快活视频

For Leah Cox, Ph.D., Towson University鈥檚 first vice president for inclusion and institutional equity, Women鈥檚 History Month is all about leadership, mentoring and breaking down barriers.

鈥淭here are still inequities in terms of gender,鈥� Cox noted. 鈥淓specially in leading organizations, leading units and being paid. And, while we have a lot of women on our college campuses, as we do here, they don鈥檛 always get encouraged, mentored or supported in leadership roles.

鈥淎s we鈥檙e looking at what we want our leaders to look like鈥攁nd who we want to lead our country, our corporations and our government鈥� we need to engage our young women,鈥� Cox added, 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 really important for women to see other women leading. We don鈥檛 always see that.鈥�

Cox came to 快活视频in January 2017 from the University of Mary Washington, where she served as special assistant to the president and chief diversity officer, Title IX coordinator, and campus ombudsman. She previously worked at Gallaudet University, where she established its first office for minority students.

Now Cox is leading TU鈥檚 first diversity and compliance office.

She clearly remembers the women who had the biggest impact on her leadership journey.

鈥淢y first job was at Sinai Hospital,鈥� Cox recalled, 鈥渨here there were a lot of male doctors. Within my unit, my first supervisor was a woman, so being able to watch her interact with them was very interesting. Sometimes it was like running into a brick wall, but she seemed to maneuver very well.

鈥淲hen I was at Gallaudet, there was this dean of the College of Communications,鈥� Cox said. 鈥淪he was newly hired, not long after I got hired, and she was just a really strong person. I was really impressed by the way she carried herself, the way she went about enacting some of the policies and changing the curriculum, and how she worked with the faculty. I often thought, 鈥業 want to be like her when I grow up.鈥�

鈥淪o it鈥檚 been really important to come here and report to a strong woman president,鈥� Cox added, 鈥渁nd one who is absolutely and unapologetically fearless.鈥�

What Cox learned at Sinai, Gallaudet, 快活视频and elsewhere in her career has helped to shape the leadership qualities and characteristics she believes are most critical for women today.

鈥淚 think you need to have a sense of self,鈥� Cox said, 鈥渢hat allows you to recognize your skills and abilities. You have to know what your worth is, what you can do, what your skills are, what your strengths are, and where you may need some work.

鈥淔or me, it鈥檚 always about wanting to learn more,鈥� she added. 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 be shy about saying 鈥業 don鈥檛 know that and I need to know more.鈥� You definitely have to be willing to step up and take some risks. You can鈥檛 be the wallflower.鈥�

Cox smiled when she thought about the leadership traits that have manifested themselves in the young women who, in recent months, have led the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements, and the school safety efforts that culminated in the March 24 鈥淢arch For Our Lives鈥� rallies in Washington, D.C., and in communities across the nation.

鈥淭hese movements have helped women find their voices鈥� Cox said, reflecting again on the importance of Women鈥檚 History Month. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e stepping out there and you can鈥檛 ask for any more. To be able to find your voice and stop something that should not be happening is powerful. And as women, both young and old, they鈥檙e making a huge difference.鈥�