Lori Buza, Esq., with Hon. Carmen M. Garcia
The 6th annual Women’s Empowerment Day at Saint Peter’s University, hosted by the accountancy and business law department and the Saint Peter’s Business Law Association, was held as part of Women’s History Month, a month which celebrates and encourages the study and observance of the vital role of women in American history.
There were women from all different walks of life with a focus on law professions who took the stage at the event. Women with prolific careers came together for this event to share their knowledge and career advice. Presentations were given by Hon. Mary Costello, Hudson County superior court judge; Hon. Carmen M. Garcia, former chief judge of Trenton Municipal Court; Captain Jean O’Brien, U.S. Navy (ret.); Joyce H. Rogina, Esq., senior legal counsel for Barnes & Noble Education Inc.; and Cynthia Matheke, Esq., trial attorney; Lori Ann Buza, Esq., chair of the accountancy and business law department, moderated. The day-long event concluded with a self-defense workshop taught by Buza.
Hon. Carmen M. Garcia, Former Chief Judge of Trenton Municipal Court
In her presentation, “The Road Less Traveled – One Latina’s Rise To Success,” Garcia spoke about her upbringing and what it was like emigrating from Puerto Rico to America. Growing up, her parents worked hard in factories and she would help them in the summer by selling Italian ice and Philly pretzels. During her childhood she faced obstacles such as watching her parents being treated as inferiors because they did not speak English. While in college, federal budget cuts caused her to lose her scholarship funding and at the time she did not think she would graduate but she was able to be resourceful and overcome her set-backs. Law school, she said, filled her with self-doubt but she persevered.
“My mother taught me to take an obstacle and turn it on its head,” Garcia said.
She went on to become a lawyer and a judge, and is among the few Latina females in law in America. She is in support of changing the narrative and encouraging more women to go into law.
“I look out at this diverse audience and I feel hopeful,” she said. “And where I see hope, I see opportunity.”
She stressed the importance of affinity groups such as the Latina Lawyers Bar Association, which “thrusts the dialogue forward,” and events like Women’s Empowerment Day, which highlight the struggles and accomplishments of diverse women.
She left the audience with many tips for success including “up hold your reputation,” “define yourself,” “always strive for your personal best” and lastly, to “work hard and do not sit on the sidelines.”
Captain Jean O’Brien, U.S. Navy (Ret.)
In the next presentation, “The History and Future of Women in the Military,” Captain O’Brien spoke about her experiences in the military leading a crew that was all men. She explained that at the time, the odds were stacked against her. Even now, there are a lot of women veterans who do not get the same care and respect as their male counterparts.
After she completed flight school, she worked in Michigan because women were not allowed fly combat missions at that time. When the law was lifted in 1993, she joined the combat maritime patrol squadron.
O’Brien enhanced her speech with a collage of photos. Some of them were political in nature, highlighting the unfairness of how women veterans are treated. Others were cartoons of women in the Navy, for example, one photo showed a woman flying a jet with her purse hanging next to her. Lastly, she presented photos that showed her in uniform leading her crew.
O’Brien recently retired from naval service after 30 years. “I spent a lot of time in my career proving people wrong,” Captain O’Brien said.