Throughout March, Laney College is celebrating Women’s History Month with a series of events that highlight leadership, career pathways, and the accomplishments of women in athletics, engineering, and community leadership.
The month-long celebration brings together students, alumni, faculty, and community partners for conversations and events that recognize the impact of women across disciplines while inspiring the next generation of leaders.
One of the featured events is Women’s Empowerment Day, held at the Laney BEST Center on Thursday, March 19, 2026.
Originally started by legendary Laney football coach John Beam, the event was created to highlight the achievements of former Laney female student-athletes beyond their time in sports.
The program includes a panel discussion featuring three accomplished Laney alumnae:
Erica Wilson, former state champion hurdler and UC Berkeley athlete who now works in application security and continues to support Laney athletics as a coach and artist.The event is moderated by Interim Athletic Director Joshua Ramos and includes welcome remarks from Dean of Career & Technical Education and Athletics Alejandria Tomas and Vice President of Student Services Lily Espinoza.
Together, the panelists share their journeys from student-athletes to professionals, offering insight on leadership, perseverance, and career development.
Later in the month, Laney will host a Women in Engineering Panel Discussion Forum on Tuesday, March 24 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Laney Quad.
Hosted by the Laney Employment Services Center in partnership with MESA, the event will feature engineers from organizations including:
- Port of OaklandThe forum offers students the opportunity to learn about engineering career paths, ask questions, and connect with professionals working in infrastructure, technology, and transportation.
Women’s leadership will also be on display in athletics as Golden State Storm Women’s Tackle Football kicks off its season at Laney Field.
The team’s first home game is March 28, when the Storm take on the San Diego Rebellion at 7 p.m.
Laney students, faculty, and staff receive free admission with a valid Laney ID, offering the campus community a chance to support women competing at the highest levels of tackle football.
Together, these events reflect Laney College’s ongoing commitment to celebrating women’s achievements, supporting student success, and creating pathways for leadership across industries and athletics.
From alumni returning to share their stories, to engineers mentoring future innovators, to athletes competing on the field, Women’s History Month at Laney highlights the many ways women continue to shape the campus and the broader Oakland community.
Students and community members are encouraged to attend the events and participate in the conversations happening across campus throughout the month.