In honor of Women’s History Month, four Princeton organizations — the Center for Modern Aging Princeton (CMAP), the Historical Society of Princeton, the Arts Council of Princeton, and Princeton Municipality — have joined forces to present a special edition of EmpowerHer, a speaker series highlighting the resilience, leadership, and transformative power of women.
EmpowerHer takes place Wednesday, March 19, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at CMAP’s Nancy S. Klath Center for Lifelong Learning, 101 Poor Farm Road, Princeton. Register to attend either virtually or in person at www.cmaprinceton.org. The free event features a distinguished panel of local women leaders, each bringing a unique perspective from the fields of education, history, politics, and the arts:
Joan Girgus is professor emerita of psychology at Princeton University. Educated at the New School for Social Research in New York, she was recruited to Princeton in 1977. She became one of the few tenured female faculty members at the time and was the first woman to serve as dean of the college. In that role she oversaw the creation of the university’s residential college program as well as its freshman seminar program and Program in Women’s Studies.
Eve Mandel is the director of education and outreach at the Historical Society of Princeton, where she has worked since 2011. Her role involves developing and expanding HSP’s programs and partnerships, as well as providing a fun and educational visitor experience. She creates and runs educational programming for schools in Central New Jersey in additional to programs for adults and the general public at the Historical Society’s Updike Farmstead and within the community. She holds a bachelor’s degree from American University and a teaching certificate from the College of Saint Elizabeth. She previously worked at the Morris Museum and National Constitution Center.
Leticia Fraga, a member of Princeton Council, is the municipality’s first Latinx elected official. She also serves as police commissioner and as an advocate for representation in leadership. Currently in her third term on council, Fraga had previously served as a paralegal, civil rights specialist, and community volunteer. She is an alumna of Rider University.
Dr. Ronah Harris is artist-in-residence at the Arts Council of Princeton, where she weaves community narratives through textiles and visual storytelling. She led the design and creation of a quilt dedicated to the Witherspoon Jackson neighborhood. A native of New York, she studied at the New School and Teachers College at Columbia University. She founded Play Pattern LLC, a platform for children to learn about art and technology, and won two Daytime Emmy Awards for her work on children’s television programs.
Iona Harding, a global business and human resource consultant, serves as moderator of the event that explores themes of resilience, leadership, gratitude, and the evolving role of women in shaping communities as panelists share their personal journeys, discuss historical and contemporary challenges, and offer insights into fostering change at local and global levels.
