Leading with Authenticity: Black Women in Leadership with Dr. Cheree Meeks, Dr. Jamaica DelMar, Ms. Barbea Williams, and Ms. Lauryn Jones

Dr. Cheree Meeks, Dr. Jamaica DelMar, Ms. Barbea Williams, and Ms. Lauryn Jones join us for a captivating discussion on today's special episode of It's an Honor. All four of our guests give their insight on what it means to be a black woman in leadership positions, and what has inspired them to continue leading with authenticity. The podcast touches on the value of building community, the challenges associated with attracting and retaining students of color, and the importance of empowering black students in and around the university. Dr. Meeks dives into the Black Excellence Scholars Program at the Franke Honors College and the value of encouraging and developing young leaders. Dr. DelMar shares her future research on the Building Leaders and Creating Knowledge Living and Learning Community (B.L.A.C.K.), and her work in studying the intersectionality of students of color, first-generation students, and low-income students, while Ms. Williams talks about the imperative of black women leaders “daring to be powerful” in every environment. Ms. Jones explains her perspective on leadership as a Junior at the University and the challenges she faced during COVID as a college student. All four guests give insight into the challenges of moving to Tucson from around the country and their experiences finding ownership and diversity in local communities.