Jeannine is the campus coach for Carnegie Mellon’s Chapter of Strong Women Strong Girls. Strong Women Strong Girls is a mentoring organization where college women mentor 3rd-5th grade girls. It’s mission statement is to promote a community of empowered women. Campus Coach is an additional leadership role for Jeannine in addition to being a Housefellow for Webster and in charge of the Gender Programs and Resources here at Carnegie Mellon. This role is a perfect fit for Jeannine due to her interest in gender studies. “It fascinates me, it never gets old, and I like the controversy of it as well,” she explained. I sat down with Jeannine over Starbucks mochas to talk about her role in Strong Women Strong Girls.
Jeannine started working at Carnegie Mellon in the spring of 2011 and when she arrived she got all of the gender programs except for Strong Women Strong Girls. Her response to having to wait until the fall to start her role in the organization was, “why didn’t I get that one? That’s the one I want!” Jeannine told me that one of her most vivid images of her tour of Carnegie Mellon was the Strong Women Strong Girls banner in the UC. As soon as she saw the banner encouraging women empowerment she said, “Yeah, I want to work here.”
Now that Jeannine has been the campus coach for two years she has more responsibilities to fulfill. She is the advisor for the group who serves as a liaison between chapter directors and outside sources like Student Life. Jeannine has weekly meetings with the directors of the organization to get an update on what is going on in the chapter and if there’s anything she can do to help. Jeannine also stressed that she is a resource to all of the mentors, for problems within the organization or in their own lives. She summed up her role by saying, “I’m the cheerleader that goes ‘go team go’ but doesn’t have to call the plays.” Jeannine is an excellent cheerleader for Strong Women Strong Girls with her passion for working with and helping women.
Jeannine has loved being a part of Strong Women Strong Girls. She explained that, “every time I get together with Strong Women Strong Girls I like it.” Jeannine loves hearing the stories of the mentors, whether it is from their personal lives or their mentoring with the girls. Jeannine said, “I see the mentors in all different places whether it be discovery or leadership.” Strong Women Strong Girls allows every one involved in it become a leader and grow as a person. Jeannine explained that, “the group has a lot of integrity and I am proud to be connected with something that has a lot of integrity.”
Jeannine is excited to continue with her role as campus coach for future years. She would like to be more involved with the mentors and the girls next year. Her ideas to accomplish this are site visits to see the mentees and to ask mentors “why have they chosen to mentor?” Jeannine really believes that knowing people’s answers to this question will help the organization.
As campus coach Jeannine is doing a fantastic job! She has added to the program and there is no doubt in my mind that the organization will grow thanks to her.