Opinion: Legacy of women leaders
As you walk past the buildings on Central Michigan University’s campus, you’ll notice names like Herrig, Sloan, Saxe. These, and many others, were named for women who left a significant impact on CMU’s history.
As a woman in an educational system and in a leadership role at Central Michigan Life, seeing this legacy and those of current women in leadership tell me that one day I can be one of them.
Similarly, Anne Hornak, a professor of higher education at CMU, said it’s affirming when people see someone with their identity in leadership positions.
“So much of higher education was built for wealthy white men,” Hornak said. “I think women struggle in a 10-year process that was built for people who didn’t give birth or have children.”
CMU has an interesting-but-complicated history with women in leadership. For example, in the 130-year existence of the university, it had only one woman who served as president.
Kathy Wilbur was the interim president from 2009 to 2010. She had a degree in journalism, worked in politics and served as the vice president of government relations and public affairs at CMU before becoming the president.
“It was, if you look in the history, a bit controversial, because at the time that she was interim president, (she) only had a bachelor’s degree,” Hornak said. “That was very controversial at a university, even though there were many universities that had presidents who were men with only a bachelor’s degree. So I think it was a bit because she was a woman.”
However, female leadership has been strong in positions of provost and in athletics, Hornak said.
CMU’s history of women in sports dates back to 1899, when student Myrra Hepburn was the first woman to compete in intercollegiate sports at CMU, according to the Clarke Historical Library archive.
In 1972, Title IX was enacted, securing equitable access to sports for women and men. For example, CMU started to provide hotel accommodations, meals and scholarships to women athletes in addition to the men, the archive read.
In 2022, six women coaches and administrators were named as the Homecoming Grand Marshals, celebrating their impact on CMU’s sports and the Title IX legacy.
While athletics blossomed at Central, and academics were led by a woman professional, CM Life didn’t sit still either. Throughout the years, CM Life has been covering all aspects of life and changes at CMU, from sports to administration.
Today, I am proud to say that our team is led by a majority of women.
Sydney Neal is our sports editor, who has led her team magnificently. She is fearless and passionate when it comes to journalism and is one of the best emerging sports writers you’ll ever find.
Grace Walker leads the news team and knows everything about government and politics. Her ideas are brilliant, and her writing inspires all of us.
Zoey Morse joined the leadership team this semester as an assistant photo editor and has already made her team shine. She treats every photo with such care and puts so much hard work into her role as editor.
Zoey Lawrence is CM Life’s brilliant design lead. Her artwork is breathtaking, and she is able to create anything, from infographics to cartoons to animations.
Mckenzie Nowak began her work as the multimedia editor last semester. She elevated CM Life’s presence on social media, and her team is producing incredible video content.
Olivia Garcia leads the advertising team. She is creative and talented both in her ads and in team management.
But we all didn’t do this alone. We had so many amazing women who walked this path before us, and who mentored and helped us grow. Today, we are so proud to continue their legacy.
Masha Smahliuk-Bootz is 2025-26 Central Michigan Life’s editor-in-chief.
