Students attend LEAD Conference at Harvard

Thirteen students from the University of North Georgia (UNG) took part in the Harvard Undergraduate Latina Empowerment & Development (LEAD) Conference, which was held Feb. 7-8 in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Fatima Santillan, a senior from Gainesville, Georgia, pursuing a degree in political science with a minor in public administration and public service, attended the LEAD Conference for a second time and served as an ambassador this year. Santillan, who is president of the Latino Student Association (LSA) at UNG, was grateful to be able to travel to the conference with so many UNG students after four UNG students attended 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 some of the attendees, it was their first time flying. They were also able to bond as the whole group stayed in an Airbnb while attending the conference.

According to the LEAD Conference website, the event "strives to enable a community of Latinas to realize their impact in the professional and wider world. Creating a space for Latinx women where one did not previously exist, we established the LEAD Conference to celebrate Latina innovation, diversity and strength, and affirm their position to simply lead."

Guadalupe Jimenez, a senior from Clarkesville, Georgia, pursuing a degree in communication with a public relations concentration, serves as vice president of LSA. She was thankful to attend the conference with so many 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, Georgia, pursuing degrees in accounting and finance, appreciated the networking elements of the conference. She plans to seek her certified public accountant (CPA) credentials and begin working in public accounting before transitioning to private accounting. Silva also serves as vice president of UNG's Gainesville Campus chapter of Beta Alpha Psi, an accounting honor society.

"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."