Interview with Jasmin Patel, BUWG Honorary President
In fall of 2024, Jasmin Patel, Vice President of Strategy & Innovation in Boston University’s Office of the President, was appointed Honorary President of the BU Women’s Guild.
“I was truly honored to be asked to serve in this role,” she says. “It felt like an incredible opportunity to jump right in and contribute to the community as someone new to BU.”
The Office of Strategy & Innovation supports the launch and advancement of BU’s 11th President Melissa L. Gilliam’s inaugural initiatives. As Vice President, Jasmin collaborates closely with internal and external partners, identifies growth opportunities, fosters innovation, cultivates strategic partnerships, and strengthens institutional capacity to further the University’s excellence and impact.
Jasmin succeeds Janice Freeman, interim Honorary President 2023-24, and Dr. Beverly Brown, First Lady Emeritus and BUWG Honorary President from 2005-2023.
Jasmin views the Women’s Guild much like the Office of Strategy & Innovation—one centered around the core principles of community, partnerships, and collaboration.
“Creating opportunities is essential for uplifting and empowering one another. It’s about fostering an environment of empowerment and fellowship—a concept that carries depth and meaning,” she says, reflecting on the Women’s Guild and its mission. “Mentoring, educational opportunities, and similar initiatives help build connections and support across the organization.”
Jasmin says she is excited to collaborate with the BUWG Board and is dedicated to providing support wherever needed. “Having worked in mission-driven organizations and served in volunteer roles, my approach has been to roll up my sleeves and do what’s needed, wherever the need arises,” she says.
Looking to the future, Jasmin says, “Together, we could explore actionable ways to elevate the lives and careers of women at BU—whether through mentoring, advocating for equity, or ensuring that women are given opportunities to thrive and advance without facing the same systemic obstacles seen elsewhere.”
BUWG spoke with Jasmin at length about various topics, including her professional, philanthropic, and personal background; what inspires her most about the Guild’s work; the values and principles she considers essential for leading or supporting a women’s organization; and more.
Q&A
BUWG: Congratulations on your appointment as the BU Women’s Guild Honorary President. It’s a pleasure to connect and learn more about your vision for the Guild. Could you share a bit about your background and your current role at BU?
Patel: Likewise, it’s a pleasure to connect. My role at Boston University is Vice President for Strategy and Innovation. It’s a new position, part of the President’s Office, and the first time we’ve had a Strategy and Innovation office. The goal is to collaborate across the University to identify opportunities for growth, foster innovation, and cultivate partnerships. Ultimately, it’s about elevating the university supporting our incredible talent and growing our resources.
The creation of this office was part of the President’s vision, recognizing the tremendous opportunities ahead. She wanted to build a team that could work with leaders in key areas to support strategic planning and growth, elevate areas of excellence, and identify new areas of opportunity.
Our team integrates with other departments, acting almost like an extension of their team. For example, when we work with a leader in a particular area, we function as an advisor or resource, helping with things like background research, benchmarking, initial strategy development, and providing tools or frameworks to fill in gaps.
As for my background, I specialize in launching large, complex new programs and initiatives within universities—helping to build something from the ground up. I focus on cultivating leadership and supporting sustainable growth, ensuring new programs can thrive long-term.
What inspired you to accept the role of Honorary President?
I was truly honored to be asked to serve in this role. It felt like an incredible opportunity to jump right in and contribute to the community as someone new to BU. What impressed me most was the long history and impactful work of the Women’s Guild. You don’t often see this level of depth and continuity—nearly 70 years of a volunteer organization thriving. It’s incredibly rare and speaks to how challenging it can be to sustain such an effort, especially with leadership changes over time. The fact that the Guild remains strong is a testament to its significance as part of the fabric of the University. It’s deeply embedded in what makes this community special, and that inspired me from the moment I learned about it.
Each year, BUWG hosts a “Newcomers Event,” a reception aimed at welcoming and introducing new faculty and staff to the BU Women’s Guild. As the new Honorary President and new to BU (summer 2024), how would you describe the annual welcome event, and why do you believe building connections with the broader BU community is important?
There was great energy at the newcomer’s event. It was great to see old colleagues reconnecting and new colleagues being welcomed. We then had two speakers Dr. Amruta Nori-Sarma and Dr. Rachel Oblath (a previous BUWG scholarship recipient) present on their work on environmental health and vulnerable populations. It was a great opportunity to learn about some of the work happening on campus. The attendees came from all corners of campus and were able to engage around a shared topic, which created a shared experience. I think these types of connections are important because they take us out of our day-to-day lives and recognize how large and diverse the BU community really is!
You mentioned that you recently had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Beverly Brown and discuss/reflect on the Guild’s many milestones and accomplishments. What were the takeaways, particularly regarding the scholarships and Fisk House?
When I first accepted the role, I had the opportunity to sit down with Bev Brown and learn about the history of the Guild, her experiences, and the incredible impact it has had over the years. It was truly remarkable to listen to her stories and to learn about all the work that has been accomplished.
The scholarships and Fisk House stand out as particularly unique aspects of the Guild. Fisk House, in particular, is incredibly distinctive, but even the scholarship funding the Guild provides is exceptional. It’s impressive to see a women’s organization within a community offering this level of support and making such a meaningful difference.
What values or principles are most important when leading or supporting a women’s organization?
I believe it’s important for leaders to create opportunities that might not otherwise be accessible. Scholarships are a great example of this, events and workshops also play a significant role. They provide opportunities for women across the organization to connect, regardless of their roles, career stages, or life experiences.
Creating these opportunities is essential for uplifting and empowering one another. It’s about fostering an environment of empowerment and fellowship—a concept that carries depth and meaning. Mentoring, educational opportunities, and similar initiatives help build connections and support across the organization.
As a membership-based organization, it’s important to actively listen to the members and understand their needs. What do they need from the Guild? What would bring the most value to them? These needs may evolve, so maintaining engagement and being responsive to the membership is key to staying relevant and impactful.
How has your experience in other leadership or community roles prepared you for this role?
Having worked in mission-driven organizations and served in volunteer roles, my approach has been to roll up my sleeves and do what’s needed, wherever the need arises. When I spoke with Amanda Urias, (BUWG President), she asked if I had any specific areas or committees I’d like to focus on, and my response was that my priority is to identify where I can best support and fill the gaps.
In my experience with volunteer organizations and nonprofit boards, that’s often what’s required: understanding the immediate needs of the organization and stepping in to address them. If there’s something I’m uniquely positioned to do, I’m eager to contribute in that way.
Volunteering, at its core, is a project of passion—a commitment to a mission and a desire to create something better, whatever that “better” may be. This perspective has shaped my readiness for roles like this, where the work is collective and dynamic, rather than being defined by a rigid set of tasks. My goal is to bring my skills and expertise to support the mission and make a meaningful impact.
We all understand the importance of work-life balance. Tell me about your life and activities outside Boston University.
I have two little boys, aged 8 and 10, and so we tend to turn everyday activities into adventures. It’s the way we approach most things with the kids, and I also bring that mindset to my work and other areas of life. I enjoy energizing conversations about what could be or how things could be done differently.
On the hobby side, I tend to try new things often, and my latest hobby is tapestry weaving. It’s been a fun adventure that forces me to slow down, develop patience, and use a different part of my brain. You can’t rush it or think about anything else, or else you make mistakes. It’s been a unique and enjoyable experience, and for now, it’s my new passion—though we’ll see how long it lasts!
About the author: Maureen McCarthy is the BU Women’s Guild Communications Chair and Director of Communications, Events & Programs with the Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences at Boston University.