Staff, Faculty Selected for Systemwide Women’s Initiative for Professional Development

Whitney Pirtle	Fatima Paul	Yesenia Curiel	Amy Moffat

The Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on the Status of Women (CACSW) recently announced the UC Merced cohort selected to participate in the University of California Women’s Initiative for Professional Development.

The initiative, now in its second year, is an experiential program supported in part by the UC Office of the President and designed for mid-career women — both faculty and staff members — who demonstrate the potential to advance their careers at UC. Each campus selected up to four female staff and faculty members to participate in the program during the spring. CACSW issued a call for applications last semester. Starting this month, participants will attend monthly seminars through May.

Participants will be a part of a university-wide group through which members can strengthen their skills and competencies in the areas of professional development and impact, strategic relationship building, negotiating at work and peer coaching.

The 2017 program participants from UC Merced are:

• Yesenia Curiel, director of the CARE Office;
• Amy Moffat, student and program assessment manager, School of Natural Sciences;
• Fatima Paul, associate director of the Academic Senate office; and
• Whitney Pirtle, faculty member with the School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts.

Rachael Martin, a trainer with UC Merced's Human Resources office, was chosen to participate in the program during its inaugural year in 2016 and said it provided access to a vibrant, professional network of women that spans the UC system.

“The program also strengthened my skills and confidence through hands-on practice in professional development and impact, strategic relationship building, negotiating and more,” Martin said.