Strength in Numbers

Throughout her career, Cheryl Carleton, PhD, has followed a path that would be the envy of many: doing what she enjoys most while also making a difference.

Teaching college-level economics wasn’t always the obvious answer for Dr. Carleton. Born in rural Maine, she spent most of her youth in coastal New Hampshire. Her father, a high school graduate, worked in the shipyards of southern Maine.

She found her direction as an undergraduate at Boston College where an economics professor (also a woman) encouraged her to seek higher education and pursue a PhD in economics. A light bulb went off for Dr. Carleton.

After she completed her doctorate at the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Carleton worked for the Federal Trade Commission in Washington, D.C., as an economist. Ultimately, her love of learning brought her to Villanova. Her early curriculum focused on broad labor market issues until she began specializing.

Focusing on What Matters

“Women entering the workforce created variability, which led to the rise of more labor issues,” said Dr. Carleton, “and I had a very personal connection to the subject matter.” After serving as associate director of the Women Studies program, Dr. Carleton was approached to lead a committee of faculty and staff members within VSB to look at issues facing women in the marketplace. Almost immediately, Dr. Carleton expanded the committee to include students and alumni from all corners of the university.

“Issues facing women today extend beyond VSB,” Dr. Carleton explains. “Establishing an organization that reaches across campus helps us learn from one another and broadens our thinking.”

In 2012, the Villanova Women’s Professional Network (VWPN) formally convened and since then has hosted or co-sponsored over 20 events. Last year, the VMPN reached over 680 individuals with programs designed to promote awareness and visibility for women’s issues. “Sometimes you don’t have the solution, but education and raising consciousness can help lead to solutions.”

Making a Difference

Issues raised within the VWPN served as the basis for Dr. Carleton’s 2013 article, “Top Five Ways Firms Can Advance Women.” Concerned by the steady decline in the number of women in senior leadership positions, Dr. Carleton wanted to highlight the issues that organizations need to address to retain the subset of the talent pool.

For. Dr. Carleton, the real value of the Villanova Women’s Professional Network comes from how it will ultimately help others.

“This organization brings together people who care so deeply {about women’s issues} that it starts to create a picture of what we can do and where we can go from here. That excites me for future generations of students and even for my own daughters.”

Originally published in the Summer 2015  Issue of Villanova Business magazine.