3/23/2026

Women's History Month at Mayfield: From Learning to Leadership

March at Mayfield is always a meaningful time–a time to reflect, to celebrate, and to challenge ourselves to keep the forward momentum into spring.

As a school grounded in the belief that girls are called to lead with purpose, Women’s History Month is not simply about honoring the past, it’s about equipping our students to shape what comes next.

This year, we kicked off the month with a dynamic International Women’s Day panel and ended with an all-school assembly about the Commission on the Status of Women in our home city of Pasadena–two experiences that invited students to engage with the realities, responsibilities as well as the possibilities of women in leadership.

Celebrating Women in Leadership

Earlier this month, in honor of International Women's Day on March 8, Mayfield partnered with the Fulbright Claremont Consortium, led by Dr. Edel Jose ‘00, to host a special panel discussion centered on the theme of "Give to Gain." The evening brought together an inspiring group of women whose careers span industries and continents, yet they share a common thread: a commitment to leading with purpose and lifting up others along the way.

Together they shared stories of challenges, growth, and impact–from advancing global diplomacy to pushing the boundaries of robotics and innovation. Their reflections reinforced a powerful idea: success is not only about individual achievement, but about creating pathways for others.

In a place built for girls, confidence becomes the foundation for the future. At Mayfield, confidence is cultivated through experience, through being encouraged to speak, to be curious, and to lead with purpose. As our panelists demonstrated, those early foundations matter. They shape women to move through the world with clarity, courage and conviction.

View the full panel discussion here.

In a place built for girls, confidence becomes the foundation for the future. At Mayfield, confidence is cultivated through experience, through being encouraged to speak, to be curious, and to lead with purpose.

Advocacy in Action

Today, we had the privilege of welcoming Maura Harrington Roggero, Ph.D., MBA, chair of the Pasadena Commission on the Status of Women–and a Mayfield parent–to speak at our assembly in honor of Women’s History Month.

Dr. Roggero introduced students the work of the Commission, which is tasked with studying and addressing the conditions that affect women in Pasadena. This includes identifying areas of where discrimination or prejudice against women persist, recommending policies and programs that promote equal rights and opportunities for women, and collaborating with public agencies to advance gender equity across the city.

Through her remarks, students gained insight into how advocacy takes shape beyond the headlines–through research, policy recommendations, and ongoing dialogue with decision-makers. She highlighted current initiatives such as advocating for the California Equal Pay Pledge, recognizing Equal Pay Day (March 25, 2026), supporting domestic violence awareness efforts, and hosting community listening sessions to ensure that women’s voices are heard and represented.

Dr. Roggero’s presentation of the Commission's workplan underscored the importance of data-informed advocacy. While Pasadena has made strides, such as increased participation among women in the workforce and higher rates of attending a 4-year college degree, significant challenges still remain. Women still face economic disparities, including a widening gender earnings gap, and they are disproportionately represented among those experiencing financial insecurity and homelessness. These realities served as a call to action: progress is real, but the work is far from finished.

For our students, the takeaway was clear: leadership is not abstract, it’s rooted in awareness, responsibility, and the willingness to engage.

Taken together, these experiences reflect what makes a Mayfield education so distinctive. Our students are learning not only about women’s history--they are actively engaging with the issues that define it today. From understanding how policy advances equity in our own city, to hearing firsthand from women who are shaping industries and communities here and around the world, our students are able to see themselves as part of a larger story.

This Women’s History Month, we are reminded that the future is not something our students will simply inherit–it is something they are actively building now.

At Mayfield, we are committed to empowering young women to meet that awesome responsibility with purpose and live our motto each day: Actions Not Words.