2008 Woodie Awards
Excellence without excuses
By: Laura Danielson
Issue date: 4/2/08 Section: News
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Melanie Nelson, an associate communication disorders professor, stressed that point during the second annual Strong, Ethnic, Educated Divas panel discussion on Monday.
Nelson said she is the only black woman in the United States who is a practicing audiologist.
Juggling a career and a family can be difficult, she said, but she always is where she is supposed to be, when she is supposed to be there - no excuses.
"My tombstone is not going to say I was an audiologist - it's going to say I was a mother," Nelson said when explaining how she chooses her priorities. "I always begin with the end in mind."
The event, sponsored by Sophisticated Women of Color, kicked off the group's "Week of Sophistication."
Nelson joined Political Science professor Joyce Baugh and Romulus senior Rebecca Thornton as panelists to answer questions about how to succeed as a woman of color, especially in the academic community.
"The discussion was very informative and touched on a lot of issues in current society that affect women of color and men, too," said Daryl Anglin, a Detroit graduate student. "More people should come to these events."
Panelists gave the audience advice on how to achieve their goals and shared their stories and what obstacles they have had to overcome.
"People told me that Ph.D.s and husbands don't mix," said Baugh, who said her working class family did not understand the specifics of getting advanced degrees.
Baugh said her supportive spouse and learning to say no are the things that help her succeed.
Thornton's struggle to find an educated Latin role model was the focus of her story. The first woman in her family and one of few from her town to go to college, Thornton said, she finally found role models in the McNair Scholars program, which will allow her to go on to graduate school next year.
"The panelists offered students excellent advice," said Jeannie Jackson, affirmative action officer. "I hope for more events like this in the future."
Other advice panelists gave to the audience included learning to write and speak well, regardless of background, reading for pleasure outside of class and to stop doing activities that do not help them reach their goals.
"Let your work represent you," Nelson said. "Be thorough and have no excuses."
SWC's Week of Sophistication continues each day this week.
The next event will be a discussion coordinated with Sigma Lambda Beta at 7 p.m. today at the Wesley Foundation, 1400 S Washington St.
An invite-only luncheon will honor outstanding women leaders on campus Thursday and SWC will host a social at 8 p.m. Friday at Applebee's restaurant. SWC members will end the week from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Isabella Community Soup Kitchen, 621 S. Adams St.
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