To celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8, 2019, we asked our online community of college instructors to share stories of women who made a difference in their educations. Each response was acknowledged by Wiley with a donation to one of four charities: The Campaign for Female Education, Girls Who Code, The Malala Fund, and The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.

1. Celebrating Women’s
History Month 2019

2. To celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8, 2019, we asked
our online community of college instructors to share stories of
women who made a difference in their educations. Each response
was acknowledged by Wiley with a donation to one of four charities:
The Campaign for Female Education, Girls Who Code, The Malala
Fund, and The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.
We received 193 responses in all — stories of life-changing
elementary school teachers, female family members, college
professors, professional coaches and mentors, friends and
colleagues. These tales were too inspiring to keep to ourselves, so
we wanted to share a few with you.

3. The woman who had the most
significant impact on my education was
my mentor and biggest supporter, my
mother. Without her, I would not have
known what hard work is. She was a
non-traditional student who taught full
time and commuted to school ninety
minutes away for years to finish her
degree while taking care of my siblings
and me. She modeled love for others,
kindness, hard work and faith through
difficult circumstances.
Amos Kasperek
Bob Jones University

4. For me, it would have to be one of
several women in my family. My mother
and both grandmothers were educators
and started to instill the value of
education in me at an early age.
Theopholieus Worrell
Delgado Community College

5. My high school chemistry teacher
encouraged her best Chemistry 1 students
to take a second year of chemistry. In some
sense she allowed us to run free with that
course, but really, she was encouraging us
to pursue the topics that really interested
us. She encouraged me to develop a passion
for science.
Christi Luks
Missouri University of
Science & Technology

6. Wendy Beres, my mother, an intervention specialist taught me the
importance of determination in education. She worked with me every
night in junior year on math skills I could not understand. She would
not accept that I was “not a math person.” She was right and once it
clicked; I had the skills to teach myself anything. I went on to take four
semesters of calculus in college. I don’t think I would have been able
to get a Ph.D. if it had not been for the skills she taught me.
Nathaniel Beres
Heidelberg University

7. My Algebra 1 teacher in 8th grade, Mrs.
Gemma Giannantonio, was the first
teacher to teach me mathematics using
a clear, logical approach. Prior to her
class, I was good at math, but never really
enjoyed it. Her instruction set me on the
path to many more great discoveries on
the beauty of mathematics. Thank you,
Mrs. Giannantonio!
Kati Dobeck
Lorain County Community College

8. My college professor Dr. Diana Lopez is one of the many
Latina women who made a difference in my life. Dr.
Lopez is a role model I hold dear to my heart because
she is a Latina who beat the odds of racial barriers in
Higher Education. Professor Lopez believed in me, a first-
generation college Latina; she showed me that Latinas
could break through the barriers and become scholars.
Dr. Lopez encouraged young Latinas to persist in college.
She inspired me to break racial and educational barriers.
Thanks to Dr. Diana Lopez, I am a powerful, confident,
educated, and empowered Mujer (woman) who is
dedicated to helping Latinas succeed in Higher Education!*
Martha Petersen
Southern New Hampshire University
*
Any reference in this website to any person, or organization, or activities, products, or services related to such person or organization, or any linkages from this web site to the web site of
another party, do not constitute or imply the endorsement, recommendation, or favoring of Wiley’s products and/or services.

9. My mentor Dr. Lorraine Wiley was the
kindest most supportive person that
influenced me. She was very involved
in getting minority students, and other
people of color into medical and dental
school. She had a large number of
success stories to her credit. I started
out as her student and ended up as
her colleague. I was honored to be
called be her friend.
Bryon Spicci
Nunez Community College

10. My mom, Dr. Pamela Cignetti had
a big influence. After my parents’
divorce, she raised 4 kids, earned
her doctorate, and was an amazing
mother and great role model.
Doug Petrick
Upper St. Clair High School