By: Amanda Valentine | Staff Writer
This piece is part of a series of profiles highlighting women power-players on Salve’s campus. These are made in collaboration with the Female Empowerment Organization for the upcoming Women’s Empowerment March taking place on Saturday, April 6 at Wakehurst Lawn.
For many people, college serves as the time to find and form one’s voice. Freshman Izabella Solivan, however, arrived on Salve Regina’s campus already filled with ambition and aspiration. She is a Global Studies and Religious and Theological Studies double major who is very passionate about the campus community. Her position as building manager for the Office of Student Activities has allowed her to work closely with SGA and become both informed of and involved with campus life. Izzy was recently hired as a Resident Advisor, Orientation Leader, and Student Ambassador for the upcoming year.
Clearly, Izabella is very active on campus, but where others shy away from the stress of having too much on their plate, she embraces it.
“I’m involved with things I’m passionate about, so it’s easy to be busy and not mind it.”
Solivan also works with the Diversity Task Force, whose mission aims to diversify classrooms and bring campus awareness to racism and discrimination issues. She feels it is very important that students feel empowered to speak out about these issues, and the Task Force helps them build this confidence. For her, the mission is about “making improvements without setting people back. We’re not pointing fingers at people. This is not meant to be, ‘Hey, you’re being racist.’ That’s not what it is-It’s a learning experience.”
Running for SGA President has given her an opportunity to fully consider the kinds of changes she would envision on campus. One of these is an emphasis on communication and transparency. One of her proposals as president would be to create a ‘mass schedule’, so that all the clubs can work together, rather than against each other, allowing every voice to be heard. Communication, a sense of community, and teamwork are all values that Izabella actively strives to encourage and engage.
Her idea for a “declaration ceremony,” wherein formerly undecided majors can publicly ‘declare’ their major, is just more proof that Izabella recognizes the importance in uplifting others and empowers the individual. She values the voice of the individual and making everyone feel seen.
She takes pride in being a part of today’s young, activist generation. When looking around at so many kids who care about making a difference but aren’t sure how to take part, she thinks it is important that we engage the community.
Noticing the everyday, ongoing discrimination around her, she believes that it is about time America takes action.
“We’re such a melting pot society; there’s so many different people that contribute so many different things to who we are as a nation, that this should not be a problem… We’ve gotten over so many barriers regarding racism, segregation, and discrimination, that in the 21st century… this should not be a problem”
Despite today’s need for action, she recognizes that being empowered takes more than just good intentions. When asked to define an empowered woman, she said,
“I think being an empowered woman is something that takes a lot of practice. It takes a lot of strength to do. Specifically, being a woman of color on a campus that is predominantly white, it is very hard to be that one person-especially a woman-that is speaking up and saying something. It gets exhausting; it gets frustrating. You don’t want to do that all the time. Being an empowered woman means being someone who realizes it’s hard to stand up, but does it regardless, and does it in support of those who are too scared to speak up or don’t want to speak up. [It’s] speaking for a greater population, even if you’re going to stand alone doing it”
Her on-campus female role models include Maria Hendrickson, ’19, whom she admires for her passion and ability to get work done. She also looks up to Dr. LoMonaco, who made her feel seen and understood. Off-campus, she said that her mom is her hero, and Izzy aspires to have the same strength and perseverance as her. She also adores Alicia Keys, because she is unapologetically herself.
For her, an empowered woman does her work with grace, respect, and courage. Izabella is sure to embody those values in the years to come and accomplish much more in the time before her graduation.
