Women in Leadership

By Emma Kersting '24, October 20, 2022

Women’s Leadership Panel highlights one of Ithaca College’s unique strengths.

Women's Leadership Panel sitting at a table

(From left) President La Jerne Terry Cornish; Amy Falkner, dean of the Roy H. Park School of Communications; Marsha Dawson, dean of students in the Division of Student Affairs and Campus Life; Susan Bassett ’79, director of intercollegiate athletics; Odalys Diaz Piñeiro, chief of staff in the Office of the President; and Anne Hogan, dean of the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance.

(Photo by Emma Kersting '24)

Earlier this fall, President La Jerne Terry Cornish moderated a “Women in Leadership” panel, highlighting the contributions of women leaders at all levels of the Ithaca College administration.

The other panelists were: Amy Falkner, dean of the Roy H. Park School of Communications; Anne Hogan, dean of the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance; Odalys Diaz Piñeiro, chief of staff in the Office of the President; Marsha Dawson, dean of students in the Division of Student Affairs and Campus Life; and Susan Bassett ’79, director of intercollegiate athletics.

“I don’t know of another institution in higher education where you will see this kind of female leadership. I just don’t,” Cornish said.

Panelists were asked questions on topics such as their path to leadership, knowing their value, self-care, and supporting other women in the workplace.

Falkner shared that when she was in high school, participating in sports helped her grow as a leader. Throughout her career, she then realized that she wanted to work professionally in a leadership role.

“I decided that I would much rather be leading something than watching. That’s how I’ve done my whole career, and I’m grateful that I’m able to become a dean here at Ithaca College.”

Amy Falkner, dean of the Roy H. Park School of Communications

“I decided that I would much rather be leading something than watching,” Falkner said. “That’s how I’ve done my whole career, and I’m grateful that I’m able to become a dean here at Ithaca College.”

Bassett commented on how one of her goals in the position of athletic director is to ensure that student-athletes at Ithaca can find a similar value in athletics.

“What I hope to achieve is the opportunity to empower students through all the programs that we offer,” Bassett said. “To excel academically, athletically, and in all aspects of their lives.”

Growing up in an immigrant family from Cuba, Piñeiro shared that she did not anticipate working in higher education but found great value through her own education. After attending college at the University of Pennsylvania, she was inspired by one of her professors to earn her doctorate.

“I grew up in an environment where education was really validated and important. It was the way to move socioeconomically,” she said.

Susan Bassett ’79, director of intercollegiate athletics; Odalys Diaz Pineiro, chief of staff in the Office of the President; and Anne Hogan, dean of the School of Music, Theater, and Dance.

Anne Hogan, dean of the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance, (far right) has long been a fierce advocate for other women.

(Photo by Emma Kersting '24)

Hogan always hoped to work in higher education, growing up wanting to become an English professor and ballet dancer. After earning an undergraduate degree in English literature from Harvard University and an MA and PhD in English Literature from Brown University, Hogan went on to work in several higher education administrative positions and has continued to look out for others as she’s risen through the ranks.

“Mentoring women in leadership and in higher education is something I’m very passionate about,” Hogan said.

As the discussion shifted into knowing one’s value, Dawson spoke on the importance of having confidence in yourself, especially when others rely on the work that one can provide in an administrative role.

“I’ve found that for me to feel value, I first have to value myself,” she said. “I found that once I valued myself, I was able to stand in that confidence and not shy away from asking for what I needed.”

“I’ve always been in a situation where you have to prove yourself, I have to prove myself to excel. I know that any situation I go into, I’m going to be one of the few women in the room and people are going to look at me and say, ‘well, you have to prove yourself.’”

Susan Bassett ’79, director of intercollegiate athletics

Bassett, who has been the athletic director at IC for 10 years, is a highly successful woman in a male-dominated field. She shared with the audience that only about 20% of Division III athletic directors are women and that the percentage is even smaller in Division I. As a result, Bassett feels that she needs to work harder to be respected.

“I’ve always been in a situation where you have to prove yourself, I have to prove myself to excel,” she said. “I know that any situation I go into, I’m going to be one of the few women in the room and people are going to look at me and say, ‘well, you have to prove yourself.’”

Devon Jezek ’25 found the panel inspiring, as she believes in the importance of celebrating women leadership on campus. Jezek hopes to start a club on campus for female identifying students to go to the Fitness Center together as a means of supporting one another as they strive for better health and fitness. She felt that this panel of women leaders inspired her to continue to work on that project.

“In my communities, we didn’t really have a whole lot of women leaders in higher-up positions,” she said. “I think it’s very important to celebrate what people are doing, the positive impacts they’re creating.”