The gift will allow the women’s history month pop-up to become a permanent fixture for at least the next year.
In March 2025, Baldwin Wallace University had a pop-up women’s center on campus as part of Women’s History Month celebrations. Sheila Tadych Mullen, a 1993 Baldwin Wallace University graduate, has given the university the gift of funding to support the existence of the women’s center through June 2026.
According to an article on Baldwin Wallace University’s website, Mullen explained her desire to fund the pop-up to stick around past its original month-long stay on campus. She said, "Throughout my career, I've seen firsthand how critical it is to create spaces where women are encouraged to lead, innovate and grow — and I wanted to help ensure that BW students have a vibrant environment where they can find their voice, build confidence and dream boldly.” She went on to add, "I was also incredibly impressed and inspired by the leadership of Claudine and Courtney; their vision, energy and dedication made it clear this was a movement I wanted to be part of.”
Courtney Robinson, who serves as the university’s associate director of cultural programming, and Claudine Grunenwald Kirschner, who is the director of BW New Student Experience, came together to launch the pop-up women’s center for the month of March 2025. The pop-up center existed in Strosacker Hall union, and was the site of small gatherings, programming, and tea and coffee talks that drew in more than 2,000 visitors during its short tenure.
Mullen hopes that with her gift, the center will be able to grow and expand upon its initial success. She wants the center to become "a catalyst for inspiration and transformation — a place where collaboration thrives, diverse voices are celebrated and bold ideas take shape. My dream is for it to serve as a gathering place and a launchpad for leadership development, innovation and lifelong connections that extend far beyond campus."
Mullen’s successful career in technology sales and organizational transformation began when she received an MBA from Baldwin Wallace in 1993. She sees her Baldwin Wallace roots as instrumental to her success. She said, "My BW MBA was a foundation for everything that followed my career. It gave me the strategic thinking, leadership skills and ethical framework I carry with me in today's fast-paced world of fintech, financial services and innovation. Beyond business acumen, BW instilled in me a lifelong commitment to curiosity, creativity and resilience. BW remains a core part of my identity. The friendships, mentorship and values I gained there continue to influence my life personally and professionally. Staying connected to BW allows me to honor the roots that shaped me while helping to pave the way for others."
The original pop-up version of the women’s center was made possible through funding from Women for BW, a philanthropy group, and the BW LaunchNet Powered by the Burton D. Morgan Foundation. Now, with funding from Mullen, the former pop-up will be a permanent fixture at least through June 2026.
"Supporting the BW Women's Center is one way I can give back to a community that invested in my growth — and ensure that future generations of BW students have the same opportunities to thrive and lead with purpose. The time is now to nurture, build and fan the flames of extraordinary women leaders, and I'm proud to be part of that momentum at BW,” said Mullen.
For more information about Baldwin Wallace University, visit the school’s website.