Shamecca Bryant presents 3-pronged plan for the Women’s Center

Shamecca Bryant, candidate for director of the Carolina Women’s Center, said she would bring her experience as executive director of the Orange County Rape Crisis Center to the UNC community.

She described her plans in an open forum Thursday, detailing her platform, which focuses on leadership, pay equality and family advocacy.

The forums, which are being held for each of the candidates, aim to give the campus community a chance to hear from candidates and give feedback, according to a campus-wide email from the Carolina Women’s Center.

“My focus would be to use my background in violence prevention, gender-race results, leadership in cultural diversity to ensure gender equality for members of the Carolina community,” Bryant said.

She hopes to increase the center’s network and reach on campus.

“Having more people-power will allow for the Carolina Women’s Center to have a greater impact on campus,” she said.

The directorship involves fundraising for the center, which Bryant said she would like.

“I would work with University advancement to increase the fundraising,” she said. “As a fundraiser, I enjoy asking for people’s money. It’s a very rare quality that people have, but to me, it’s a very enjoyable thing.”

She said she has confidence in the students and administrators at UNC.

“There’s a very sacred phrase at my alma mater that goes, ‘Women who are going places start at Hollins’... I know firsthand the abilities of a Carolina student and the expertise of the faculty and staff,” she said. “I would definitely say that that phrase extends to them as well.”

Bryant said she has previously hired or promoted 10 UNC graduates.

The audience included members of the search committee and members of the community. During a Q&A session at the end of the forum, Bryant answered questions about gender equality and collaboration with other campus organizations.

“I thought that she did a wonderful job, but I think that the whole pool is strong,” said Silvia Tomaskova, professor of women’s and gender studies. “I think they all come from very different backgrounds. I would say that any one of the candidates would be very good at the job.”

Bryant wants UNC women to stand up for equal treatment.

“We want Carolina women not to simply be observers but active participants in the classroom and active leaders on campus and in their community,” she said.

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