A Special Member News Update : Glass Ceiling Breaking News
Written by Jan Hayden
I have a bit of fun glass ceiling breaking news for you . During the spring meeting in Denver of the American College of Bankruptcy , Melissa S . Kibler was installed as the Chair of the American College , Patricia “ Trish ” Redmond was selected as Chair of the Board of Regents , and I was chosen to Chair of the American College of Bankruptcy Foundation . It was duly noted and celebrated that for the first time all three leaders of the College were women . But here is a tidbit that might have escaped notice at first …. for the first time , all three are members of IWIRC as well !
The College is an honorary public service association founded in 1989 dedicated to the enhancement of professionalism , scholarship and service in bankruptcy and insolvency law and practice . I know I speak for all three of us that we are looking forward to working together . Not only because we have developed a strong friendship thorough the years through the College and IWIRC , but because this is a particularly exciting time to be working with the College . As Melissa suggested during our College meeting , after looking at the turmoil we all saw over the last few years on issues relating to race and diversity , the College decided that it wanted to see what it could mindfully do to help promote diversity , equity , and inclusion in our own field . The College has already begun that work and we see these as exciting times to lead the College as it continues to incorporate and include these principles in our efforts .
As members of IWIRC , each of us benefited from IWIRC ’ s efforts to empower women in the insolvency field . So as we begin our work for the College in our new roles , we hope that we can work with the leadership of IWIRC to find more ways that we can all encourage the growth and development of women in our professions . After all , none of us want to end up in that special place in Hell that Secretary Albright described for women who don ’ t help other women !