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Empowering women is now her calling
College official brings passion to students
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 02/7/07
BY HARTRIONO B. SASTROWARDOYO
STAFF WRITER
LAKEWOOD — After Karen Souffrant emigrated from Jamaica
to Randolph in Morris County in 1989, her educational
journey took her to what was then-Georgian Court
College, where she received a bachelor's degree in
psychology and history.
Souffrant said, at the time, she had no desire to work
in higher education because, among other reasons, she
thought it would entail becoming a professor, which she
didn't want.
So when she enrolled in George Washington University Law
School in Washington, D.C., she didn't realize her path
would would take her back to Lakewood.
But it did.
Souffrant, 33, is now the director of student
development at Georgian Court University, a position she
has held for the past 1 1/2 years. And, after enduring
the lengthy commute from Morris County, Souffrant is now
a township resident.
As director of student development, Souffrant oversees
most student programs, in particular the Women in
Leadership Development program. She also serves as an
adviser to the Student Government Association.
"She's easily approachable, always there when I need
her," said Ashley Singh, an 18-year-old freshman
communications major from Manchester.
Souffrant is quick to say that she's passionate about
three things: women, women in leadership and justice.
Working at Georgian Court, a school whose undergraduate
day students are all women, is a "good fit," she said.
"It's a women's college, and I mostly see students in
the 18 to 23 age group," Souffrant said.
Her passion is what drove her in 2003 to establish
InsideOut International, an organization for the
development and empowerment of women as leaders. She is
still InsideOut's chief executive officer.
"In graduate school, I was surrounded by all men, and it
was hard to find mentors. InsideOut was developed to
show women how to lead from within, from the inside
out," she said.
But whether it's through InsideOut or Georgian Court,
Souffrant has a goal for the women she meets.
"I want them to feel that they can do anything they put
their mind to. I want them to feel a sense of
empowerment, of "I'm able to do this,' " she said.
Hartriono B. Sastrowardoyo |
"Success
seems to be connected with action. Successful people
keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don't quit."
