Webber-McLeod Manages Message, Building Strategic Partnerships

Gwendolyn Webber-McLeod was appointed director of communications in June 2002 and is no stranger to Wells. Ann Rollo, Wells College vice president of external relations, made this appointment. Over the past 20 years she has worked with the community to support numerous projects and initiatives. Most recently, she served as President Lisa Ryerson’s special assistant for diversity initiatives.

As director of communications, she is a member of the external relations staff and manages internal and external communications. In addition, she develops strategies to build partnerships for the college by linking Wells with institutions that will advance its goal of educating women for leadership in the 21st century.

Gwen has 24 years experience in public relations, marketing, leadership and workplace development, motivational speaking, and board facilitation. She gained this expertise through past professional positions as an owner and partner in Treble Associates, a women-owned, Auburn-based consulting firm, along with a number of other professional positions.

She has been communications/development director of the Seven Lakes Girl Scout Council, executive director of the National Women’s Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, executive director of the Booker T. Washington Community Center in Auburn, and coordinator of human services for the Cayuga/Seneca Community Action Agency.

An advocate in the public arena for the positive development of girls and women, she has received many awards and honors including the Unsung Heroine Award, presented by the Central New York N.O.W. Chapter and the New York State Governor’s Award for African-Americans of Distinction.

Gwen has also received the Marjorie Dowdell Fortitude Award, presented to outstanding African-American women by the Syracuse Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Potsdam College added her name to the State University of New York Confederation Honor Roll.

She is board chair of Planned Parenthood of the Rochester/Syracuse region, a founding mother of the Friends of Women’s Rights National Park, past board president of the Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce, and a past member of the National Women’s Hall of Fame Board of Directors.

Additionally, she is a former trustee of Cayuga Community College and served as a member of the Cayuga Community College Foundation Board of Directors.

December, 2002

Wells College “Son” Hosts Film Screening and Q & A Session

Filmmaker Gabriel Torres will host a screening of his latest movie “Last Stand” at Cinemapolis in Ithaca next week. Torres is the son of Wells College psychology professor Aurelio Torres and college cataloging librarian Elsie Torres. Now a resident of Los Angeles, Gabe is home in Aurora for the holidays. “Last Stand” plays for three nights during Christmas week - December 25, 26, and 27 at the theatre on the Ithaca Commons. Torres will host a question and answer session following the early screening on Friday, December 27.

“Last Stand” is a short subject film which tells the story of a young Lakota boy who befriends a wounded cavalry soldier at the Battle of Little Big Horn. Set in the summer of 1876, Goes Alone, a 12-year-old Sioux boy, discovers a dying soldier, James, hidden in the grass following the devastating fight. Over the next few days, the two form a bond as James approaches death. When Goes Alone performs a healing ritual on James, James is restored to health. As he departs to resume his army duties, he leaves a special gift for Goes Alone, one which results in tragic circumstances. “Last Stand” is shown as part of a double feature with Phillip Noyce’s “Rabbit-Proof Fence.” Based on a true story set in Australia during the 1930s, three half-aboriginal girls are taken from their homes, educated in the dominant white culture, and trained as domestic servants. The girls flee the state-run institution and travel alone 1,500 miles back to their home village.

Gabe Torres grew up in Aurora, New York and attended high school at Southern Cayuga Central School. He is a graduate of the University of Southern California Film School. Two of his previous films, “The Legend of Firefly Marsh” (1987) and “December” (1991) were shot in Aurora and on the Wells College campus.

For more information about Gabe Torres and the screening, please call the filmmaker directly at 315/364-8478 or visit his website  www.pacificnet.net/~gabe/  More information about “Last Stand” may be found at www.laststandmovie.com  Contact Cinemapolis directly for prices and showtimes at 607/277-6115.

December, 2002

Earlier Articles in Wells College News:
 

November, 2002	September, 2000. - May.,2001	May,1998	May - June,1997
October, 2002	September, 1999 - August, 2000	April,1998	March - April,1997
September, 2002	August,1999	March,1998	February,1997
August, 2002	May,1999	February,1998	November - December,1996
September, 2001. - May.,2002	April,1999	January,1998	October,1996
	February -March, 1999	December,1997	September,1996
	January,1999	November,1997	June - Aug.,1996
	Fall,1998	October,1997	May,1996
	August,1998	September,1997	April,1996
	June -July, 1998	July - August, 1997	February - March, 1996

Last updated 04/04/2003