President Cynthia Bioteau, Salt Lake Community College’s first woman president, was the keynote speaker at the University of Utah’s Women’s Week celebration on Wednesday March 21, 2012 at the UofU’s Olpin Student Union Ballroom.
The UofU hosts this annual event that coincides with Women’s History month in March. Women’s history month began in California in 1978 as a way to hear more of “her story” in “history” and to celebrate the legacy and achievements women have made in society.
The purpose of this event is to bring women in the community together, to celebrate their accomplishments and to inspire.
“I thought [her speech] was captivating, engaging and surprisingly really motivational,” says Alana Kelly, a former SLCC student who recently transferred to the UofU.
“I thought the Girl Effect was a good call to action but it was in a way that was small enough that I think each person didn’t feel overwhelmed by the prospect of it,” says Kelly. “I think her whole ‘new set of eyes’ thing was inspiring. I think it focuses on us as people how we can bring about change by changing ourselves.”
“Powerful Beyond Measure”
President Bioteau is the 7th president of SLCC and is the college’s first woman president.
Since becoming the president of SLCC in 2006, she has been an integral part of many great advances at the college, especially when it comes to helping women succeed in life and the business world.
She supported the creation of the Women’s Business Institute at the Miller campus and instituted the Women’s India trust fund that supports women entrepreneurs in India.
The theme of Women’s Week this year, “Powerful Beyond Measure: Women, Work and Education,” with an emphasis on education. President Bioteau has had an extensive background with over 35 years of experience in education, mental health and business, contributing to communities and enriching lives of young people.
“I say that an education resonates and radiates in circles of influence that we don’t need to understand but we must be a part of,” said President Bioteau. “That’s the way we bring our humanity forward, that’s how we pay it forward.”
Stories
President Bioteau began by calling her address a ”spurnote” address, hoping that her speech would lead to conversations that spur each other’s thoughts to action.
She explained that how she sees and understands the world is through the telling and hearing of people’s stories.
She showed videos of SLCC students telling their stories about going back to school and the difference it has made in their lives. She also showed a YouTube video called The Girl Effect, which is a movement to end poverty by investing in girls.
She used this as an example of the powerful effect education has on a society, especially when women are educated.
“I say that an education resonates and radiates in circles of influence that we don’t need to understand but we must be a part of,” said President Bioteau. “That’s the way we bring our humanity forward, that’s how we pay it forward.”
President Bioteau went back to school at 45 to receive her doctorate, after taking time to raise her kids as a stay at home mom. Many of her colleagues warned her of the difficulties of returning to her fieldbut she made it her goal to receive her doctorate before she turned 50.
She said that at 49 and a half, she walked across the stage and was hooded. Her story exemplified that it’s never too late to go back to school. She shared her story of going back to school to show the importance of education in her life and in the life of her family.
“It’s never too late to go back to school,” said President Bioteau. “It’s no longer ‘either go to school or get married’ or ‘either go to school or have kids’. You can do them both. You can do it, and throughout your life. It doesn’t have to stop when you’re done with one degree.”
Educate, educated, education
She used an example of educate as a verb, educated as an adjective and education as a noun and how each are applicable and crucial in improving lives. She also expressed the importance of sharing that knowledge with others, in helping others grow and become successful, showing the power that education brings.
“So much in life we have acquired, we could lose,” said President Bioteau. “You can lose a friend. You can lose a spouse. You can lose your house. You can lose your car. You will never ever lose your education and your knowledge that makes the world meaningful to you. So I say to each of you the knowledge that you have is certainly unique to you. But understand that we have a responsibility to share that knowledge.”
She encouraged everyone in the room that they have a duty to not only educate themselves but everyone around them, that there is a power and responsibility that comes to those who are educated.
She explained what it means to her to be educated in sharing a quote from Marcel Proust, “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.” She challenged the audience to think of one person they could share their knowledge with to help empower them.
“My biggest hope is that people understand the power that education brings in equalizing our society and in providing gateways for people, families and communities to grow.”
President Bioteau closed her speech with a quote by Marianne Williamson:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
