Women’s History Month: Learning About and Celebrating Female Leaders

The Lovett community celebrated Women’s History Month by learning about influential female leaders past and present across fields such as business, math, science, and the arts. Our entire student body, both boys and girls, had the opportunity to find inspiration in the power of women’s leadership, honoring the richness of a community that values the full participation of everyone’s talents and contributions.

Middle and Upper School students had the opportunity to hear from a panel of Lovett-affiliated women leaders: Ms. Virginia Adams, CPA, Ernst & Young; Ms. Alice Park, Owner, Alice Park Photography; Ms. Alicia Tillman, CMO, Delta Airlines; Ms. Wanda Morris, award-winning Author and Lawyer; and Dr. Deneta Sells, Intown Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine. Middle School student Riya Heda facilitated the Middle School panel, and Christina Dahabreh and Katherine Molner, Co-founders of the Lovett Girls in Business club, facilitated the Upper School panel. The students asked questions about the panelists’ backgrounds, career journeys, and advice, and panelists encouraged students to find their passions, persist through challenges and fears, and live a life of meaning and purpose. 

The Upper School Student Diversity Leadership Council also hosted a screening of Hidden Figures for both Black History Month and Women’s History Month and organized a panel of women faculty to celebrate Women’s History Month.

In the Lower School, 5th grade Culture & Community Leaders led an assembly with a “Guess Who” game that featured important women historical figures in the fields of math and science. Noted historical figures included Dr. Mae Jemison, Dr. Ellen Ochoa, Tu Youyou, Dr. Jane Goodall, Dr. Katherine Johnson, Dr. Marie Curie, and Dr. Gladys West. Students read out facts about each person and encouraged the Lower School audience to guess. Murmurs rippled through the crowd when students recognized a historical figure from their classroom studies!

For faculty, Lovett’s Director of Belonging Dr. Alison Wynn hosted professional development sessions on how to increase the representation and inclusion of girls and women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. The training provided research-based strategies for creating inclusive classroom environments that boost both girls’ and boys’ engagement and persistence in STEM fields.

Lovett also held special Women's History Month Chapels across all three divisions. In the Lower School, Chaplain Ludvigsen spoke about Esther and Mary as examples of how ordinary people can be called to do extraordinary things. This theme was echoed in the Middle and Upper Schools by The Rev. Pauline Samuel, the first female rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Atlanta, who shared her own remarks on the lasting impact of these two historical figures.

Across campus, our community engaged in activities to celebrate, honor, and learn about the important contributions of women throughout history and in the present day. Students left inspired and encouraged to find their own path, develop their leadership skills, and make their unique mark on the world.