RU-N’s BOLD Women’s Leadership Program Helps Students Find and Fulfill Their Potential

Some join the BOLD Women Leadership Network at Rutgers-Newark as leaders in their schools or communities. For others, BOLD is the first step toward  becoming a leader.

“When I was accepted, I knew there was a leader within me, but I still needed to develop my skills,’’ said third-year student Amanda Simoes Polidorio, a Neuroscience major.

Founded at RU-N in 2016 for students who  have financial need, the nationwide program accepts a cohort of 8 to 10 third- and fourth-year students every year. They volunteer, learn professional development skills, travel, serve internships, design service programs and apply for grants to fund some of their projects. 

 “By providing them with opportunities that they otherwise wouldn’t have, they’re able to reach their full potential,’’ said Jennifer Bucalo, Director of the BOLD Women’s Leadership Network and Rutgers-Newark Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives. “When we break down these barriers, we create a stronger workforce. It  leads to innovation, creativity, and it ultimately benefits society as a whole.’'

The  program–in which students must maintain a GPA of at least a 3.0– isn’t just for those who’ve been leaders in more traditional ways, such as serving as the president of an organization “You can be a leader in your church or at work or in your classrooms or clubs,’’ said Bucalo.

Others haven’t held formal leadership roles before BOLD but graduate equipped to realize their dreams and inspire others. “We see a lot of success watching them enter as rising juniors compared to how they leave as seniors,’’ said Bucalo. “It’s really exciting.’’

 “By building leadership skills in the classroom, workplace, and community, BOLD empowers students to realize their potential and become the next generation of changemakers,” said LaToya Battle-Brown, Vice Chancellor of the Division of Enrollment Management and BOLD Director.

BOLD can awaken scholars to explore academic and career pathways they might not have otherwise considered. It can also help them get started in fields they’ve already chosen. A biannual virtual Speed Mentoring event, a BOLD highlight, connects scholars with CEOS, CFOs and  leaders from across the country.

Travel is also a mission. Many students go on overseas trips led by the Office of Global Initiatives & Experiential Learning at RU-N or travel within the U.S.

 “We encourage them to study or take classes abroad,’’ said Bucalo. “Many of our students have told us that they’ve never left New Jersey.  One student discovered a love of the outdoors that she would never have found had she not had the opportunity to join a wilderness expedition program.”

For Polidorio, a first-generation student who immigrated to the U.S. from Brazil, the program supported her plans to become a doctor and helped her find other ways of making a difference. She developed a project called Women Harvesting Hope, which aims to purchase fresh produce from local women farmers to help stock Pantry +, the Rutgers-Newark food pantry. Her goal is to strengthen the local agricultural community and combat food insecurity.

“I love medicine, and I know I will be deeply fulfilled by helping restore life and health to my patients. But I also believe I don’t have to be just one thing — I can change the world in many different ways,’’ said Polidorio, who plans to earn a master’s degree in Public Administration, with a focus on nonprofit management, and then apply to medical school.

BOLD alumna Lanae Ali is carving out a career as a youth advocate while raising a child. Also a first-generation student, she received a BOLD Fellowship opportunity with the ACLU-NJ, where she specialized in policy. The experience inspired her to pursue her masters degree at the School of Public Affairs and Administration at Rutgers-Newark.

“I have been able to cultivate essential skills, such as effective communication, strategic thinking, and team collaboration. The mentorship aspect of BOLD has also played a crucial role, allowing me to learn from experienced leaders in the field,’’ said Ali, who works as a manager of the BOLD program.

Alumna Tonanziht Aguas said BOLD was invaluable in landing her an internship with the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a Washington D.C. think tank. She is now earning her master’s degree in Public Policy at the University of Chicago.

"First and foremost, BOLD helped me gain the confidence to ask for whatever it is that I needed for my own success,’’ she said.