Women of Color in the Workforce Dinner and Dialogue was held on January 15 in the Philip Weltner Library atrium. This empowering event welcomed more than 120 Oglethorpe students and alumni, faculty and staff, and accomplished Atlanta professionals from varied career fields.

“This event not only celebrated the accomplishments of 14 women in professional fields, it also gave our students a chance learn what it took for these women to be where they are today and to make connections in the Atlanta community,” said organizer Melodie Rodgers, career outreach specialist in Oglethorpe’s Atlanta Laboratory for Learning and adjunct English faculty member. “Many Oglethorpe students walked away with mentorships, internships, and job opportunities.”

During the event, each honoree led a dialogue at their table, guided by questions developed by the Oglethorpe University women of the Epsilon Iota Psi Sorority. The honorees were:

Tina Fernandez, Executive Director, Achieve Atlanta
Dr. Ayanna Abrams, Founder and CEO, Ascension Behavioral Health, LLC
Malika Whitley ’11, CEO, ChopArt (OU alumna)
Lauren Harris ’06, Momentum Proposal (OU alumna)
Verity Yata, Senior Mechanical Engineer, Habisat
Porsha Thomas, CEO of gowrkgrls
Fiona Zedde, MFA, Author
Sushma Barakoti, MSW, Executive Director, Refugee Women’s Network
Dr. Pam Gross, HIV/AIDS research and public health physician
Breauna Dorelus, MPA, Connecting the Cause
Dr. Tiffany Johnson, Assistant Professor, Organizational Behavior; Georgia Institute of Technology
Yolanda Lewis, Retired IT professional, AT&T
Maria “Mayte” Peck, Entrepreneur in Marketing
Armishia Wiley-Adams, Executive Director, Help United Through Caring
Shanice Chesney ’17, Moderator (OU alumna)

The gathering closed with a networking session in the Oglethorpe University Museum of Art, which offered attendees a special preview of the spring exhibition Stories Without an End: Power, Beauty and Wisdom of Women in African Art of the Mehta Collection.