'Women in Leadership' Speaker: Georgie Marquez

Georgie Marquez grew up in Puerto Rico, in what she described as a traditional environment. She often saw women in leadership roles, including politics.

"In Puerto Rico, there have always been women who have been very powerful," she said, mentioning former San Juan mayor Dona Fela and describing her as "a brilliant woman."

As a student in a Catholic school, Marquez said she the nuns who taught her were "very strong, brilliant women who were not dependent on the traditional being married and having children. They just seemed to be very independent."

However, there are not many women in her chosen field: architecture. She said she had few female classmates in architect school, and even fewer female teachers. She had one male professor tell her she shouldn't be in architecture school because she's a woman.

"Because I knew who I was, and because I knew what I wanted, I just laughed and thought what an ignorant thing to say," she said, adding she didn't take it personally. "The professor was just ignorant."

Marquez now is the principal owner at Andre and Marquez Architects in Norfolk and was one of the panelists for Thomas Nelson's virtual presentation called "Women in Leadership." The event was part of the College's celebration of Women's History Month in March. Joining Marquez as panelists for the discussion, which was held March 23 from noon-1:30 p.m., were Cassandra Lewis, chancellor at the National Defense University College of Information and Cyberspace; and Patricia Avila, a local TV host. Thomas Nelson President Dr. Towuanna Porter Brannon moderated the discussion.

Fewer than 20 percent of those registered by the American Institute of Architects are women, yet Marquez is upbeat because she has seen an increase in the past decade.

"It's very encouraging," she said. "However, I will say the one thing that is lacking is women actually taking the next step and getting licensed."

According to the National Organization of Minority Architects, about 1 percent of licensed architects are Hispanic women. She said the organization is trying to encourage women to pursue the field, which is one reason she agreed to participate in the event.

"I think it's important for students to be exposed to people like me," she said.

She is a big supporter of community colleges, having been an adjunct professor at Tidewater Community College for three years.

"I just fell in love with students of community colleges," she said, adding her son is in the midst of a career change and taking online classes are a community college. "They're such a good group of kids really trying to improve themselves and go forward."

She wants students to know they are in the right place to obtain skills they might not have valued in high school, or didn't think were important.

"There's a wide range of things that students can do at a community college at all levels of their career," she said. "It's just so amazing the power that community colleges have to be able to change a community."

Marquez, who is in her 60s, realizes she is a role model. But more than that, she thinks of herself as a mentor, also.

"If I hear of a young woman that is going into architecture or engineering or something, I like to be an encourager," she said. "I will meet with them, and not in a formal mentor relationship but just let them know I'm available to have coffee and have lunch, just to say, 'I'm here to encourage you if you just want somebody.'"

See the full Women's History Series.