ST. PAUL, Minn. – The St. Catherine University community was honored to host basketball legend Dawn Staley for a memorable evening filled with inspiration and empowerment at the Women of Color Leadership Series on May 8. Coach Staley's visit to St. Kate's, hosted at The O'Shaughnessy in front of a sold out crowd, left a lasting impression on both the University and the Minneapolis/St. Paul community.
Throughout the event, Staley shared personal anecdotes and insights from her illustrious career, highlighting the values of perseverance, leadership, and teamwork. Drawing from her experiences coming off her most decorated season, the trailblazer in the world of basketball captivated the audience with her authenticity and passion.
"It was truly an honor to meet and hear Dawn Staley speak," said Jaycee Rhodes '24, a student-athlete and recent graduate of the School of Business at St. Kate's. "Her story serves as a reminder that with dedication and determination, anything is possible. I left feeling inspired and ready to tackle any challenges that come my way."
Staley's message resonated deeply with attendees, reinforcing the University's commitment to empowering individuals to make a positive impact in their communities and to take advantage of the opportunities they're presented. Her emphasis on the importance of resilience and staying true to oneself left a profound impression on all who were present.
"The School of Business at St. Kate's celebrates the success of the Women of Color Leadership Series, a vital part of our Katie Leadership Impact (KLI)," noted Anupama Pasricha, PhD, dean of the School of Business. "This initiative has brought prominent women of color from diverse fields to campus, inspiring students and the community. Representation matters, and hearing from trailblazing BIPOC women expands students' sense of possibility and leadership aspirations. Basketball Hall of Fame player and coach Dawn Staley's May talk was impactful, offering relatable insights and humor that resonated deeply with my leadership and the audience."
"The series underscores the School of Business' commitment to women-centered education, fostering the talents of women to become leaders who drive community transformation," Pasricha said. "As dean, I support leadership development initiatives that benefit St. Kate's and the wider community. This leadership series inspires and strengthens connections within and beyond our institution, embodying our mission to empower women to effect positive change."
The event, made possible with support from the Manitou Fund, Ameriprise Financial and Securian Financial, concluded with a Q&A session, allowing attendees to engage directly with Staley and delve deeper into topics such as leadership, mentorship, and overcoming adversity. The conversation sparked meaningful dialogue and provided valuable takeaways for all in attendance.
As the St. Catherine University community reflects on Dawn Staley's visit, her message of resilience and empowerment continues to resonate. Inspired by her example, students, faculty, and staff are more determined than ever to pursue their passions and make a difference in the world.
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ABOUT ST. CATHERINE UNIVERSITY
Sustained by a legacy of visionary women, St. Catherine University educates women to lead and influence. We are a diverse community of learners dedicated to academic rigor, core Catholic values, and a heart-felt commitment to social justice. St. Kate's offers degrees at all levels in the humanities, arts, sciences, healthcare, and business fields that engage women in uncovering positive ways of transforming the world. St. Kate's students learn and discern wisely, and live and lead justly — all to power lives of meaning. Discover more at stkate.edu.
ABOUT THE O'SHAUGHNESSY
Located on the scenic campus of St. Catherine University, The O'Shaughnessy is one of the Twin Cities' premiere arts venues. Since opening in 1970, The O'Shaughnessy has presented an array of both local and national performing arts companies. The O'Shaughnessy's mission is to support St. Catherine University's mission to educate women to lead and influence. It presents annually a world-class series of artistic offerings that center themes of social justice and women's voices, produces University Events that invite the general public's participation and broaden academic engagement, and hosts select community events. The venue is a meeting place between the campus community and larger region, and seeks opportunities to actively engage students in artmaking and broaden the campus dialogue through approachable art. More information can be found at oshag.stkate.edu.
ABOUT KATIE LEADERSHIP IMPACT ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
St. Catherine University is committed to developing influential, ethical leaders at all levels of education, from associate to graduate. Through study, practice, and life experience, St. Catherine University students must have opportunities to enrich their knowledge and refine their skills as effective, ethical, and influential leaders.
The Katie Leadership Impact is an integrated and comprehensive array of academic learning,, applied learning, career development, professional work experience, and co-curricular activities that effectively develops great women leaders. Faculty, staff, alumnae, and leaders in the business community provide professional advising and mentorship to the students throughout the program. Katie Leadership Impact provides access to robust leadership and career development opportunities for all undergraduate and graduate students at St. Kate's, with an intentional focus on multiculturalism, financial need, and first-generation college students.
ABOUT ST. KATE'S ATHLETIC PROGRAMS
St. Catherine University athletics is a NCAA Division III all-women's department with 12 varsity programs delivering an optimal student-athlete experience in a highly competitive environment, develops graduates that have a lifelong connection to the university and empowers women to be leaders in scholarship, athleticism, and service. Through the opportunities generated by the competitive athletic experience and the team environment, we foster transformational leadership and personal achievement.
