Big thanks to the SJSU Newsroom’s Tiffany Harbrecht for including Lurie College Dean Heather Lattimer in their series of highlighting SJSU women leaders in celebration of Women’s History Month!  Read Dean Lattimer’s spotlight below and read all of the spotlights on the SJSU Newsroom blog.

What women in history do you admire?

Heather Lattimer (HL): I so appreciate women who broke rules and pushed boundaries. A few in particular: Lilian Ngoyi, Madeleine Albright, Nana Nama’u, Ida B. Wells, and Isabelle Allende.

What women in your life supported you on your journey to achieving your goals and aspirations?

HL: My mom always encouraged and supported me. I’m an only child and only grandchild, a reality that can carry a lot of expectations. But I never felt pressured to be or become something to please others. I was allowed and encouraged to explore possibilities and dream big.

What is your advice for emerging women leaders at SJSU and across the country?

HL: Don’t be afraid to be ambitious in your aspirations and advocate for yourself. For my generation, the message (explicit or implicit) was often that women shouldn’t be openly ambitious, that we should work hard and wait to be noticed. But that’s not the way the world works. Speak up, share your goals, advocate for your future. Doing so will strengthen our whole community.