BOLD WLN Spotlight Series: Ithaca College
The BOLD program at Ithaca College was launched in 2018 and has been a pioneering effort in celebrating the intersection of Scholars with many different identifiers, perspectives, experiences, and ambitions in a way that is designed to enrich the entire cohort.
“Through a structured curriculum, community building retreats, and the implementation of a campus transformation project, BOLD Scholars aim to leverage their own identities, strengths, and collective knowledge to positively impact social change and foster inclusive campus environments”
BOLD Program Director at Ithaca College, Samantha Elebiary, began working with the BOLD program in 2018, one year after she joined Ithaca. The Vice President of Student Affairs and Campus Life, Bonnie Prunty, is the BOLD Lead at Ithaca College. She has served many different roles while at Ithaca, including Director of Residential Life and Judicial Affairs, and the Dean of Students since 1988.
BOLD Scholars graduate with the opportunity to apply for a Helen Gurley Brown BOLD Fellowship, providing a large portion of an annual salary for the Scholar to pursue employment at a non-profit organization that embodies the values of the BOLD network. The BOLD program at Ithaca is committed to supporting young women from all backgrounds, especially those who have been underrepresented in high education in terms of socioeconomic class, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship, and ability.
21 of the BOLD alumni from Ithaca have participated in fellowships (with 4 upcoming graduating fellows), being employed in places like Californina to Washington D.C. They are working and have worked for organizations whose missions range from advancing sustainability and community resilience to promoting women in film and television to bringing music to students’ lives.
Julissa M., an Ithaca BOLD Scholar who graduated in 2019, participated in a fellowship at El Puente Leaders for Peace and Justice, founded in response to a wave of gang violence in the Southside community of Williamsburg, Brooklyn in the early 1980s, and whose mission is to inspire and nurture leaders for peace and justice.
“As a college coordinator at El Puente for MS 50 Community School, I provide a college access readiness curriculum to students and their families to give them the space to think about their post-secondary plan. I feel as though working in a team of strong women leaders prepared me to work in the professional setting that I am currently in because being a BOLD Scholar really challenged my professional growth, from my communication skills, to my ability to work in a team, to learning how to navigate professional spaces as woman of color.”
Each year, an annual gathering takes place for the Scholars to come together and connect, building out the community, and building a deeper tie to the BOLD mission and values. In April of 2019, the annual retreat was held in Seneca Falls and Auburn NY. The theme was “BOLD IC Women: Teaching and Empowering Future Generations of Leaders.” Around 15 Scholars attended the retreat, where they were able to visit 4 historical sites and museums, including the Harriet Tubman House, the NYS Equal Rights and Heritage Center, the Women’s Rights Museum, and the National Women’s Hall of Fame. There were 3 keynote speakers during the retreat, and students had 4 workshops they could attend. The retreats are meant to be a well-rounded experience for the Scholars, with components to nurture them academically, professionally, and socially.
As the Scholars are either getting ready to graduate or to finish up their junior year in May, we wish them well in their trailblazing pursuits!