Four Alumnae Women of Color Making an Impact in Their Field
In honor of HERstory Month, which celebrates women of color and runs from February 15 through March 15, Chatham’s Office of Alumni Relations and Office of Career Development teamed up to highlight the careers and accomplishments of four alumnae women of color. You can catch their profiles throughout the week on the @chathamualumni Instagram and compiled here on Pulse@ChathamU—
Cynthia H. Jones ‘86
Associate Judge, Circuit Court for Baltimore City
she/her
What is a high point in your career (thus far) that stands out to you?
CHJ: I have had the privilege to have many high points in my career including serving in appointed positions for the Comptroller of Baltimore City, the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City and the Maryland Commissioner of Financial Regulation. However, it is in my capacity as Associate Judge on the Circuit Court for Baltimore City that I believe I have had my greatest impact.
What is something you are still aspiring to achieve in your professional life?
CHJ: I look forward to continuing my commitment to the rule of law, contributing to the future of our legal community, honoring the legacy of those who have come before me and continuing to serve my community on and off the bench.
What advice do you have for current students who are interested in pursuing similar work post-graduation?
CHJ: My mother used to share an affirmation with me and my brother growing up: "The reward does not got to the swiftest, it goes to those who endure to the end!" I found volunteering, participating in my law school's clinic and being active in multiple bar associations early a useful tool in establishing a career in the law. Developing relationships with members of the bar, the judiciary, and Baltimore’s leadership established a foundation that led to me holding leadership positions in prominent public institutions. But what is most important is having a vision, being focused, and putting one foot in front of the other. Your path may lead to an experience that will not work out or will not work for you. That is not failure, it is an experience, move on! I often share with individuals I mentor that they should prepare themselves for the possibilities and to remember that they are endless.
Teresa Smith, OTD ‘21
Director of Clinical Operations and Compliance, Mid Coast Senior Health Center, Brunswick, Maine
she/her
What is a high point in your career (thus far) that stands out to you?
TS: The high point of my career so far has been how Chatham’s OTD program and its associated capstone project catapulted me into growth as a leader and being recognized at work for my efforts in promoting quality, patient safety, and compliance. This resulted in a recent job promotion from my previous positions as the rehab manager to the director of clinical operations and compliance at my workplace.
What is something you are still aspiring to achieve in your professional life?
TS: I would like to become a Certified Professional in Patient Safety through the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and make a meaningful impact at the local healthcare systems level.
What advice do you have for current students who are interested in pursuing similar work post-graduation?
TS: Know yourself and what drives you to help others or make things better. At the same time, be humble and let curiosity and compassion lead you to see things from multiple perspectives. Get involved in interdisciplinary committees or workgroups in healthcare so that your perspective can be broadened and you can make a real difference at the systems level.
How did Chatham help to prepare you for your career?
TS: The Post-Professional Doctorate in Occupational Therapy program shaped me into a deeper and stronger critical thinker, clinical leader, and educator who was more aware of current theories, health equity issues, and evidence-based practices. The capstone project process taught me how to do research and to lead evidence-based projects. I was advised to choose a capstone topic that I have a passion for and could see myself diving deep into, perhaps even beyond my time at Chatham. The topic I chose had a focus on inter-professional communication and collaboration skills between healthcare professionals to promote patient safety. Therefore, the doctorate program and capstone process prepared me perfectly for my current role.
What skills do you feel have been essential for you in your career?
TS: The skills that have been essential in my career have not been the hard skills related to my health profession. Rather, it has been the soft skills, attitude, and posture of being a lifelong learner. I want to keep growing and improving even as I am seeking to help others or improve the healthcare that is provided.
Chimdinma Ojini, DNP ‘17
Family & Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, currently completing military training in Oklahoma
she/her
What is a high point in your career (thus far) that stands out to you?
CO: As a dually certified nurse practitioner, I provide holistic, high quality, and patient-centered care using knowledge from both specialities. As a doctoral degree prepared nurse practitioner, I practice evidence-based care to provide the highest quality of care to my patients. I also influence my colleagues to use evidence-based practice for the best patient outcomes.
What is something you are still aspiring to achieve in your professional life?
CO: I am currently pursuing my PhD at Rocky Mountain University, concentrating on health promotion and wellness. My hope is to gain knowledge that will help prevent and reduce chronic health problems through the implementation of healthy behaviors in our society.
What advice do you have for current students who are interested in pursuing similar work post-graduation?
CO: Keep moving. It is stressful but doable. It takes persistence and a healthy attitude to make an outstanding difference in our society.
How did Chatham help to prepare you for your career?
CO: Chatham, through the DNP program, prepared me to be a great nurse leader. Chatham taught me how to implement interventions to bring positive change in clinical settings. Chatham taught me the importance of research which is currently helping me to be up to date with my practice by reviewing the best evidence out there and implementing it into my patients’ care.
What skills do you feel have been essential for you in your career?
CO: So many skills have helped and are still helping me to succeed. Some of those include: effective communication, dedication, commitment, honesty, teamwork, courageousness, selfless service, politeness, respectfulness, persistence and a positive attitude.
Genesis Caplan MAFS ’15
Graduate Student, Master of Food Studies
she/her
What is a high point in your career (thus far) that stands out to you?
GC: The high point of my career was during my busiest time, when I was running food distributions and teaching in Washington DC. The types of collaborations involved in what it takes to feed a community made me realize that there was a whole world of food that I needed to learn more about. That's when I decided to come back to Chatham to study food!
What is something you are still aspiring to achieve in your professional life?
GC: I'd really love to explore what writing looks like in the food world. I've been interviewed for newspapers and magazines, and the process behind the scenes has been so intriguing to me! When I was little, my reading and writing development happened at a much different pace than it did for my peers, since english was not my first language. These experiences shaped a lot of my fears in creativity and expression, but these fears have sort of faded away in grad school. I have a much better support system that has empowered me to own my skills. I have a wonderful friend that has helped spark an interest in me to learn more about writing. I think that my ultimate dream is to write a book.
What advice do you have for current students who are interested in pursuing similar work post-graduation?
GC: Try new things, show up consistently, and be flexible. There was a period in my career when I wanted to transition from youth development into the food world. With a little bit of creativity, I was able to create a path for myself that wasn't as obvious to me then as it is to me today. I said yes to a lot of new things, even though I was apprehensive. I showed up, even on rainy days. There were some days when my plans went smoothly, and days when I had to leave my expectations at the door.
How did Chatham help to prepare you for your career?
GC: In my undergrad, Chatham helped me explore the idea of sustainability through design, which has been huge in my career and my husband's career. It's led us to some wonderful collaborative opportunities of growth and development to arrive at careers that we enjoy.
At the end of the spring, I will have completed my first year in the Master of Arts in Food Studies here at Chatham. In the short time that I have been here, I have learned so much. I've learned how to critically think about food and power structures that have led to how the world is fed today. Most importantly, in my opinion, I've learned how to question norms. Every single one of my classes and professors have pushed me in different directions, and although it has been hard, it has been incredibly rewarding.
What skills do you feel have been essential for you in your career?
GC: The skills that have helped me have been empathy and vulnerability. I could also say that vision and leadership are crucial, but you need the former two to do right by people. Positive food exchanges happen when there is empathy for people and the environment, but these connections can't be made without being vulnerable. They are essential for community building and success.
Special thanks to these talented alumni for sharing their stories and the Office of Career Development and Alumni Relations for compiling them. You can learn more about the possibilities of career development at Chatham at this link.