Womxn Honored at RISD’s Second Annual Womxn @ Work Event

Members of the RISD community recently gathered in the Fleet Library at RISD for the second annual Womxn @ Work celebration. The event included a panel conversation with this year’s honorees, along with a photography and storytelling exhibit honoring the four womxn—an intersectional term intended to acknowledge people who have traditionally been excluded from white feminist discourse: Black women, women of color, trans women and nonbinary people. 

“This initiative pays homage to our founders,” said Alyssa Roush, associate director of Equity & Compliance. “RISD was built on the backs of women.” 

2025 honorees include Rebecca Henríquez Lazouras, executive assistant and policy coordinator for Finance & Administration; Melynda Heying-McMahon, associate director for Housing Operations, Residence Life; Claire Robinson, director of special events in Institutional Advancement; and Dominique Wright (who was unable to attend the panel discussion), custodial supervisor in Facilities Operations.

In a panel conversation, Henríquez Lazouras, Heying-McMahon and Robinson discussed the meaning of womxnhood and their respective experiences as working professionals, creatives and innovators at RISD. Each wrote a short personal narrative to be featured with portraits taken by photographer Adam Mastoon. They were displayed at the event and will be moved to 20 Washington Place alongside the portraits of last year’s honorees. 

Kajette Solomon, RISD Museum’s social equity and inclusion specialist, moderated the conversation, kicking things off by asking the group what it means to be a womxn. “It’s kindness and empathy, and it's also rage and anger,” Heying-McMahon replied. “My perception of what being a womxn is has changed every day of my entire life.” 

When Solomon asked the honorees about expectations placed on them, the group spoke about what it meant to reject or accept them. “I have ridden a roller coaster my whole life on being an empathetic person and also telling people to kick rocks,” Heying-McMahon said. “There are ever-changing expectations of womxn that can be exhausting, so I just try to show up authentically in every room I enter.”

Henríquez Lazouras noted the expectation for womxn to make sacrifices: changing their last names, where they live. “I don't reject it as much as I acknowledge it and choose which sacrifices to make,” she added. 

Robinson commended her colleagues for her sense of belonging within her work. “The people you form relationships with at RISD really accept you for who you are,” she said. “I’ve met amazing womxn here, and it’s really special.” 

They also discussed their experiences with challenges at RISD. Heying-McMahon manages room assignments for students and recalled a time she was questioned about whether she understood the backend codes that are needed in the room selection process. “I wrote the code,” she said, though she noted that she feels lucky to be surrounded by womxn in her workplace, which isn’t necessarily the norm everywhere. 

Robinson, who plans campuswide events, noted that while her field is typically female dominated, “People don’t think it’s valuable. They think it’s easy to do. I think that’s directly tied to sexism,” she said. 

The three colleagues reflected on the process of forming the Womxn @ Work exhibit and agreed that, while it was tough, they learned how to better celebrate themselves and each other. If they could give advice to their younger selves, it would be to stand up for themselves and remember that no job is worth emotional or physical stress. Soft claps, snaps and nods of agreement from the audience filled the room. 

“A lot of the cool stuff you see on campus happens because of womxn behind the scenes,” Heying-McMahon reminded everyone. 

Solomon added, “I hope you feel seen and heard in this space, because you are.” 

Top photo: moderator Kajette Solomon, honorees Claire Robinson, Rebecca Henríquez Lazouras and Melynda Heying-McMahon, and event organizer Alyssa Roush.

Watch the panel discussion on YouTube.

Kaylee Pugliese
March 25, 2025