Workshop Leaders

Outstanding Mount Holyoke women and Take the Lead! alumnae will share their strategies for creating change. Past and current workshop leaders include:

Becky Wai-Ling Packard, Ph.D.
		Associate professor of psychology and education Becky Wai-Ling Packard specializes in mentoring. She also studies career and identity development during adolescence and the motivation of women in science and of low-income youth. Becky's work is supported by the National Science Foundation's CAREER program. In 2005, she went to the White House to receive the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government upon early career scientists.
Patricia VandenBerg, Ph.D.
		The founding director of Take the Lead!, Patricia is a nationally recognized authority in communications and leading change. A professor, college administrator, and consultant, she has assisted individuals and groups across the country. Much of her work has focused on empowering women and girls. Participants will use her “leadership change model” as the basis for developing their action projects.
Rene Davis
		The director of residential life at Mount Holyoke College, Rene assists students in resolving conflict, bridging communication style differences, and becoming effective student leaders. In 1999, she was named one of ten Women of Achievement in western Massachusetts. Rene has dedicated her entire professional career to youth empowerment and women's issues.
Yedalis Ruiz
		The Weissman Center liaison to Take the Lead, Yedalis is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College with a major in psychology and education. She is currently pursuing a graduate degree in educational policy, research, and administration at University of Massachusetts and is a graduate assistant in psychology at Mount Holyoke.  Much of her work has been in community-based research and education with a  focus on youth development and the role of language and culture on the educational trajectories of Latino and urban youth.
Shaina Muñoz
		Shaina is a Take the Lead! alum who has always had a passion for diversity. After attending the Take the Lead! Program she was inspired and determined to make a difference within her school. She wrote and created a Diversity Seminar and later cotaught it her senior year of high school. Shaina is proud to be attending Mount Holyoke College this fall.