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After an enthusiastic reception during the month of March, a successful alumna's generous gift has funded the space for another year.
"When passion meets opportunity, sparks fly," said Sheila Tadych Mullen, MBA '93.
In Mullen's case, those sparks have ignited new purpose to the Baldwin Wallace University Women's Center, which was originally unveiled as a pop-up space for the March 2025 celebration of Women's History Month.
The BW graduate business alumna has given the center a more permanent role on campus with a generous gift that will support operations through June 2026.
Mullen said she decided to invest in the mission of the Women's Center because it aligns with her own "belief in the power of community, connection and empowerment."
"Throughout my career, I've seen firsthand how critical it is to create spaces where women are encouraged to lead, innovate and grow — and I wanted to help ensure that BW students have a vibrant environment where they can find their voice, build confidence and dream boldly," she added.
The original pop-up BW Women's Center project was spearheaded by Courtney Robinson, associate director of cultural programming, and Claudine Grunenwald Kirschner, director of BW New Student Experience, with funding from the Women for BW philanthropy group and BW LaunchNet Powered by the Burton D. Morgan Foundation.
"I was also incredibly impressed and inspired by the leadership of Claudine and Courtney; their vision, energy and dedication made it clear this was a movement I wanted to be part of," Mullen said.
After its grand opening in early March, the Women's Center, housed in BW's Strosacker Hall union, was the site of small gatherings, tea talks and coffee conversations, and a host of other programming that drew more than 2,000 visits in just six weeks.
Mullen envisions a center that becomes "a catalyst for inspiration and transformation — a place where collaboration thrives, diverse voices are celebrated and bold ideas take shape. My dream is for it to serve as a gathering place and a launchpad for leadership development, innovation and lifelong connections that extend far beyond campus."
Mullen has maintained her own BW connections, even as she forged a successful career in technology sales and organizational transformation in fintech and financial services that took her far beyond Northeast Ohio. She currently serves as a global strategic financial and payments industry account executive at BMC Software in Charlotte, North Carolina.
"My BW MBA was a foundation for everything that followed my career. It gave me the strategic thinking, leadership skills and ethical framework I carry with me in today's fast-paced world of fintech, financial services and innovation. Beyond business acumen, BW instilled in me a lifelong commitment to curiosity, creativity and resilience," Mullen recalled.
"BW remains a core part of my identity," she added. "The friendships, mentorship and values I gained there continue to influence my life personally and professionally. Staying connected to BW allows me to honor the roots that shaped me while helping to pave the way for others."
For the future, Mullen hopes others will join her and invest in "developing open-minded women leaders to meet our society's future needs," especially as artificial intelligence and other technology revolutionize the world of work.
"Supporting the BW Women's Center is one way I can give back to a community that invested in my growth — and ensure that future generations of BW students have the same opportunities to thrive and lead with purpose," she said. "The time is now to nurture, build and fan the flames of extraordinary women leaders, and I'm proud to be part of that momentum at BW."
Today, that momentum means the BW Women's Center doors remain wide open and ready to send more sparks flying.
