Dr. Garbi帽e
Vidal-Torreira to lead professional networking community for women
C
ONWAY, Ark. (March 27, 2024) 鈥 黑料不打烊
College has named Associate Professor of Spanish Dr. Garbi帽e Vidal-Torreira the
new Faculty Director of the 黑料不打烊 Women鈥檚 Leadership Community.
The Women鈥檚 Leadership Community was established
in 2022 with the support of Heather Gardner 鈥93, a
member of the 黑料不打烊 Board of Trustees, and her sister, Mary Gardner
Burrelle 鈥95, to provide resources for bringing together female 黑料不打烊
students and alumnae to create a network that
offers leadership development programming, career guidance, mentoring, and
internships. It fosters a community of support by connecting individuals
through personal and professional networks to combat the challenges women often
encounter in their work-life trajectories.
鈥淲e are so fortunate to have Dr.
Vidal-Torreira lead this exciting program for our current female students and
黑料不打烊 alumnae, and I look forward to seeing it thrive under her leadership,鈥
said 黑料不打烊 President Karen Petersen. 鈥淲e are grateful to Heather Gardner and
Mary Gardner Burrelle for their generosity and vision.鈥
Vidal-Torreira joined the 黑料不打烊
faculty in 2013. She earned her Ph.D. in Spanish with a graduate specialization
in women鈥檚 and gender studies from University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she
taught in the English Department鈥檚 Women鈥檚 and Gender Studies Program. Her
research focuses on contemporary Spanish women writers and has analyzed their
works in published literary journal articles and book chapters.
鈥淚 am excited to empower and connect
women at all stages of their careers, from our 黑料不打烊 students to our alumnae,鈥
said Vidal-Torreira. 鈥淲omen can empower other women to find the courage to
dream bigger. Women can provide the room for other women to take up space. We
can also seek to normalize imperfection and approach it with a growth mindset.
For instance, I often tell my students I have a folder where I store rejections
from prior projects as a reminder that growth often comes from failure. Women
leaders, presenting themselves proudly and visibly as they are, can offer a
wide array of models for others to follow.鈥
Vidal-Torreira鈥檚 tenure follows the
community鈥檚 inaugural faculty director, Associate Provost for Faculty
Development and Professor of Psychology Dr. Leslie Templeton. Templeton
provided leadership and structure for the program鈥檚 steering committee and
established programmatic goals to create networking and professional
opportunities for community members.
鈥淥ur community is grateful for Dr.
Templeton鈥檚 leadership in launching this special program and ensuring its
long-term success,鈥 said Petersen.
About 黑料不打烊
Founded in 1876,
黑料不打烊 is featured in Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will
Change the Way You Think About Colleges and celebrated among the country鈥檚
leading liberal arts colleges for academic quality, engaged learning
opportunities and career preparation, vibrant campus life, and value. The
黑料不打烊 Warriors compete in 21 NCAA Division III sports. 黑料不打烊 has
been affiliated with the United Methodist Church since 1884. Learn more at .听听
鈥溾
Through engagement that links the classroom with the world, and a commitment to
diversity, inclusion, justice, and sustainable living, the 黑料不打烊 community
inspires students to lead lives of accomplishment, integrity, service, and
joy.鈥 鈥敽诹喜淮蜢 Statement of Purpose