October 22, 2019
East Texas Baptist University hosted a special luncheon for female leaders from the University, Wiley College, and the Marshall community on Monday, October 21 in the Ornelas Student Center. The luncheon, hosted by ETBU First Lady Michelle Blackburn, featured special guest speaker and President of Benedict College, Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, who shared her insights on the value of education for the empowerment of women in the workplace.
“I am one hundred percent certain that the biggest element of empowerment is education,” Dr. Artis said. “We have the opportunity to engage, empower, inspire, and educate so that these young women can be prepared to take their place in the workforce.”
The inaugural Women’s Empowerment Luncheon speaker Dr. Roslyn Artis is the 14th President of Benedict College in South Carolina, and the first female president in the college’s 148-year history. Dr. Artis encouraged the women in attendance to be a positive force for the next generation.
“We need not only mentors, but we need sponsors. There’s a big difference between a mentor and a sponsor,” Dr. Artis added. “A mentor gives you advice, a sponsor gives you access, introductions, connections, and an opportunity to demonstrate that they have the capacity to be successful and add value to an organization.”
Preceding the luncheon, Monday’s chapel service was led by a special all-female worship team and the East Texas Baptist University Women’s Choir gave a memorable performance demonstrating the University’s commitment to female leadership in their God-given vocational callings.
“This is the kind of place where I believe women are empowered, and I feel completely honored and blessed to serve in a place with so many women who are living out what God has called them to be,” Assistant Provost of Academic Affairs Emily Prevost said. “May we lean into the challenges placed before us, may we step boldly into the opportunities the Lord has given us, and may we never forget to open doors for the young women in our midst.”
The luncheon’s theme “EmpowerHer,” was chosen by Dr. and Mrs. Blackburn, in hopes that the women who attended would leave with a refreshed sense of honor and motivation in the roles they play in the Marshall community.
“This is a great day to celebrate women at ETBU, Wiley College, and in the Marshall community,” Mrs. Blackburn said. “Today, I’m proud that East Texas Baptist has more females serving in governance on the board of trustees, in administrative leadership, and among our distinguished Christian faculty scholars.
That is so important for young women going through college to see what options they have and to see empowered women in leadership like many of the women here today.”