Michele Ozumba DC’73, President of the Women’s College Coalition, has had a distinguished career in global leadership, advocacy and women-led philanthropy. She has been featured in interviews with The New York Times, CNN, NPR and USA Today, and was named by Fast Company magazine as one of the country’s 2012 Extraordinary Women. While at Douglass, Michele majored in history and political science. Today, Michele serves as a member of the Douglass Residential College Advisory Board.
What was your most meaningful Douglass experience?
As the President of the Black Student Congress my junior and senior year, I was exposed to the challenges of mediating conflict, representing diverse interests among students and working with Dean Foster to resolve problems. I attribute my professional career success to this early leadership experience. My Douglass academic experience affirms my belief in how important liberal arts education is to acquiring skills that prepare one for multiple careers and its importance to sustaining a democratic society. From classical music to Chinese history to French and philosophy, I was equipped to navigate professionally in the US and globally. The Mabel Smith Douglass Library was also very important to me during my time at Douglass, and I was very happy to see the library when I was back on campus this past May for the 98th Douglass Convocation.
Why do you make charitable gifts to Douglass?
Douglass Residential College is an outstanding institution educating young women in fields of study that will surely transform our world for the good of all. Giving to Douglass is not only a sound investment in our future, it’s also my modest way of honoring the opportunities opened for me because I was Douglass-prepared.
What are your words of inspiration do you have for the class of 2019?
No matter what career pathway you pursue, remember to show up with your whole self, bring confidence and humor, and face both success and failure with courage and grace. Maya Angelou told us: “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.”
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