When Nicole Diaz del Valle joined the inaugural class of the College of Liberal Arts’ Women’s Empowerment Program last fall, she never expected it to become one of the most rewarding experiences of her college career.
Nicole Diaz del Valle, sophomore political science major
She experienced tangible personal growth as she discovered her voice and began using it to speak up for herself and other women. She says the program had such an impact on her that she returned for a second semester of the semester-long program.
“Previously, I didn’t fully realize how important building a foundation of sisterhood has been to both my own personal and professional growth,” said Diaz del Valle, a sophomore majoring in political science and philosophy (law and justice) and minoring in public policy at the Brookings Institution.
“I’ve been able to make lasting friendships and network with other women in a variety of industries. I strongly believe everyone should participate in this program. It’s been one of the most fulfilling things I’ve ever done at UNLV.”
Liberal Arts launched the Women’s Empowerment Program last fall to help those who identify as women prepare for the future while empowering themselves and others. A select group of about 30 Liberal Arts students who identify as women participate in workshops and activities aimed at finding and using their voice for self-advocacy and empowerment.
The programme is sponsored by Swati Bhise, creative director of the 2019 film Warrior Queen of Jhansi, which she co-wrote, directed and produced. The film depicts the story of feminist icon and Indian freedom fighter, Rani of Jhansi.
Inspired by the film, Bise launched the Warrior Queen Project to help Asian American Pacific Islander women and those who identify as women celebrate their inner Warrior Queen. She then designed the Warrior Queen Action Kit, which highlights five traits: Voice, Determination, Boldness, Sisterhood, and Resilience. The empowerment program builds on the Action Kit and consists of a series of five workshops, each focusing on a different Warrior Queen trait.
In addition to the workshops, students will write blog posts and meet with peer mentors. At the end of the program, participants will earn a certificate and have the chance to win scholarships.
Bise said she was inspired to start the program at UNLV because of the large first-generation population and the need to provide more fulfilling opportunities for women.
“This is a unique campus that serves the largest number of first-generation college-going young people. Education is a tradition, so we at Warrior Queen Project wanted to give those who have a thirst for education but few opportunities the opportunity to truly be empowered with this program,” she said.
“Empowering women is empowering the nation because only women can change the thought process of an entire generation of children and become the catalyst for change.”
The empowerment program is part of a series of mentoring programs the university offers to enhance the student experience at UNLV, said Jenna Heath, director of student and community engagement for the College of Arts and Sciences.
“We are so grateful that Swati chose UNLV to create this program. It will be a powerful addition to our offerings and another opportunity to enrich the lives of our students,” she said.
“The program has been extremely effective in cultivating students’ self-awareness and ability to advocate for their needs, which is essential for charting a successful future.”
For more information, visit the Women’s Empowerment Program website.
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