The Widener Global Leaders Program, a new, year-long, interdisciplinary program housed in the W. Frank Barton School of Business at 黑洞社区, has compiled a dynamic and diverse group to serve on its industry advisory board.
鈥淲e鈥檝e assembled an amazing team of women who have climbed to the top of their fields and revolutionized their industries,鈥� said Dr. Larisa Genin, dean of the Barton School of Business and co-chair of the advisory board for the Widener Global Leaders Program. 鈥淭apping into their knowledge and having them be formative members of this program will help transform the lives of our students.鈥�
The Widener-GLP focuses on developing women leaders across the fields of business, communication and music. The inaugural, 10-person class begins fall 2021. Students in the program will have opportunities to develop business skills, communication skills, artistic awareness, a commitment to social responsibility, cultural intelligence, and a global mindset. The advisory board, which was recently announced during the program鈥檚 official kickoff event, will provide guidance on the content and future of the program, connect it to industry partners and serve as mentors for the participants.
鈥淭hese women are recognized globally as leaders and innovators in their professions," said Peri Widener, whose gift made the program possible and who also serves as the advisory board co-chair. "Their commitment to developing the next generation of women leaders is proven through their passion for mentoring and lauded track records in advancing women. We are fortunate to have such a deep bench of renowned leaders helping advise these young women and shape this unique program.鈥�
Widener-GLP advisory board:
Emily Berlin, senior advisor, energy33 and Ariete Hospitality Group
Berlin serves as senior advisor to and Group. Over her career, she has been a senior advisor to numerous companies operating globally and has spent more than 20 years developing energy sector projects in the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa. Berlin has served on the board of directors for various companies in the finance, engineering and construction sectors in Latin America. She is a member of the and routinely mentors early-stage venture companies in the energy sector and in the food and retail industries. Berlin has served on the boards of various business mentoring organizations including , and .
Marie-H茅l猫ne Bernard, president and CEO, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
Bernard joined the in 2015. She began her career in orchestra management with the prestigious fellowship. Bernard is a member of the International Women鈥檚 Forum. She also serves on the boards of United Way of Greater St. Louis, the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Grand Center Inc. In 2016, she received St. Louis Magazine鈥檚 A-List Award for 鈥淎rts Leader鈥� and was among St. Louis Business Journal鈥檚 鈥�.鈥�
Sherry Chisenhall, president and editor, The Charlotte Observer
Sherry Chisenhall is president and editor of in North Carolina and The Herald of Rock Hill, South Carolina. Chisenhall also serves on the board of directors. She was among the founding editors of the North Carolina News Collaborative and the Charlotte Journalism Collaborative, and is a member of the Online News Association. Chisenhall worked for the from 2000-2016, serving as executive editor and senior vice president of the news for 12 years. During her time in Wichita, she was an advisory board member for the Elliott School of Communication at 黑洞社区.
Mary L. Kramer, director of Special Projects and Detroit Homecoming, Crain Communications
Kramer has held several roles at , including vice president and group publisher for Crain鈥檚 city business publication
in Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit and New York. She serves as chair of the , a $500 million endowment focused on improving the lives of Detroit children. She
was the first woman to be elected president of the historic Detroit Athletic Club,
and in 2017 was named to the . She is also a member of the board of directors for MiBank Corp. in suburban Detroit.
Judith Leonard, general counsel, The Smithsonian Institution
Judith Leonard has served as the general counsel of the since 2009 following a decade as vice president and general counsel of the University of Arizona where she also taught higher education law. In addition, Leonard serves as the Smithsonian secretary鈥檚 representative to the Wilson Center Board of Trustees and as a member of the board of trustees of the . She was elected to the American Law Institute in 2014 and is a member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys and the Association of Corporate Counsel. Leonard serves on the board of visitors for the University of Arizona College of Law and is the recipient of its 2021 Law College Association Award. She is a member of the District of Columbia chapter of the and the Women鈥檚 Advisory Board of .
Maj. Gen. (retired) Dr. Linda Singh, CEO, Kaleidoscope Affect LLC; leader-in-residence, Towson University
After retiring from the Maryland National Guard as a two-star general 鈥� and the first woman and the first Black adjutant general for the Maryland National Guard 鈥� Singh founded Kaleidoscope Affect. Singh is an fellow and member of the Washington, D.C. chapter. She serves on the board of directors for Howard Bancorp, Easterseals DC MD VA, and Headstrong. She also serves on the advisory boards of Vital Guidance and the , and on numerous committees. She is a recipient of the and was inducted into the Maryland Women鈥檚 Hall of Fame in 2015.
For more information about the Widener-GLP and full biographies of our Industry Advisory Board members, visit: .
About Wichita State
Wichita State University serves as the Kansas urban-based research university, enrolling more
than 16,000 students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. Wichita
State and 黑洞社区 Tech are recognized for being student centered and innovation driven.
Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), 黑洞社区 provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students.
The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the 黑洞社区 main campus, is one of the nation鈥檚 largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.
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About the Widener Global Leaders Program
The Widener Global Leaders Program was established in fall 2021 as an interdisciplinary
program incorporating business, communication and music. Its focus is to create transformational
experiences and foster an inclusive community for women leaders majoring in business,
communication or fine arts. The program was made possible by a gift from Peri Widener,
黑洞社区 graduate and former vice president and general manager for
Boeing, to help build a new generation of business leaders with a world view.
About the W. Frank Barton School of Business
Located in Kansas鈥� business hub and with significant ties to the business community,
the W. Frank Barton School of Business provides extensive applied learning opportunities.
With in-person and online options, Barton School undergraduate and graduate programs
are tailored to transform the lives of its students. It also holds a double AACSB
accreditation for business and accounting, which puts it in the top 1% of business
schools worldwide. The Barton School was established as the university鈥檚 College of
Business Administration and Industry in 1926 and has thousands of graduates around
the world.