Women In Leadership
As reported in the Spring 1996 issue of the LINK.

Trinity Students Welcome Women of Distinction
Aurelia Pucinski, Dr. Marianne O'Donoghue, Trudi Goggin, Marguerite Bloch, Ph.D., and Jean Hughes, O.P. are women of distinction and leadership, and were among a group of 24 such women who told their success stories at Trinity's third annual seminar for students featuring "Women In Leadership." Participants in the "Women In Leadership" Conference, a one-day event which was held Wednesday, March 27, 1996, shared information, inspiration, insight, and incentive designed to encourage students to strive for positions of leadership in their home, school, and community.

Ms. Aurelia Pucinski, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, delivered the conference's keynote speech which encouraged THS students to keep learning and to remember that positions of leadership are earned through hard work and determination. Following Ms. Pucinski's address students were dismissed to various classrooms where women who have achieved leadership positions in a variety of disciplines related their own personal stories of challenges and choices.

As previously mentioned, 24 women of distinction possessing leadership skills in 18 multi-faceted disciplines graced Trinity's classrooms. And of these 24 accomplished women, eight have a Trinity connection as either alumnae or member of the Board of Directors. Trinity alumnae returning to their alma mater to provide inspiration and proof positive of the value and quality of a Sinsinawa Dominican education included: Trudi Goggin '73, Rosary College dean of students; Cecelia Walsh-Burke '72, attorney; Dr. Mary Ann Lescher '54, ophthalmologist; Ginni Ryan Maier '52, social activist; Patty O'Neill Baker '74, banking and finance; Sarah Powers Lessman '66, attorney; and Patti Rigney Bellock '64, DuPage County Commissioner, Dr. Marianne O'Donoghue, a dermatologist and member of Trinity's Board of Directors as well as the mother of two Trinity alumnae, also was a featured speaker during the "Women In Leadership" Conference.

Additional inspiration and information were provided by the following guests: Stephanie Clemens, music and dance; Ruta Kulbis, engineering; Anita Bloom, sales/management; Marguerite Bloch, Ph.D., educator; Jean Keeley, O.P., Ph.D., psychologist; Elizabeth Wilson, AIDS activist; Nancy Murray, O.P., parish ministry; elementary principal; Mary Daly Lewis, Roosevelt University, education professor; Dalia Siliunas, dentist; Bernadette DeMuri, Neurology/psychiatrist; Jean Hughes, O.P., community organization; and Karen Stack, assistant to the general manager, Chicago Bulls Basketball team.

Judging by the feedback from Trinity students, faculty, staff, and administrators, the "Women In Leadership" Conference was a tremendous success. The enthusiasm with which honored guests interacted with Trinity students was extremely apparent as students continued to ask questions past the originally scheduled time allotment for sessions. The "Women In Leadership" Conference is the Third student-oriented seminar presented by Trinity. "Women and Wellness" was presented in 1994, followed by "Women In The Arts" in 1995. The 1997 edition of the one-day conference for Trinity students will feature "Women In Science and Technology."