Gannon Center Works to Redefine the Future of Women in Leadership

The Gannon Center for Women and Leadership is entering a period of restructuring following staffing changes in January 2025 and most recently, Dec. 23. Faculty and staff within the Center will reassess how the program supports women’s leadership and administrative changes.

The Gannon Scholars Leadership Program is a national four-year cohort program which accepts 10 incoming first-year students who apply each year. Scholars are awarded $10,000 in tuition annually. 

Every Monday, Loyola scholars meet to discuss social justice issues and leadership development, continuing the legacy of Mundelein Women’s College and its focus on women-led social change.

Along with the Gannon Scholars Program, the Center oversees the Johnson Scholars, Faculty Fellows and Graduate Leaders Program, according to Gannon Center endowed assistant professor Paula Tallman.

This past year, the program faced staffing inconsistencies following the resignation of program manager Jessica Robinson, The Phoenix previously reported. Former Gannon Center Director Gabrielle Buckley temporarily led the program until her retirement, and Rebecca Valeriano-Flores, Ph.D. assumed the role of program manager in January 2025.

Robyn Mallett stepped into the role of interim program director Dec. 23.

Mallett has been with Loyola since 2007 and currently serves as the Vice Provost for Academic Programs and Planning, overseeing the creation and modification of all curriculum.

As interim director, Mallett said she’s chairing a five-member committee who will consider whether the Gannon Center’s current mission and vision are aligned with the university’s current strategic priorities.

Her background and scholarly work focuses on understanding how people identify and respond to prejudice and bias. Mallet also references the Universal Design for Learning, which aims to build a classroom experience accessible to individuals from any background or ability. She said she uses this framework within faculty development.

“We are in a very unique moment, especially as the Center is supposed to be advocating for leadership formation at the intersection of gender and leadership, which if we look around, there’s a lot of opportunity there,” Mallett said.

Mallett said she’s been in communication with current staff and faculty to help get a better understanding of what their perceptions are of the program.

“We take the mission very seriously, and we just want to make sure that everything is operating in the best way that it can be to kind of speak to that critical question of gender and leadership,” Mallett said.

Mallett said she emphasizes a cautious approach as the committee considers recommendations that may affect staffing.

“We’ll be incredibly thoughtful about how we make recommendations and plan because there’s staff that are in that center, and we want to be very mindful of these talented people that have been doing a good job,” Mallett said.

Program Manager Valeriano-Flores said she acknowledged the turnover that came from the staffing inconsistencies and aims to bring structure to the program. She said she leads through her philosophy of “step up, step back.”

“You need to know when it’s your responsibility to either step up and take initiative on what you’re doing, and when maybe it’s time to step back and let others learn,” Valeriano-Flores said.

Tallman, who teaches anthropology as an assistant professor, said she works alongside Valeriano-Flores to support the scholars during the Center’s strategic planning process. She said she acknowledges the pushback against research to investigate gender and supporting women’s leadership, and she hopes the Gannon Center will step up and focus on social and environmental justice along with women’s leadership.

“Everybody can support women’s leadership,” Tallman said. “I think in some cases, it’s been interpreted that it’s women’s leadership, just for women, and that only women can support women’s leadership. And that is not the case at all.”

Despite past instability, fourth-year global studies and French major Alie McDougall said she has felt supported and guided by Gannon’s three core pillars: service, social justice and research. 

“Between the three things and all the experiences I’ve had at Loyola, I feel that I’ve really engaged with various women’s issues, and feel really confident leaving the school that I’ve gained knowledge and have passed that knowledge on to others and will continue to carry it with me throughout my life and my career,” McDougall said.

McDougall said being a Gannon Scholar connects her to the legacy of Mundelein Women’s College.

“I feel that I’m walking in the footsteps of so many women who’ve come before me,” McDougall said. “Getting to do that surrounded by a group of incredible, inspiring Gannons has just meant the most to me and my four years here at Loyola.”

First-year environmental engineering major Evalyn Green said the program has provided her support as she navigates challenges in a male-dominated field.

“It does provide a sense of reassurance that I feel like I’m surrounded by people who can help me,” Green said.

Third-year multimedia journalism major Ceci Urbanski said the program has laid out the foundation of using education to serve their communities.

“The Gannon Program does a good job of accommodating the interests of Gannons, and we get a lot of time to talk about what we want this program to be,” Urbanski said. “It’s very much shaped for and by the Scholars.”

Once the recommendations are finalized for the structure, the committee will report to the Provost by May 1, where the process will be determined.

“Interim by design is someone that you know is not going to be there forever,” Mallett said. “My job this spring is to figure out what’s going on, make recommendations to the Provost and decide what we implement.”

Mallet said she hopes to continue building a sense of community through peer-to-peer mentorship, deepening research and incorporating the other scholarship programs within the Gannon Center.

“I feel like it’s a hidden gem,” Mallett said. “I want to dust it off and help people see it shine.

Editor’s Note: Ceci Urbanski is a contributor to The Loyola Phoenix.