‘She Did It Anyway’

“Do it afraid. Do it anyway.” This was the message from keynote speaker Celeste Willard at “She Did It Anyway,” a networking event hosted by Eastern Connecticut State University’s Women’s Center. Held on Nov. 13 in the Student Center, the event gave students the opportunity to connect with women who are forging careers in the field of criminal justice.

The event opened with remarks from Frida Nieto ’24, graduate intern with the Women’s Center, who is pursuing her master’s degree in criminal justice. Nieto said, "Thank you to the incredible women who made time to be here. This program is possible because of you, women who lead, mentor, advocate, and 'do it anyway' in your communities every day.”

According to Starsheemar Byrum, director of the Arthur L. Johnson Unity Wing, the goal of the event was to “create an experience that brings professionals alongside women studying here at Eastern and encourages them to reflect on their present and future ambitions while equipping them to lead with confidence." 

Keynote speaker Celeste Willard discussed her job with the State of Connecticut Judicial Branch, where she is an intern coordinator for the Experiential Learning Programs (ELP). With 20 years of experience in the legal field, Willard places college students in internships across the branch, helping them identify their goals, match with workplace hosts, and gain exposure to their areas of interest. 

Willard offered advice to female students navigating job searches in a male-dominated field, encouraging them to take risks and trust themselves. “Just do it anyway, because when you push yourself through it, it’s getting on that other side; it’s magic,” she said. 

Willard continued: "You’ve just got to get there, so go for it. Do it afraid ... do it anyway. You won’t make a mistake. It's okay.” 

Breakout sessions 

After the keynote speech, professionals were split into groups based on their profession, and students joined them for 15-minute periods to ask questions about their careers.  

The fields represented were judicial and public safety, victim and family advocacy, courts and prosecution, everyday law, and post-graduate studies. 

The first breakout session featured women working in judicial and public safety. This room featured Willard, Sara Aliaj, and Bethany LaPierre from the State of Connecticut Judicial Branch, along with Sergeant Jacqueline Nixon of the Willimantic Police Department and State Trooper Cassidy Nuccio. 

The next room featured women working in victim and family advocacy. Speakers included Lianne Marsella-Hollmann, a sexual assault crisis counselor; Gillian Palmer, a community engagement manager at the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence who is also in law enforcement training; Danielle Hammil Sanquedolce, a regional manager for Family Services; and Jocelyn Wildenhain, a victim services advocate with the Connecticut Judicial Branch. 

Another room featured women working in courts and prosecution. Speakers included Attorney Gail Hardy, the first African American state’s attorney in Connecticut; Anne Mahoney, a retired state’s attorney; and Jacqueline P. McMahon, a supervisory assistant state’s attorney with the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice. 

The final room featured women in everyday law and post-graduate studies. The women featured in this room were Erin McBride, a senior outreach assistant for the United States Senate Office of Chris Murphy; Rachel Moon, a digital content strategist for American Civil Liberties of Connecticut, and Rebeckah Rubin, an Eastern alumna attending the New England School of Law in Boston, MA.  

After the breakout sessions, the event wrapped up with an additional hour of networking, giving students the chance to connect with speakers they had not met yet or continue conversations from earlier in the evening.  

“This event has been amazing because it’s a great opportunity for women to connect with people who are working in this field,” said senior criminology and sociology double-major Marissa Waters. “This field is intimidating to break your way into.”