even more necessary, especially in distressed job markets, because the broad exposure it provides in a variety of disciplines prepares students to analyze and synthesize information and to think critically and analytically. She went on to also discuss the importance of communication and writing skills, emphasizing that those skills are probably the most important in any job or profession.
She also told the young women that the most challenging aspect of her career was balancing “work-family-life” and wanting to spend quality time with her children as they were growing up. Over the years, she said, she learned how to adjust and prioritize her time, and advised the young women, “As you go through life there will be times when you will have to balance your career and your personal life. All of that is very individual and important to who you are as a person.”
In concluding her talk, President Huntington outlined the great educational opportunities for the women at The College of New Rochelle. “At the College of New Rochelle we have been educating women for over 100 years. We empower women. We teach them the important qualities of leadership. That is the mission of The College of New Rochelle.”
New Rochelle YMCA created the “Y PowerUP” lecture series, according to Karen Collins of the New Rochelle YMCA Board of Directors, “to nurture the potential of every youth. We know that through knowledge, character development, guidance and encouragement, young people will realize their full potential and become positive and active members of their communities. These lectures and discussion forums are being given by women business and community leaders of Westchester, and have been designed to foster leadership, empowerment, and life skills, beginning with education.”
