Manhattanville University Hosts Robert & Ethel Kennedy Leadership Summit for Young Women

PURCHASE, NY — April 27, 2026 — Inspired by the life and works of Ethel Kennedy, a group of young women representing schools from across the region presented their ideas for creating change in the world during a women’s leadership summit at Manhattanville University.

The day’s keynote speaker, Kerry Kennedy, president of the Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center, and daughter of Ethel Skakel Kennedy, talked about how her mother forged ahead after the death of her father, Robert F. Kennedy, and continued her work for civil rights, while raising 11 children. She talked about her father’s death and the difficulty the family faced after the trauma.

Co-sponsored by the Manhattanville Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership and the Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center, this event followed one last year, where young women from across the region were challenged to come up with their own ideas on how to foster positive change in the world. The result was 11 projects promoting health, civic engagement, environmental justice, and other initiatives presented at this year’s event.

The Kennedy family has had a long association with Manhattanville. Ethel Kennedy graduated from the school in 1949.

Manhattanville University President Frank Sánchez, Ph.D., said the leadership summit was a way to continue Ethel’s legacy by inspiring young women to follow in her footsteps. He said the partnership with the Robert & Ethel Kennedy Center for Human Rights was in keeping with Manhattanville’s mission to instill a commitment to social responsibility in its students.

“Events like this leadership summit are essential because they give young women the confidence and support to see themselves as agents of change,” said President Frank Sánchez, Ph.D. “By sharing ideas and taking action, these students honor Ethel Kennedy’s legacy while building their own paths as the next generation of leaders.”

Sharon O’Grady, a Manhattanville doctoral student who is also Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction for the Public Schools of the Tarrytowns, said she was grateful to Manhattanville’s doctoral students for the guidance they gave the young women in the program. She added that she was heartened by the young women’s determination to see the project through to the end.

“Collectively, what these young women have accomplished is remarkable. They saw real challenges in their communities and took it upon themselves to be part of the solution. From peer mentoring to climate education, to empowering girls in sports, to exploring pathways in medicine, their impact is meaningful and real. They should be incredibly proud,’ she said.

One student who participated in last year’s inaugural event said, “Being able to collaborate with peers from different backgrounds and share ideas about the topics we are passionate about made the event a resounding success.’’

EXHIBITION PROJECTS

The Society of Medical Explorers - Adanyhr Morocho Chuchuca,

Alexa Zhinin- Sleepy Hollow High School

C.A.S.A - Cultural Ambassadors for Support and Advocacy- Isabella Bencosme, Mirianny Beltre Bobea, Pilar Patino – Sleepy Hollow High School

Women's Empowerment Club - Anabella Henriquez, Layla Hanbali, Kayla Arscott, Maya Bautista, Yael Feit – White Plains High School

Learn for the Earth - Avika Goel – Horace Greeley High School

Mind Between the Margins -Molly Fine, Olivia Regan – Horace Greeley High School

Learning, Leading, Cleaning: A Youth Plan for Community Change-Rosaya Melton – Newburgh Enlarged City District

Green Patriots: Inspiring Environmental Awareness at School -Keira Kingsley – Newburgh Enlarged City District

Wellness-Ready Citizens: Building Mental Health Awareness & Civic Engagement-Zoe MacLymore – Newburgh Enlarged City District

S.H.E. (Strengthening Her Enterprise) Business Summit-Lily Parker, Ryla Krulik – John Jay High School

Girls and Sports - Avery Portugal – John Jay High School

Women’s Comfort Kits – Girls Learn International -Ana Morales, Celeste James, Ella Kempsey, Emma Gallet, Haven James, Isabella Ortega, Lily Stringer -Pearl River High School

About Manhattanville University

Manhattanville University (formerly Manhattanville College) is a private liberal arts institution dedicated to academic excellence, purposeful education, and social responsibility. “U.S. News and World Report” ranks Manhattanville among the Top Performers of Social Mobility in Regional Universities North. The university has been recognized among the best colleges in The Princeton Review for close to 20 years. Located 30 miles from New York City on a 100-acre suburban campus in the heart of Westchester County, Manhattanville enables easy access to entertainment offerings, educational resources, and business opportunities for its diverse student body. The university serves more than 1,400 undergraduate students and nearly 1,000 graduate students from more than 44 countries and 33 states. Founded in 1841, the university offers more than 75 undergraduate and graduate areas of study in the arts and sciences, education, nursing and health sciences, business, and creative writing, as well as continuing and executive education programs. Graduate students can choose from over 70 graduate and certificate programs. Extracurricular offerings include more than 45 clubs and activities, and 23 NCAA Division III teams. For more information, visit mville.edu