LIVONIA, MICH. - Madonna University’s Vice President for Student Affairs and Mission Integration, Connie Tingson-Gatuz, Ph.D., mentored middle-management women aspiring to become vice presidents for student affairs, at the Alice Manicur Symposium in New Orleans, at the end of January 2020. During four intensive days, Tingson-Gatuz along with six other invited faculty, from schools across the country, led in-depth discussions, facilitated small mentorship groups, and provided individual consultations with 85 women higher education administrators from across the country.
“Throughout the year 2020, we celebrate the 100-year anniversary of women’s right to vote in the United States,” Tingson-Gatuz said. “It was quite fitting to accept the invitation to join the faculty of the Manicur Symposium as the focus was on women in leadership. It was incredibly humbling and invigorating to be given the opportunity to mentor aspiring executives in higher education. Just as I have been inspired by women leaders throughout my twenty-eight-year career, this mentorship offered me a unique way of ‘inspiring forward’.”
The purpose of the Symposium, hosted by the National Association for Student Personnel Administrators, is to create a leadership pipeline of excellence in American higher education. Every two years, women administrators with successful career track records are selected by application to participate in this national Symposium.
Symposium content sessions included the exploration of intersecting identities; building strategic partnerships: navigating successfully in the C-Suite; leading and managing organizational change; conflict, coalitions, and politics; leading in turbulent times; preparing for the next move; effectively communicating your leadership experience; leading with authenticity; and thriving in staff recruitment, retention, and supervision.
In addition to her experience as vice president for student affairs and mission integration, Tingson-Gatuz, also is an adjunct assistant professor at Madonna University, where she helped develop the master’s program in Higher Education Administration. At the symposium, she presented on Prevailing over Imposter Syndrome and co-presented on Conflict, Coalitions, and Politics. She also led mentor group conversations about strengthening your network, making thoughtful decisions, and navigating the volume of work.
In response to individual consultation requests at the Symposium, Tingson-Gatuz also met with thirty women, one-on-one. One such participant wrote, “I have been looking to participate in this experience for a couple years and it has not disappointed. Your [Tingson-Gatuz] willingness to get personal and vulnerable has really humanized the vice president for student affairs role.”
Liberal arts education, career preparation and service-learning have been the hallmarks of a Madonna University education for more than 80 years. Conveniently located at I-96 and Levan Road in Livonia, Madonna is Michigan's most affordable, Catholic, liberal arts university. Veteran- and transfer-friendly, Madonna offers nearly 100 undergraduate and 35 graduate programs in the colleges of arts and sciences, education and human development, nursing and health, and the School of Business. Madonna boasts 22 men's and women's athletic teams, 35+ student organizations, and state-of-the-art residence halls.
# # #
