Women's History Month: Diane Kennedy

Staff Spotlight:

In honor of Women's History Month, we want to lift up the voices and victories of women. We asked PPC researchers and staff to share their advice for young women today. During the month of March, we will be sharing their replies. Today, we spoke with Executive Assistant Diane Kennedy, who is the administrative team lead and manages our day-to-day operations. 

Q&A with Diane Kennedy

  • What advice do you have for young women today? 
    Be proud of who you are and what YOU contribute to your community. Don’t measure your value by other people’s expectations. You have something unique to contribute—that will be missed if you don’t.
  • What is one way your life/work has been impacted by women? 
    A former supervisor of mine is a woman of color with a strong sense of who she is—both professionally and personally. Despite the “headwinds” she has faced as a woman, and particularly a woman of color, she has excelled academically and professionally and garners great respect among her professional and personal peers. She has inspired me to look beyond obstacles and believe that I, too, can overcome difficult situations and have an impact on others and in my work.
  • Can you think of a specific project you have worked on that directly impacts women? 
    In a previous position, I helped coordinate a program that provided opportunities for women undergraduate students, giving them academic readiness and professional development to prepare them for a career in medicine and dentistry. I can now see the impact of that program through my continued contact with many of those students who are now doctors, dentists, serving in the military, etc.