NEW ORLEANS (Nov. 30, 2018) – A women’s initiative to educate, empower and evolve Dillard females has begun its second season through the Student Success office.

The NYTOA Circle, Swahili for “star,” is an initiative rather than a student group or club, according to Dr. Danette Saylor, assistant vice president for Student Success and dean of students. She said she began NYOTA Circle from her nonprofit organization, SHERO (Sustaining Higher Education through Research and Outreach) to build a network of women around the world.

Saylor said Dillard has the first NYOTA Circle, but she wants to expand the concept to all colleges.

The NYOTA Circle hosts events such as the Annual “Girls’ Night In,” a “grown-up” sleepover that include pampering, old school games, pajama contests and “Grown-A women’s talk” about sex, culture, hygiene, mental health, trauma, body image and sisters in service (facilitated by leaders of Alpha Kappa Alpha and Delta Sigma Theta sororities), and more.

During 2018, NYOTA Circle events also have included a Girls on Fire “chat and chew” about domestic violence, and a partnership with Dillard police and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority on dynamic women in law enforcement called “Badge on Fleek.”

If you’d like to become active in The NYOTA Circle, e-mail Saylor at  [email protected].

(Kaylin McGlothen contributed to this report.)