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The Michigan State University Women’s Leadership Institute is excited to announce Caitlin Cavanagh as the newest WLI Mason Soneral Faculty Fellow. Cavanagh is an Associate Professor in the School of Criminal Justice whose research focuses on the intersections of psychology and the law and how social contexts shape adolescent behavior.
“I am thrilled to welcome Caitlin as the third WLI fellow in the program’s history,” said WLI Director Amanda Guinot Talbot. “She brings tremendous expertise, passion, and a deep commitment to the WLI's mission. I can't wait to see the energy and perspective she will bring to the continued growth of the Institute and the incredible student leaders we serve.”
The Mason Soneral Faculty Fellow assists the Director in advancing the mission and impact of the Institute through innovative curricular, mentoring, and outreach activities. The role is intended for faculty who demonstrate a passion for leadership development and are interested in implementing vision and goals for future programming.
One of Cavanagh’s favorite parts of working with students is the opportunity to provide this exact kind of mentoring and support to them throughout their collegiate journeys. When she learned that this was an integral part of the WLI’s mission with its Student Cohort, she eagerly applied for the position.
“The WLI does a lot to emphasize leadership identity and amplifying women’s voices, as well as translating leadership into real-world impact,” she said. “That’s something that I have tried to instill in the students who have worked with me throughout my time at MSU.”
As a woman who has learned throughout her career how to navigate the often male-dominated field of criminal justice, she was drawn to the opportunity to equip other young students with some of the skills she has gained along the way.
“It was of interest to me to help shepherd other female students into a place where they felt comfortable regardless of what their background is, the field they are interested in, or what their future career might look like,” Cavanagh said. “I want to make sure that no matter whom they are interacting with, they feel comfortable stepping forward as leaders who are confident in their voices.”
The formative years of young adulthood, Cavanagh explains, are the perfect time to ensure that students are gaining the leadership skills they will need in order to succeed in reaching their goals. “As a developmental psychologist, we know the changes that are happening within the brain of young people have enormous implications for what their futures may look like; it’s a time when people are really discovering their identity.”
Cavanagh is looking forward to stepping into her new role this fall and beginning that process with the students involved with the WLI. “I’m excited to get to know the students in the incoming cohort on an individual level, so that I can better understand how we can make them as successful as possible as they pursue their futures.”