With the theme of “Capable. Ready. Deserving of Leadership,” the 2026 American Council on Education (ACE) Women’s Network of Southern California Annual Conference drew more than 200 higher education professionals to Cal State LA on Oct. 9.
Held in the university’s Golden Eagle Ballrooms, the daylong conference featured professional development, leadership training, networking, and conversations designed to inspire and empower women in higher education. Attendees included faculty, administrators, staff, and emerging leaders from colleges and universities across the region.
Cal State LA President Berenecea Johnson Eanes, presidential sponsor of the ACE Women’s Network of Southern California, urged attendees to recognize the leadership they already demonstrate and the strengths they bring to new opportunities.
“Leadership doesn’t begin when someone changes your title. It begins much earlier—in how you show up, how you solve problems, how you use your voice, and how you bring others along with you,” Eanes said. “You didn’t become capable when you walked into this ballroom this morning. You arrived capable.”
Reflecting on the conference theme, Eanes offered attendees a message of encouragement.
“My hope is that after today, you leave knowing that you are very much deserving,” Eanes said. “Wherever you are in your journey, I hope you leave knowing this: You are capable. You can prepare yourself to be ready. And you do not have to apologize for believing that you are deserving of the opportunity to lead.”
Eanes was named presidential sponsor of the network earlier this year, succeeding Cal Poly Pomona President Soraya M. Coley, who had served in the role since 2018. Hosting the conference at Cal State LA reflects Eanes’ work with the network to expand mentorship, professional development, and pathways to executive leadership for women across the region.
The event began with a land acknowledgment by Olukemi Sawyerr, associate provost for faculty success at Cal State LA and a former state chair of the network. Wendy Reiboldt, conference emcee and dean of the Rongxiang Xu College of Health and Human Services at Cal State LA, and Tara Giblin, state chair of the network and vice president of instruction at Orange Coast College, offered welcome remarks.
Nine-time Emmy Award winner Giselle Fernandez, a journalist, producer, and filmmaker, delivered a keynote address. Drawing on her personal experiences, Fernandez spoke about the power of sharing one’s story and the ways life experiences shape leadership. She also reflected on the demands of leadership and the importance of valuing people.
“I’ve interviewed many leaders in my career, and the most effective ones seem to have very clear common traits,” said Fernandez. “They trust themselves and their inner voice to make decisions, even when it’s hard. They make sure everyone on their team feels valued and appreciated. They empower you when you fall or when you miss the mark, and they understand that missteps can be stepping stones to an even better outcome. That kind of leadership, however, requires from all of us a clear sense of your own values and your own worthiness, so you can find the worthiness in others.”
Fernandez’s message resonated with many attendees, including Marjani Chidinma, associate director of recruitment at Cal State LA.
“I think [Giselle] was very insightful,” Chidinma said. “She was also very inspiring in sharing her story and such personal parts of her life, while motivating women to pursue leadership roles. She shared how she draws on her identity and understanding of herself to better inspire other women and lead for the betterment of others.”
The program also featured “Leading Forward,” an executive leadership conversation moderated by Sawyerr. Panelists included Genevieve Evans Taylor, chief of staff to the president at CSU Northridge; Daisy Gonzales, executive director of the California Student Aid Commission; and Julie A. Washington, dean of the School of Education at the University of California, Irvine.
“This conversation is called ‘Leading Forward’ because leadership is not a single destination. It is a continuing practice of knowing your strengths, finding your voice, and creating opportunities for others,” said Sawyerr.
Sawyerr asked the panelists what pivotal moment or unexpected opportunity had changed the direction of their careers, and what gave them the confidence to pursue it. The panelists also discussed challenges they had navigated, how they learned to trust their voices as leaders, and ways to create opportunities for others before taking questions from the audience.
Edelmira Reynoso, an attendee from Cal State Fullerton, said she enjoyed the panel and especially identified with Gonzales’ experiences.
“I really enjoyed hearing her story and the way she uses her leadership position to support and build her team,” Reynoso said. “That was very insightful for me as an emerging leader.”
Erika Sung of CSU Northridge, a first-time conference attendee, shared how valuable the experience was for her to help develop as a leader.
“It’s been good to be surrounded by people interested in leadership in higher education, whether as administrators or faculty members,” Sung said.
The conference also featured a strengths-based leadership workshop led by Megan Bell, executive director of the University-Student Union at Cal State LA, and Sharon S. Kinard, associate director of administration and communications at CSU Northridge. Participants used results from a StrengthsFinder assessment to consider how to apply their talents in their work and professional growth.
“Even though I’ve done the [strengths assessment] in the past, listening to these women and experiencing it with colleagues from different departments made me realize that we all have different ways of expressing ourselves, both at work and in our personal lives,” said Melanie Sabado-Liwag, associate professor of public health at Cal State LA. “Those are all strengths we should celebrate together. I think that’s something we can continue developing as we grow in our professions and bring into the spaces we enter.”
Throughout the day, participants had opportunities to have professional headshots taken and connect informally with colleagues from colleges and universities across Southern California. In the afternoon, Bharti Sharma, chair of the network’s advisory council, invited attendees to build on the day’s connections through mentorship, and Kandy Liu, executive director of audit and advisory services at CSU San Bernardino, led a networking activity.
During the closing program, Kiki Shuster, chair of the network’s membership committee, encouraged attendees to stay involved through future programs and committee service. Reiboldt concluded the conference by asking attendees to put their insights and strengths to use, maintain the relationships they had formed, and support other women pursuing leadership opportunities.
For attendees such as Brianna Belen Posadas, a member of the Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) program at Cal Poly Pomona, the conference offered a chance to connect with colleagues across the region and to leave inspired.
“I’m really glad to be here meeting all these incredible women in higher education leadership roles throughout Southern California,” Posadas said. “I’m meeting great people, the energy is amazing, and I can’t wait to take what I’m learning back to my own campus.”
Founded in 1977 by the American Council on Education, the ACE Women’s Network is a national system of state-based networks dedicated to advancing women’s leadership in higher education. Southern California is one of two ACE Women’s Network regions in California that support mentorship, leadership development, and collaboration among women leaders.
