Geneseo College Council member, retired educator and Geneseo alumna Iris Banister ’70 will deliver the keynote address at the ninth annual Women in Leadership Conference March 1 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the MacVittie College Union Ballroom.
The conference is a component of the college’s Women’s Leadership Institute, developed in 2007 to address the needs of female students in leadership positions or those seeking such positions.
Banister will be the dinner speaker with her address, titled “See Beyond What Is To What Can Be,” which is included in the credit students will receive as participants in the college’s Geneseo Opportunities for Leadership Development (GOLD) Program. The dinner is the culminating event of the conference, which feature numerous GOLD workshops throughout the afternoon focusing on women’s issues.
“This conference is an opportunity for current and aspiring campus leaders to enhance their knowledge in a variety of different subject areas and practice their networking skills,” said Courtney Havens, a counselor in the college Access Opportunity Programs (AOP). “We’re especially delighted to have the Rev. Dr. Banister with us to hear her inspiring message.”
Banister is a longtime Rochester resident, having taught in the Rochester City School District for 32 years. She earned her master’s degree in education from Geneseo and a doctorate in theological counseling from the Master’s International School of Divinity in Indiana.
Numerous faculty and staff also will participate in the program to share experiences, personal perspective and professional advice with the next generation of leaders.
The program is open to all Geneseo students but registration is required and accessible online.
The conference is sponsored by the Division of Student and Campus Life (GOLD Program and Center for Community); the Office of Alumni Relations; Campus Auxiliary Services; the Geneseo Student Association; the Women’s Leadership Institute; and the School of Business.
Photo is of Iris Banister '70