Albany Mayor Speaks on 'HER Power'

Wherever she and her family moved, Kathy Sheehan was always active in her community. But she "never, ever" thought she herself would run for public office, especially in a city known for its machine politics.

Like many women who volunteer tirelessly at schools, houses of worship and non-profits, Sheehan built up an impressive skill set and list of connections to go with her law degree.
She took the plunge into elected politics and became treasurer of the City of Albany in 2009. Four years later, she became its first female mayor.

Sheehan is just one of several Capital Region leaders who spoke to the HER Power and Leadership class this semester. Taught by Ausra Park, Ph.D., and Taewoo Kang, Ph.D., the one-credit life skills class explores how female underrepresentation in politics, business and the sciences can be addressed. How can college students correct this imbalance and develop the courage to become leaders in their own right?

Park, professor of international relations, said the course provided hands-on training to prepare female students to gain background knowledge, learn practical techniques and acquire skills on how to achieve leadership positions in different fields.

"Those women who are 'glass ceiling' breakers are visible in the public eye, yet we don't know much about their personal journeys, nor how long nor what it took for them to reach their positions of power," said Park. "Hearing intimate personal struggles and the winding ways that women leaders went through to reach top positions, sharing those stories with students-we hope guest speakers inspired student women leaders to aim high and never doubt that women belong at every decision-making table."

In addition to Mayor Sheehan, the class welcomed other local leaders in a variety of fields, including New York State Assemblywoman Michaelle C. Solages; Katie Hohman, managing partner at the public relations firm of Sheridan, Hohman, & Associates; Tamara Starr, a reporter for local ABC affiliate News10; Kathleen Skeals, superintendent of the North Colonie Central School District; and others.

"I have a servant leadership approach to holding office," Sheehan told the class on its last day of the semester. "How do we make sure everyone has the opportunity to succeed, and how do we make the best use of our limited resources? I'm very proud of what my team has accomplished with what I see as an 'equity agenda.'"

Alyssa Himes '24 said the class made her recognize some very important things about female leadership.

"Mainly, we always need to be pushed harder to enter these positions and convince other people that we are deserving of them," she said. "Despite the amount of progress made, it's clear we still have a long way to go."

Kang, assistant professor of political communication, explained that thanks to the intimate classroom setting, students had invaluable opportunities to engage closely with women leaders from varied backgrounds.

"These interactions often extended beyond the confines of the classroom, with some students eagerly anticipating future collaborations with the guest speakers, such as internships, volunteer opportunities, and more."

Katie Lenahan '25 said the class proves Siena's commitment to preparing its students for the future.

"The biggest takeaways for me were the connections we made and the knowledge that it doesn't matter how you started, it's what you make of it and where you end up," said Lenahan. "The speakers shared amazing experiences and we were able to learn and grow from them."

She said that when Albany city auditor Dorcey Applyrs came in, they learned that not only is it OK to fight for what you want or need, it's necessary as a woman.

"She told us, 'As girls we come into this world fighting.' This course has given me confidence as I begin my senior year and prepare for life after graduation. Having a class on female empowerment is such a privilege in a society where women are still treated as 'other.'"