Program helps 25 women build NEW attitudes, long-term career success

June 29, 2009 by Peter Hundley 

NEW Leadership brings women together, teaches political consciousness

A network of more than 150 students has felt the positive effects of the National Education for Women’s (NEW) Leadership program on their professional careers and now the 2009 class of young leaders is among them.

“I had no idea what I was going to do with my degree once I graduated,” said UNLV alumna Judi Brown. “I didn’t even know that there were jobs I could get with my degree. I wouldn’t have been able to find these things out without help.”

The Women’s Research Institute of Nevada brought the NEW Leadership program to UNLV.

The centerpiece of the program is a six-day intensive training program for college students in the summer. Each year, a group of 25 students from across the state participates.

“The students will learn the importance of networking, mentorship and communication,” Rhodes said. “They also will establish a support system with the alums of the program.”

NEW Leadership places emphasis on civic engagement and politics, but the program accepts any young female university student from any academic discipline.

Program Director Diana Rhodes said, “We take 25 students a year. It is based on their applications and current educational status, as well as three letters of recommendation.”

Dunam Mathur, vice president of NVEnergy, was the most recent keynote speaker for the program. Among the many prestigious businesswomen who have spoken with and lectured the students are former UNLV President Carol Harter and Southern Nevada Water Authority General Manager Pat Mulroy.

One of the biggest goals of the NEW Leadership program is helping students establish a network and keep it intact after graduation.

“You build a very strong network. What the program teaches and encourages you to do is to build that network but then keep it growing and expanding,” Brown said.

NEW also provides students many internships and employment opportunities.

“We have seen our alums go on to be a part of many different organizations because of the connections that they make in NEW,” Rhodes said. “Some of them don’t even realize the opportunities that are out there waiting for them.”

Because of the program, Brown has been an intern with Harrah’s Entertainment for the past year.

“It’s one of the organizations that NEW has a strong relationship with. If it wasn’t for the program I probably would’ve never found an opportunity like this,” Brown said. “[The internship] was only supposed to last for three months. I’ve been [holding this position] with them for the past year now.”

Brown, a long-time Las Vegas resident, feels a stronger connection to the city of Las Vegas because of her involvement in the NEW program.

“I have been in Las Vegas since I was nine years old. I only felt connected to the community when I came to college,” Brown said. “NEW Leadership helped me gain that stronger connection. It would be a lot more difficult for me to live in the city without the help that I gained from the program.”