Dr. Hossna Sadat Ahadi read the following statement on behalf of the Empowered Women at the Palomar College Board of Trustees meeting on December 15, 2020.

In response to the recent op-ed published in The Wall Street Journal about incoming FLOTUS Dr. Jill Biden which presented opinion statements that denigrate women (particularly those who have earned a doctorate or other advanced degree), community colleges, and the students they serve, the Empowered Women at Palomar College stand in solidarity in the following statement:

Misogynistic behavior and action must be challenged and called out. Women continue to be resilient in the face of marginalization regarding their intersectional identities, and Empowered Women at Palomar College does not tolerate such discrimination or hate against any multicultural and intersectional groups at our campus.

Those who have worked for and earned a doctorate, whether Ph.D., M.D., Ed.D., J.D., or PsyD. etc., are rightly regarded as doctors in our society. As educators, we acknowledge and support each other’s hard work and contributions to research, leadership, and respect the education and expertise of our colleagues.

Nationwide, the community college system is a key access point for diverse and underrepresented students, and as a proud member of this system, Palomar College will continue to elevate and support our students and employees with great pride and passion. Rather than considering the subject of Dr. Biden’s dissertation “unpromising”, we applaud the focus on and recognize the importance of increasing access and support for community college students.

There’s no place for misogyny, paternalism, and condescension towards the accomplishments of others. The Empowered Women at Palomar College are proud of our accomplishments and the achievements of all colleagues who work to make education accessible and possible for our students.

“Each time a woman stands up for herself, she stands up for all women” -Maya Angelou