Friday, December 8, 2023

UTSA women blaze trails at leadership symposium


UTSA faculty, staff and students at the Greater San Antonio Women in Leadership Symposium hosted by the Texas Diversity Council.


(April 2, 2018) – The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) was well represented at the recent Texas Diversity Council’s Women in Leadership Symposium titled Women Blazing Trails. More than 20 members from UTSA were in attendance to observe, learn, network and hear from a diverse group of women executives in the San Antonio community.

Among the speakers were UTSA Associate Provost Lisa Carrington Firmin, who provided opening and welcoming remarks to the more than 300 in attendance. Firmin serves on the Texas Diversity Council’s State Board of Directors. Also participating as a featured panelist was Vice President for Inter Collegiate Athletics and Athletic Director Lisa Campos.

The theme for the half-day event was Women Blazing Trails and brought together successful women leaders to educate, inspire and challenge attendees to reflect on their goals in their own leadership journeys. Firmin challenged the attendees to go beyond blazing their own trails and to look behind them to assist those that remain.

“Successful leaders should do their part to help develop leadership in others,” Firmin said.

Campos spoke about establishing priorities and keeping them in alignment with one’s core values, knowing yourself and what is important. Campos also discussed the importance of self-care, respecting the body and getting sufficient rest.

“The symposium highlighted the value of collaboration, teamwork, and networks in women’s leadership and higher education,” said Kirsten Gardner, department chair and associate professor in the UTSA Department of History. “It encouraged us to tap into leadership skills to improve our lives, work place and community.”

Student veteran Sarah Vegerano said attending the event was a great opportunity.

“I have been given the chance to take in some wonderful advice and networking with influential women from my community,” Vegerano said. “I would encourage other students who are close to graduation to take advantage of these professional development opportunities.”

UTSA Career Center Director Audrey Magnuson led a group of staff who have been part of an Emerging Leaders Program. The program provides highly motivated Career Center staff with opportunities to develop and enhance leadership skills and competencies through participation in various activities and guided job shadowing. Designed for emerging leaders in the University Career Center, the Emerging Leaders Program is a 12-month program that focuses on staff development though the immersion in the university culture and exposure to its organizational structure.

UTSA Career Counselor Heidi Sawyer was impressed with the line-up of speakers.

“Each speaker presented great takeaway nuggets,” Sawyer said. ”It was encouraging to hear professional women in successful careers share what they would change if they were to do it all over again.”

Lorrenza Vandiver, assistant director of Professional Development and Diversity at the UTSA University Career Center, said the event inspired her to be an even better leader.

“I enjoyed the positivity, the realness and the celebration of women in challenges and in triumphs,” Vandiver said.

Lisa Carrington Firmin


For more information about UTSA’s involvement with the Texas Diversity Council, contact lisa.firmin@utsa.edu.

Learn more about the Texas Diversity Council.

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UTSA Today is produced by University Communications and Marketing, the official news source of The University of Texas at San Antonio. Send your feedback to news@utsa.edu. Keep up-to-date on UTSA news by visiting UTSA Today. Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.


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The University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.

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UTSA’s Core Values

We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.

UTSA’S Destinations

UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .

Our Commitment to Inclusivity

The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.