UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Jennifer Fleury, a first-generation student pursuing a master of professional studies in human resources and employment relations (HRER) through the Penn State School of Labor and Employment Relations and Penn State World Campus, has been selected as the second annual Amy Dietz Student Advocacy Award recipient.
The Amy Dietz Student Advocacy Award recognizes a World Campus student enrolled in any of the school’s online programs who is actively engaged in advocacy on behalf of an issue, cause or group. Nominees must be enrolled in at least one online class at the time of their nomination and all school students are eligible for consideration, regardless of academic standing or program.
The award honors the memory of Amy Dietz, a beloved member of the school who passed away in 2018. Dietz was part of the school’s staff who then earned an undergraduate degree in labor and employment relations and a master’s degree in HRER. She went on to become an academic adviser and faculty member. Dietz is remembered as a tremendous advocate for her students, according to Paul Clark, the former director of the School of Labor and Employment Relations who helped establish the award.
Fleury, who has had a lifelong dream of earning a master’s degree, was selected for her unwavering passion and advocacy for equality, according to Patricia Everhart, assistant director of online programs for the School of Labor and Employment Relations. Fleury recently started in a new role at EY as a global managed services alliance leader, but previously spent more than 25 years at SAP, where she served on SAP’s Business Women’s Network, North America Diversity & Inclusion council and Global Give Back Circle.
“Life is more meaningful when you can help people in any way, whether it be adults, children, even animals,” she said. “Having a purpose and passion is what life is all about and is something I hope everyone finds in whatever way they can.”
Her passion for advocacy began when she was just a teenager. Her grandmother was a bilateral amputee, which inspired Fleury to begin volunteering with the Special Olympics to support individuals with disabilities. Coming from a working-class family, Fleury said she knew from a young age she had big dreams. She earned a high school diploma and enrolled in community college.
After graduating, she entered the workforce before going back to school at the University of Connecticut. That is when she took her first class focused on issues women face, which Fleury said lit a flame in her for advocating for women.
“I wanted to flex my muscles every time I came out of that class,” Fleury said, explaining the class shined a light on important topics she had never been exposed to before. “It didn’t really hit home until after I had my third son.”
As much as Fleury loved being home raising her beautiful children, that was the first time in her life she didn’t have a job. She said she felt vulnerable as a woman because she had to rely on someone other than herself. To help navigate these feelings, Fleury joined a local mom’s group.
“What I realized was that a lot of these women not only worked, but they were professionals — doctors with their own practices, lawyers, pharmaceutical representatives and so on,” she said. She started out by just listening and keeping an open mind for a year before she began throwing her name in the ring for professional opportunities. From there, Fleury said she didn’t look back.
Fleury said she was on a mission to make a lasting impact, not only in the Philadelphia area, where she resided at the time, but globally.
“Engaging with others and creating a transformational experience for someone other than just yourself has motivated me through my more than 25 years of advocacy work,” Fleury said. “I want to give people voices, a platform and the confidence to know that they can get their own wings and fly in whatever direction they want to fly. Inclusivity for all.”
Fleury recalled three specific international experiences that had a lasting impact on her.
Education in Uganda
While at SAP, Fleury was chosen as one of 12 top talents from the company to go to a particular country to make a lasting impact. Fleury traveled to Uganda on a social sabbatical.
“It was extremely eye-opening,” Fleury said, explaining that it was the first time she understood what life in Uganda was like. “The schools weren’t in the best condition, but they’d still walk miles to just get there. Some of the schools we would have brand new babies on the floor while these women were still trying to get their education.”
Fleury said she worked to connect with the women, who were there to learn about vocational school and skills of trade, from sewing to automotive skills.
Transformation in Nairobi
While running the Employee Network Group with SAP, she facilitated a partnership with SAP’s Corporate Social Responsibility Organization and Global Give Back Circle, which works to empower young girls in Nairobi, Kenya, who are often subjected to female genital mutilation.
Fleury established a relationship with a young girl she still mentors. Even though they are eight hours apart, they message constantly through WhatsApp and email. Fleury helps provide guidance and financial support to her to, she said, hopefully help her have a better quality a life.
“The support I’ve been able to provide the girl I mentor helps her be a little bit more independent,” Fleury said. “I’m able to talk with her about what work and the next level of education look like, which are all important things to keep her confidence up and help move her along.”
Empowerment in Singapore
Fleury traveled to Singapore for a global Business Women’s Network meeting, focused on bringing women from across the globe together under one roof to share best workplace practices.
“For instance, if Malaysia had a sexual harassment problem and they wanted to partner with a country in Latin America, we would look at how to split the regions up and how they can join together to take the best practices of a program that ran in Malaysia and use it in Latin America,” Fleury said. The women also learned how to use social media and develop a Business Women’s Chapter brand. “Developing a brand brings a lot of value to our entire entity — we have a bigger voice when we work together.”
She helped identify overlapping issues and how women can join forces to raise awareness and provide support.
“It’s all about learning, giving each other confidence and lifting one another up,” Fleury said, noting that she believes the main impact from this gathering was simply being able to “engage with others that don’t come from the same background as you or look like you.”
Lasting impact
From volunteering for the Special Olympics as a teenager to her work in Uganda, Nairobi and Singapore, Fleury said she plans to use her master of professional studies in human resources and employment relations to enhance her goal of impacting the world for the better.
“I want to bring people in and bring them along,” Fleury said. “Although I never got the chance to meet Amy Dietz, she left big shoes to fill, and I hope I am honoring her through the work I do.”