From Vocalist to Student Government President

Paulette Maria Penzvalto is the President of the Graduate Student Governance Association at University of CincinnatiC.

Paulette Maria Penzvalto has not taken a traditional route to student government. She is a classically trained vocalist who completed two years of undergraduate education and then decided to start a diploma program at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Wales. During her studies there, she served as a postgraduate representative to the student government association. Now Penzvalto is a graduate student at the University of Cincinnati. Last spring, she attended an Elect Her–Campus Women Win training and went on to be elected president of the Graduate Student Governance Association at UC. We talked with her to find out if she has future political aspirations and what was most valuable about AAUW’s election-training program.

Why did you run for student government?

Giving back is a major part of creating a community. I believe that civic duty and the university are interconnected. I did not have the same experience as some of those who were running. They had a traditional, four-year experience, but I didn’t think of it as a disadvantage. I started by talking to students about what the needs on campus for graduate students are.

Did you experience any gender discrimination while running?

I didn’t experience any discrimination, although I would like to see more women run. There was one other woman running, out of seven candidates. During the actual election itself, women were very involved and active.

What are some of the goals you hope to accomplish in your term?

Housing for graduate students, encouraging unity through multiculturalism and diversity, and access to resources. I am partnering with the Center for Community Engagement in compiling a master list of university and community resources geared toward graduate students. This will be printed and online and hopefully handed out at orientation.

Do you feel that the Elect Her–Campus Women Win training prepared you for running?

I feel very strongly that it was a major contributor to me winning my election. I went over the materials in detail before I decided to run. I didn’t feel 100 percent qualified; I don’t think anyone does. When we practiced writing down our issues in the training, that really helped create the framework for my speech. The elevator speech really helped too. One thing I really remembered was 3 + 3 = 1, which means you make three points, repeat them three times, and the audience will remember one. I still go back to that; I go back to basics. The campaign simulation, I had never done that, and I never thought I could. Close to the end, I had a handful of ballots and I thought, you know, I’m going to at least try. And I didn’t win, but I got all of my ballots filled out.

Do you see yourself running for office in the future?

I have a thriving music career, but at some point in the future I could see possibly running for state representative. I think if the right opportunity will present itself, I will take it. My father taught me to be involved in politics. I would love to be involved on a bigger scale, and I think this has given me the motivation and confidence to run.

Applications to become a 2012 Elect Her–Campus Women Win training site will be available August 22 at www.aauw.org/learn/LeadershipPrograms/electHer.cfm.

This post was written by former AAUW Leadership Programs Intern Donnae Wahl.

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Memories to Be Made

Remember those first “I wanna be” thoughts? Much to my mother’s surprise one of my first was to be confirmed — yes, as in the Roman Catholic church. Doubtful that I was having a religious epiphany, my detective mom traced my desire back to my being envious of that special white dress my best friend got to wear.

My second “wanna be” was, of all things, to be one of the famous Andrews Sisters. I hadn’t even learned what World War II was, but my mom used to play their songs while we were cleaning. I figured I wouldn’t have to clean if I was singing, so …

Needless to say, I was never confirmed, nor did I become a singer, but my interest in WWII grew through listening to stories of my dad’s participation and by watching those old rerun war movies — then on TV, now on Netflix. I visited my dad recently, and we reminisced of those times, when the Andrews Sisters were bigger to most than any Army WAC or Navy WAVE.

I asked him about a woman’s role in the military, and he spoke of knowing one of the first female cadets at West Point, his alma mater. She was the daughter of a dear friend of my father’s, and he expressed his pride in her accomplishments—she graduated near the top of her class — and talked about how times were different “back in the day,” when women weren’t credited with enough intelligence or bravery to be leaders in the military. He also talked about his own hesitation based on his goal of being the family’s protector, the “family” in this case being his country.

Dad then started telling humorous tales (he rarely talks of the “dark side” of war), and we spent an enjoyable afternoon sharing his memories among three generations, the youngest of which hasn’t yet learned of WWII and whose “wanna be” dreams center around smartphone app inventors.

Personally, I love history and all that it can teach us and future generations. AAUW has partnered with Gohagan & Company to provide our members (and their spouses and families) with a great opportunity to learn from David Eisenhower, grandson of Dwight D. Eisenhower and senior research fellow at the University of Pennsylvania,  and Celia Sandys, granddaughter and biographer of Winston Churchill, while visiting France, Ireland, Wales, and Scotland in May 2011 on the AAUW Celtic Lands trip. I wonder what our guests would say of their grandparents’ views not only of WWII, but also of women’s roles during those times — and today.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the considerable early-bird discount for this trip if booked by October 25, so visit our website and sign up today!

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