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Samantha Abril: American Association of University Women
National Student Advisory Council Selection and Experience
I am a Claremont McKenna College junior, and I was recently selected to be a member of American Association of University Women’s (AAUW) National Student Advisory Council. The Council is comprised of ten female students from around the country who demonstrate leadership and community engagement. Council members become AAUW ambassadors, provide AAUW staff with firsthand accounts of student needs and ideas for combating sex discrimination in higher education and the workplace, and promote AAUW and its programs on their campuses.
I am a Gender and Women’s Studies and Government dual major with an interest in the intersection of reproductive rights, public policy and social constructions. As a campus leader, I spearheaded the reactivation of CMC Women’s Forum. I am also a member of the Women & Leadership Alliance Steering Committee based at CMC. I got my start in feminist campus organizing through my work-study job at Intercollegiate Women’s Studies (IWS) of The Claremont Colleges. There I was introduced to many activist opportunities and others who were interested in women’s rights. (I even found the AAUW National Student Advisory Council call for applicants on IWS’ amazing website!) As a member of the IWS for the past three years, I have worked with Claremont Colleges faculty, staff and students to develop gender and women’s studies programming, address campus climate issues, and promote and the support the work of women.
As a member of the Council, I will participate in monthly SAC conference calls to advise AAUW on student issues and needs and to report on AAUW SAC activities. I will help advertise AAUW at the 7 Cs, write at least three guest blog entries for AAUW’s blog, foster collaboration with my local AAUW branch, and participate in local Equal Pay Day events in April 2012. I will also participate in the planning process for the 2012 National Conference for College Women Student Leaders (NCCWSL) at the University of Maryland, College Park. At the NCCWSL I will have various leadership roles, including introducing speakers and workshop facilitators, leading networking activities, and providing general conference support.
One of my first activities with the Council was a trip to Washington DC in November 2011. On this retreat, I met with different departments of AAUW to get a better understanding of AAUW’s projects and plans for the year. We also took a tour of the Sewall-Belmont House (the headquarters of the National Women’s Party), Capitol Hill, and the national mall. In addition the SAC members also volunteered as cheerers at the American Heart Association Heart Walk.
I am very excited about being involved with AAUW and am looking forward to fostering a relationship with the local AAUW branch. I hope to give Claremont students more opportunities to be involved with AAUW as well.
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