The Women’s Center at Lakeland Community College has served a vital role in student support services for over 30 years. With the start of fall 2023 semester, the women’s center is celebrating their move to a brand-new location on campus. The new, expanded center, located in A-Building, Room A-2110, will help to serve the student community with its large collaboration space, new lounge and meeting areas. The defining feature of the space is a gorgeous, vibrant three-wall mural in the new lounge area, created by Kim Kennedy, mural artist and Lakeland student.

“Lakeland’s Women’s Center has been effectively supporting our students both in their academic journeys and in navigating the challenges of personal life for decades,” says Gloria Lane, manager of the women’s center. “The new location is a beautiful space that already feels like home. With more room to meet and collaborate, we’re able to give our students more space to receive support from us, as well as support each other in their individual journeys through college and life.”

Services offered by the women’s center include guiding students to resources that can help them achieve educational goals, class-specific support groups, workshops and activities designed to help students get the most out of their education, events and programs to help women connect with and support each other and helping women to navigate challenges arising through both college and life with the purpose of thriving at Lakeland and beyond.

In addition to the well-known support the center provides, they have added a new staff member, Altovese Coe, as the program coordinator for student parent initiatives. Coe will support the already established SMART program (Student Mothers Achieving Real Triumph) and is responsible for creating new connections with student parents, both mothers and fathers, on campus.

“This new space is amazing!” says Debbie Lozano, department chair for Lakeland’s Mechanical Engineering Technology program. “It’s so appropriate for what the women’s center accomplishes for our female students. It’s incredibly inviting and welcoming!”

Students are encouraged to visit Lakeland’s Women’s Center for a cup of coffee or tea, and to learn more about how they can help promote a healthy school-life balance.

By: Adam Continenza, Marketing & Communications Specialist