More than a dozen students from the University of North Georgia (UNG) recently participated in the renowned Harvard Undergraduate Latina Empowerment & Development (LEAD) Conference, held February 7-8 in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Among the attendees was Fatima Santillan, a senior from Gainesville studying political science with a minor in public administration and public service. Santillan, who served as an ambassador at this year’s conference, was returning for a second time.
She is also president of UNG’s Latino Student Association (LSA). Santillan expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to attend alongside so many other UNG students, especially following a smaller UNG contingent at the event in 2024.
“We have moved forward in society, and we have also acknowledged there’s still a lot of work to do,” Santillan said. “It’s about being exposed to those environments and finally seeing yourself at that level. That’s how you continue to grow and inspire others.”
For many of the attendees, the conference marked a first-time flight experience, and they bonded further as they stayed together in an Airbnb during the event.
The LEAD Conference aims to provide a platform for Latinas to recognize their impact in the professional world and beyond. According to the event’s website, it was created to “celebrate Latina innovation, diversity, and strength” while affirming their leadership potential.
Guadalupe Jimenez, a senior from Clarkesville, Georgia, pursuing a degree in communication with a public relations concentration, is vice president of LSA. She reflected on the empowering experience of attending the conference with fellow Latinas from UNG.
“It was a really nice and empowering experience,” Jimenez said. “We heard amazing stories from other Latinas who have succeeded in their career fields.”
Gloria Silva, a senior from Cumming double majoring in accounting and finance, highlighted the networking opportunities provided by the conference. Silva, who also serves as vice president of the Gainesville Campus chapter of Beta Alpha Psi, an accounting honor society, was inspired by the resilience stories shared by Latina professionals.
“It was inspiring to hear from Latinas who faced similar barriers and have not only persevered, but excelled,” Silva said. “The theme I heard a lot was resilience. It encouraged me to keep pushing for my academic and career goals.”
