By ABBY BRAVO
News Editor
Angela Ledford, a professor of political theory at the College of Saint Rose, has been named the YWCA of the Greater Capital Region’s Resourceful Woman of the Year for her work on issues surrounding race, class, gender, and sexuality.
The Resourceful Woman of the Year award was established in 2000 to “honor women whose community and professional pursuits advance the empowerment of women, a core element of our mission to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all,” as stated on the YWCA website.
Through her work, Ledford has proved to be a strong advocate of this statement.
Growing up in rural West Texas, Ledford always had a love for learning in the form of books. She recounts a time in her early teens when she stumbled upon a documentary on the Holocaust playing on television.
She was horrified and shocked, but being exposed to that kind of horror is what motivated her to learn more, read more, and try to understand the world around her.
Her studies took her to Texas Tech University for both her undergraduate and masters degrees in political science, and she went on to receive her Ph.D. at the University of South Carolina.
Ledford has been a professor at Saint Rose since 2002 and has been a great inspiration to both students and colleagues alike.
“Dr. Ledford has been one of the most influential professors I have had the privilege to be taught by,” wrote senior political science major concentrating in pre-law Jacob Scofield in an email. “Not only is she a professor but she is also an advocate and activist for marginalized communities and does not shy away from difficult battles, especially if it means aiding those who need it.”
Ledford brings an energy to her classes that empowers her students to do something about what they learn in and outside of the classroom.
She said she often tells her students, “once you gain some degree of mastery over an area of knowledge, you have a responsibility to do something with it.” This alone is sparking a sense of purpose in students who may not have had the interest prior to a class with Ledford.
This can be proven effective through the perspective of her students. When discussing his classes with Ledford, Scofield wrote, “the emphasis on taking action to help those in need was an inspiring message that helped me leave her classes that dealt with very emotionally difficult and draining topics with an optimistic outlook.”
Colleague Ryane Straus continues this narrative stating, “while she’s very critical of current power relationships, her solution is not to sit back and complain but to empower others to create real change where they can.” Straus added, “she is a model of the activist faculty member who sincerely cares about those around her.”
Ledford’s constant encouragement and enthusiasm for topics surrounding race and gender made her a clear contender for the award.
Ledford kept the spotlight off of herself to make sure the women she admired were highlighted within her award. “I think I am resourceful, meaning that I was in a room that night with about 100 women who are resourceful and who I use as resources,” she said.
Ledford is a firm believer that community activism is not something somebody can accomplish alone. “This recognition isn’t just about me,” said Ledford. “It’s about me as a part of a larger community that are women… we co-conspired together to fix stuff or burn it down and start over.”
Her fiery energy is seen by those around her, and her presence is not overlooked at the college. Her generosity and passion are things that define her as a resourceful woman and award recipient, as shown by statements by students and colleagues.
“She has been a friend, colleague, and mentor for nearly two decades. I can’t picture what my career would look like without her in it,” said Straus.
