The CSUDH campus community gathered in the Loker Student Union on Mar. 11 for the annual Women’s Conference.
The conference aimed to celebrate women’s achievements and foster meaningful dialogue between current and emerging leaders. Influential women and university leaders shared stories of courage and personal growth with attendees, encouraging them to reflect on the challenges they face while highlighting and empowering emerging women leaders.
From speakers to workshops, logistics to outreach, staff, student leaders, and volunteers worked diligently to bring the event to life. Alyeska Gutiérrez Estrada, program coordinator for the Women’s Resource Center, was instrumental in shaping this year’s vision and ensuring its successful execution, working with numerous on-campus partners, including resource centers.
Estrada told The Bulletin it was difficult to organize the conference with “limited funding,” but the WRC received support from several campus partners.
“We had the Associated Students, the Loker Student Union, La Casita, the Asian Pacific Cultural Center, the Queer Cultural Resource Center, and the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion,” Estrada said. “We couldn’t have done it without them.”
The support from campus partners not only enabled the program to happen but also created opportunities for students to step into leadership roles. Several student event facilitators said the experience encouraged them to step outside their comfort zones and gave them confidence to host seminars for the first time.
The conference started as a student-led workshop, offering Toros an opportunity to connect, reflect, and build community. Increased interest in programs at the WRC helped to boost the event’s profile and garner the support of campus partners.
Nourelhouda Hassan, a graduate mathematics student, was a first-time speaker at this year’s conference. Hassan’s presentation focused on how she could create a space that honored and supported women in the audience. While discussing integrity, accountability, and handling a difficult situation, Hassan recognized that these discussions were strongest when all perspectives were represented.
“I loved having such a diverse group of people and perspectives in the room, and I was pleasantly surprised to see so many male‑identifying attendees join us,” Hassan told The Bulletin. “A lot of them were really open to the conversation, and I even noticed some making an effort to leave space for the women at their tables to speak first. That kind of awareness and willingness to listen is something I was really happy to see.”
Merisol Vengar, a sophomore in psychology, was also a first-time attendee of the conference.
“I loved the women-centered mix of it,” Vengar told The Bulletin. “It felt like a good space to meet new people and get to actually have a proper conversation, not just being like a quick hello or goodbye in the hallways in between classes.”
A renewed sense of inspiration and empowerment filled the halls of California State University, Dominguez Hills, as students, faculty, and community members gathered for the annual Women’s Conference held on March 11, located on the 3rd Floor of the Locker Student Union.
The conference was intended to celebrate women’s achievements and foster meaningful dialogue between current and emerging leaders. Influential women and university leaders shared stories of courage and personal growth with the attendees. The insights shared encouraged attendees to reflect on the challenges they face, while empowering and highlighting the potential of emerging women leaders.
From speakers to workshops, logistics to outreach, staff, student leaders, and volunteers worked diligently to bring this event to life. Program coordinator Alyeska Gutiérrez was instrumental in shaping this year’s vision and its successful execution, working with numerous on-campus partners, including resource centers.
“I think it’s just hard to put on an event like this with limited funding, and we really had to consider how it would impact the rest of our budget,” said Estranda. “Thankfully, we received support from so many sponsors, which helped us make it happen at this scale. We had the Associated Students, the Local Student Union, La Casita, the Asian Pacific Cultural Center, the Queer Cultural Resource Center, and the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. We couldn’t have done it without them.”
The support from the campus partners not only enabled the program to happen but also created opportunities for students to step into leadership roles. Several student event facilitators said the experience encouraged them to step outside their comfort zones and gave them the confidence to host their own seminars for the first time.
Although it was Nouelhoda (Nour) Hassan’s first time addressing the women’s conference, a peaceful and deliberate air that you would expect from a seasoned speaker immediately centered the room. A second-year master’s student in mathematics, Hassan facilitated her segment “Call You In, Call You Out,” focusing on how she could create a space that especially honored and supported the women in the audience. What was perhaps most impactful about her presentation was how she extended the conversation to all in the room. While discussing integrity, accountability, and handling a difficult situation, Hassan recognized that these discussions were strongest when all perspectives were represented.
“I loved having such a diverse group of people and perspectives in the room, and I was pleasantly surprised to see so many male‑identifying attendees join us,” said Hassan. “A lot of them were really open to the conversation, and I even noticed some making an effort to leave space for the women at their tables to speak first. That kind of awareness and willingness to listen is something I was really happy to see.”
The turnout and participation throughout the day also indicated that this was a very successful event that was well-received by attendees. The discussions continued after sessions.
This year marked the first time sophomore psychology major Merisol Vengar attended the conference.
“ I loved the women-centered mix of it,” said Vengar. “It felt like a good space to meet new people and get to actually have a proper conversation, not just being like a quick hello or goodbye in the hallways in between classes.”
What started as a workshop has evolved into a student-led space for reflection, connection, and community learning. that is student-led, supported by campus partners, and informed by voices that are willing to speak for the first time. The event has been hailed as a success as it indicates a growing interest in programs that prioritize integrity, dialogue, and personal growth. This is a great start for future events that continue to bring students together in meaningful ways.