At the EmpowerHER: Leading the Change panel, hosted by the Office of Access, Opportunity, and Institutional Compliance; the Mentoring Program, and Career & Transfer Services, local women leaders shared powerful stories of resilience, growth, and purpose. Their experiences offered inspiration and practical guidance for navigating education, careers, and life’s inevitable challenges.
Panelist included:
- Raquel Castro-Corazzini, founder of Worcester's Division of Youth Opportunities
- Shirley Dempsey, assistant director of operations for Advancement at Quinsigamond Community College and QCC alum
- Julie Ann Lamacchia, director of the Worcester County Juvenile Court Clinic at Community Healthlink and QCC alum
- Jessica Slamin, director of Transplant Quality and Compliance at UMass Memorial Medical Center
- Shannon Smith, acting assistant commissioner for the Enterprise Information Office at the MA Department of Environmental Protection and QCC alum
Panelists spoke candidly about turning points that shaped their paths. Slamin reflected on how caring for an ill sibling sparked her early interest in medicine, eventually leading her from nursing to pursuing a Ph.D. Castro-Corazzini shared her journey as the daughter of immigrants and a teen mother who refused to give up when doors closed. She insisted on finishing high school from a hospital bed and later founded Worcester Youth Opportunities, now connecting more than 100 employers with young people.
Several panelists credited QCC with opening doors that once felt out of reach. Lamacchia described how QCC’s accessibility allowed her to earn a degree while working, launching a trajectory that led to further study and new leadership opportunities.
"I went on to get my master's degree. My associate degree launched me," Lamacchia said.
Dempsey also needed flexibility when getting her degree because she was raising children. She stayed persistent and even landed her full-time job at QCC while finishing her studies.
Mentorship emerged as a recurring theme, whether through professors, supervisors, or peers. During the panel discussion the group encouraged students to use campus resources, build networks, and ask for help. Panelists such as Smith emphasized having people who challenge, support, and believe in you.
"Tech can be a hard space to navigate for females. It's hard and you shouldn't do it alone," Smith said.
Perhaps most importantly, the panel underscored mindset. Setbacks are unavoidable, but growth depends on how we respond. As one speaker put it, while we can’t control every event, our reaction shapes the outcome, and that power belongs to each of us.