The conference of Women in Higher Education Mississippi Network (WHEMN) kicked off solidly with a clarion call for financial literacy by state Treasurer Lynn Fitch, who declared that Mississippi ranks “ dead last” for having poor financial habits. It also spotlighted C Spire Foundation’s Meridith Creekmore, with a long history of service to communities and organizations, who urged attendees to adopt mentoring as a way of life.
WHEMN, hosted through today by Jackson State University in the downtown Convention Complex, is designed to empower, develop, advance and support women in higher education in Mississippi. It accomplishes these goals by supporting career development and mentoring.
To that end, Fitch cited a litany of concerns about finances, such as:
- Women make 23 percent less than men
- Women have higher health care expenses and live longer
- A widening of the gender gap in financial wellness
- Women face a 17-point gap in paying off credit cards
Fitch said, the good news for women is that “we’re improving slowly.”
She said, “Still, we must be proactive. We have to take initiative to overcome hurdles. We’re more likely to be caregivers of children and grandchildren, aging parents and other relatives. Because we take off more time to raise our children, this means we have lower lifetime income. We’ve given of ourselves while not reaping any of the benefits when we re-enter the workforce. Thus, we have lower Social Security benefits … and less personal savings.”
The state official said the dire situation speaks to startling statistics that show 64 percent of Mississippians lack adequate savings.
Beyond that, Fitch encouraged financial literacy statewide for all children before they graduate from high school. She touts her Treasurer’s Education About Money (TEAM) initiative, which demonstrates that students who take a course in financial education improve their financial awareness by 91 percent.
Meanwhile, conference coordinator Dr. Loretta A. Moore, JSU’s vice president for Research and Federal Relations, saluted Fitch for her dedication to women and statewide issues, remarking that building a network is essential for progress.
Moore also extolled the benefits of volunteering as she introduced Meridith Creekmore of the C Spire Foundation, which aims to provide grants to Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning. Creekmore is a liaison to the eight state universities.
With Moore conducting the interview, Creekmore discussed ways to increase social capital through entrepreneurship, innovation and philanthropy. “Women have an entrepreneurial spirit that cannot be contained. They know how to multitask 24/7.”
In addition, Creekmore said, “Mentoring will be the most important thing you do as educators whether you’re faculty, staff … or president of a college.”
Her tips for making a difference include “touching a heart, being a light that cleanses some of the darkness in the world and nurturing someone else’s dreams.”
Furthermore, said Creekmore, “When you start developing your own businesses find like-minded people who will help you with your dreams. Don’t do it alone. Discover the most pressing needs and develop relationships. Do what you love but, most importantly, take care of yourself,” she admonished.
