Women's History Month Q+A with members of executive cabinet

Welcome to our Women's History Month series featuring members of our executive cabinet. Throughout this week, we will highlight members of campus leadership, each sharing their unique perspectives on gender equality and empowerment that defines the essence of Women's History Month. So, let us embark on this enlightening journey together, as we celebrate the past, present, and future of women's influence and leadership.

Myeshia Armstrong, Vice President, Administration & Finance/Chief Financial Officer

What is your favorite quote by a woman?

"If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair." 
—Shirley Chisholm, First African-American woman elected to the United States Congress 1968

Share a women’s empowerment moment that inspires you.

The founding members of my sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, were the only black sorority to march in the 1913 Suffrage March in Washington, D.C.  Although these young women from Howard University would not immediately benefit from this demonstration, they were committed to the rights of all women.  I have always been inspired by the passion of those founders along with current members nationwide who are active in social action and civil rights worldwide.

Kim Greer PhD, Interim Provost & Vice President, Academic Affairs

What piece of advice do you give to young women in your family?

Be kind to yourself and never doubt your strength.
There are many paths to the same destination.

Share a women’s empowerment moment that inspires you.

While teaching a class in a women's prison I met a young woman named Autumn. She was one of the best students I've ever met and when she discovered she was just as smart and capable as the young women in college, she was on her way. She went to college after she was released; I think of her often and wonder where her adventures took her - wherever she is, I know she is making a difference. 

What is your favorite quote by a woman?

"Nevertheless, she persisted."  This was said about Senator Elizabeth Warren by Mitch McConnell when she would not stop talking during a confirmation hearing.

"Being vulnerable is the greatest act of courage...Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it's having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome." 
—Brene Brown

Cathy Sandeen, President

What piece of advice do you give to young women in your family?

This is real advice I gave my two daughters and it reflects my ambitious baby-boomer nature. Sit in the front row at school and make eye contact with your teachers/professors. Don't hesitate to speak up for yourself. Conduct informational interviews as a low-stress way to learn about new industries or companies and to build a professional network. And I tell them to always stay in the workforce--even part-time, even with kids, even if you don't need to--because you never know what can happen and it is a challenge to return once you have left.

If you could meet any influential woman, who would you choose? What questions would you ask her?

I would love to meet Ruth Bader Ginsburg and learn how she coped with and worked through the gender-based discrimination and misogyny she encountered throughout her career. How do you keep going? What inspired her?

What is your favorite quote by a woman?

"Whatever you choose to do, leave tracks. That means don’t do it just for yourself. You will want to leave the world a little better for your having lived."
—Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Words to live by.

Who is your favorite female character in a movie and why?

I recently watched Nyad about the endurance swimmer, Diana Nyad and her friend Bonnie Stoll Great acting by Annette Being (a SFSU grad) and Jodi Foster. I like how it reinforced the power of friendship and setting near-unattainable goals.

Evelyn Buchanan, Vice President, University Advancement

If you could meet any influential woman, who would you choose? What questions would you ask her?

I would love to meet Gloria Steinem, feminist leader and journalist. Ms. Steinem recently celebrated her 90th birthday. She has been an activist since the 1970s. She co-founded Ms. Magazine in 1972 which I subscribed to for years and has been active in the Pro-Choice movement. I have admired her and followed her work since I was young. Her writings on women's rights deeply informed my thinking and values.

What is your favorite quote by a woman?

"If you can dance and be free and not be embarrassed, you can rule the world."
—Amy Poehler

Kathleen Wong (Lau), University Diversity Officer

What piece of advice do you give to young women in your family?

Community care is just as important as self-care, connect with others to give and receive in community so that in your work to change the world you do not burn out and you also help others not burn out.

If you could meet any influential woman, who would you choose? What questions would you ask her?

Grace Lee Boggs, civil rights activist, labor activist, feminist, and environmental justice advocate (lived from June 27, 1915 to October 5, 2015). Grace Lee Boggs did most of her activist work living in Detroit where she supported the Black Power movement and became an activist powerhouse across so many different arenas of social change in the 1940s, 50s, 60's, 70's, 80's. 90's clear into her old age up until 100 years old. She was an unwavering ally, leader, and collaborator in social activism. I would ask her, how she maintained her optimistic outlook on the trajectory of social change. She was a firecracker, but she was also an incredible caretaker and coalition builder.

What is your favorite quote by a woman?

"You don’t choose the times you live in. But you do choose who you want to be, and you do choose how you want to think."
—Grace Lee Boggs

Share a women’s empowerment moment that inspires you.

When Shirley Chisholm ran for President in 1972. I was 12 years old. Her courage shocked my system as a young girl. She would go on to author a bill that was signed into law which increased the minimum wage and included agricultural workers and domestic workers in 1974. People may not remember, but U.S. women could not even apply for credit cards in their own names until 1974. The landmark legislation taught me that public service mattered and voting mattered. Chisholm embodied that in her career.

Suzanne Espinoza, Vice President, Student Affairs & Enrollment Management

What piece of advice do you give to young women in your family?

You are the architect of your life
Think about what you want
Make your own choices
Know that you can create the future that you want even if you don’t see role models out there
Always negotiate the salary you are offered
Start investing early 

What is your favorite quote by a woman?

"Well behaved women rarely make history."
—Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

"Instead of buying a pair of Nike buy a share of Nike."
–Soledad O'Brien