Women For Others: Celebrating Women in the Xavier University Community
Mar 4, 2022
March marks Women's History Month, designated to recognize and honor the vital role of women in American history.
Xavier University proudly celebrates the many women who serve as important pillars in the Xavier community.
Throughout the month, Xavier will be featuring several respected leaders and members of the Xavier community — getting insight into their career paths, as they share stories about the women who've inspired them and give practical advice for young women today.
Stay tuned weekly for updates in Today at Xavier and on Xavier.edu.
Name: Ellen Heekin, M.A.
Title: Senior Teaching Professor, Economics, Williams College of Business
First Year at Xavier: 2001
How did you arrive at Xavier and what drew you to the place?
"I originally arrived at Xavier as an adjunct professor of economics. I had just graduated from my master's program and I was working full time, and I obviously love economics — and have a passion for the discipline. I actually ran into the department chair at an engagement party and was just the only person there who could talk about economics and really nerdy stuff. Very technical, exciting stuff and he could sense my passion. And he said: 'you should be an adjunct,' and I thought, I don't know about that and I had a full-time job. But someone said to me, you know, sometimes people can see things in you that you can't see and you should listen to that. I decided to get into teaching, maybe in an effort to respond to what he saw in me. It turned into something I love doing and, for me, it became a vocation. I continued to work full-time and teach as an adjunct until it turned into a full-time teaching position. Then, I started to do some research with one of my colleagues here, and it just kind of unfolded from there."
"The other part of it, too, is that when I started teaching, it was unique in that my master's degree is in economics. It's not an MBA (Master of Business Administration). It's not necessarily a random thing, but it's economics. And at that time, there weren't that many programs offering a master's in economics. So it was a discipline. It was only econ, which is different from an MBA. You get different topics, but I think that was the other advantage I had is that there aren't many people who are only econ, you know? It's a different training than an MBA, so I think that was to my advantage."
Who is a woman you have always admired?
"I'm not really into celebrities that much. I think for me, on a human level, I think it's all the women that I have been able to meet and connect with. My mom would be too. It sounds stupid, but that's where I find strength is my female friends. I'm grateful to the young woman in class who raised her hand in class and says, 'I disagree with that.' I'm grateful for my mom, who raised seven kids by herself after my dad died and worked full-time. There are so many women I look up to and that do amazing things every day. I'm grateful to all the women who have faith in me, who I have faith in, who are courageous, who are in male-dominated professions, who are honest in who they are and who they aren't. I like to hold space for others and you fight for the people who need the protection. I mean, those who stand up. I'm grateful for the women in El Salvador on coffee plantations and had more faith than any person I've ever seen."
What Advice Do You Have For Young Women Now, Especially Just Starting Their College or Professional Careers?
"I would say connect with others in your classes. If there's something that's interesting, respond to it. See if you can make a connection with a professor or with classmates and talk about what that passion is and talk about what the career path looks like. And then as you move through your coursework, if something changes, respond to that. But really listen to yourself and trust your intuition and respond to it. There are women here and there are men here who want to help you. We want to elevate you. We want to connect you, so don't be afraid to reach out and make those connections and to ask questions."
How has Xavier changed for women since you first arrived?
"I think it was difficult at first. I was an adjunct professor, so I would come in at night and teach the night classes and nobody was around. There's been an increase in diversity that I think has been wonderful over time. A tremendous increase in diversity. Of course, we still have progress to make there, but I mean, over that time period it's a huge change. I think that's what I can say. But for women, I mean, I think that's all it is. You just see more women in my classes, but still not enough."
Name: Sr. Rose Ann Fleming
Title: Special Assistant to the President, Faculty Athletics Representative
First Year at Xavier: 1982
Who is a woman you have always admired?
"There are so many remarkable women that history has put before us. Someone involved with Xavier would be Barbara Howard. She's an attorney in town and has been the head of the Board of Trustees. She has had a remarkable influence. She was a student here, a student leader who held elected office and came back and was head of the alumni association. She later became chair of the board and kept the University moving ahead."
How has Xavier changed for women since you first arrived?
"Well, I think the fact is women receive a lot more respect. Simply a lot more respect on this campus. They are the leaders of a variety of clubs and offices and programs. You know, I think that's one of the biggest things; they are elected now to lead governmental offices and our student body, and that is great recognition for them. They get scholarships and very good grades — not that men don't. But women are certainly quite capable of being competitive in the classroom and in leadership roles and things like that."
Xavier Has A Number of Women in Leadership Roles Around Campus These Days. What Difference Do You Think That Makes for Our Institution?
"I think one of the good things about including females in the body of our decision-making processes is that they bring a different calculus to the problems we face and different possible solutions in terms of the human aspects of the situation. And by that, I mean sometimes there is a scientific approach to things without a whole lot of consideration of the human needs — in terms of love and opportunity and equity. And I think women, having gone through what they did in the past, are very geared up for that kind of insight."
What Advice Do You Have For Young Women Now, Especially Just Starting Their College or Professional Careers?
"Don't be afraid. Keep on going because I think that the equity is now there for them. That you can achieve anything you want to achieve, assuming that you've prepared yourself and you've got your God-given talents. I don't think they need to be fearful anymore, because people feel they do belong now and they're not excluded and so they might as well make good with the freedom that women have won over the history of years, for sure."
Name: Debra Mooney
Title: Vice President/CMO, The Center for Mission and Identity
First Year at Xavier: 1999
How did you come to arrive in your position?
"I began my career at Xavier in 1999 in the McGrath Health and Counseling Center as a staff psychologist and the first University Wellness Coordinator. It was a position I planned to be in when I retired. However, the Spirit had different plans – and so did the late Fr. George Traub, S.J., who, in 2002, asked me to work alongside side him in the Division of Mission and Ministry working with campus faculty and staff. I served in that capacity until 2009, when Fr. Michael Graham invited me to serve as the first layperson and woman Chief Mission Officer in the newly reorganized division."
What drew you to work at Xavier?
"My specialty in psychology was clinical health psychology, so that first position was spot-on for my skills. My husband had just accepted a position in the Psychology Department at the University of Cincinnati. Friends of ours who heard the news that we were moving to Cincinnati to work at XU and UC exclaimed, “You are going to be a crosstown couple!” I didn’t know what that meant at the time, but I quickly learned."
Who is a woman you’ve always looked up to and why?
"I am inspired by ‘firsts,’ such as Sandra Day O'Connor, Misty Copeland, Sally Ride, Kathrine Switzer, Kamala Harris, and so on."
Tell us about a woman on campus who has inspired or impacted you in a big way?
"As someone who is inspired by ‘firsts,’ Dr. Janice Walker, Barbara Howard, Esq., and Dr. Colleen Hanycz are women who serve as leadership role models for me and others.
Xavier has only had women on-campus since Oct. 1, 1969. What is your experience like as a woman at Xavier?
"I had the honor of co-chairing the “Celebrating 50 Years of Women at Xavier” year of events with Dr. Walker. It was a terrific time to reflect on this question. During my time at Xavier, I have valued the opportunity to see campus advancements in the status of women and people of color. While it is very exciting to have been on campus to see the first woman Board Chair, President and CDIO, I have had the honor to work alongside many other colleagues who are also ‘firsts’ that are less visible but just as critical, such as the first women chairs of various departments and the first to serve in newly created positions."
What advice do you have for women at Xavier, or any other university right now?
"Young female professionals are often reluctant to raise their hand first. I say, go for it. Sheryl Sandberg would say, "lean in." That said, more important than "leaning in" is for seasoned leaders, men and women, to "pull up" and serve as mentors and sponsors to women."