On Thursday, March 14th, Molloy’s GERLL Club (Girls Empowerment for Real Life Leadership) hosted a panel discussion in honor of Women’s History Month! The panel, entitled “Standing on the Shoulders of Women That Came Before Us,” featured MaryAnn Safrey, Patricia Koppinger, and Jean Bagley. All three women have had wonderful professional careers, and were happy to give advice to and support all in attendance!
Throughout the event, the three panelists answered questions regarding their careers, their experiences as women in their particular fields, their struggles, financial advice, motherhood, and who their biggest supporters are. Ms. Safrey, creator and founder of GERLL Club, worked as a professional copywriter, school librarian, English teacher, and author. She taught many Stanners throughout her career and retired as a Molloy administrator in February 2020. Ms. Safrey gave honest advice about being a woman in her fields, telling students there is always work to be done and to never stop striving for greatness. Ms. Koppinger, a retired Reading Specialist, shared her love of teaching, and her passion for working with young children even after she had a family of her own because “if you do what you love, it doesn’t feel like work.” Ms. Bagley, a retired nurse and former business owner, told students in attendance that it’s never too late to pursue their passions, and to “always be open to new opportunities.” The panelists encouraged Stanners to “lead with compassion and kindness, and keep their humanity intact even through the toughest of situations.”
A huge thank you to the GERLL Club for hosting such an empowering panel, as well as MaryAnn Safrey, Patricia Koppinger, and Jean Bagley for taking the time to come speak to our Stanners! Happy Women’s History Month!