Visionaries: Episode 3, Angela Winfield
Angela Winfield is Vice President and chief diversity officer for the Law School Admission Council. In this role, she provides leadership, vision, energy, and a unified philosophy to LSAC’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts on behalf of member law schools and the students who seek a career in law. Prior to her current position, Winfield was associate vice president for inclusion and workforce diversity at Cornell University, where she led the university’s affirmative action and federal contractor compliance programs, managed the university’s five identity/affinity-based colleague network groups, provided training opportunities for the 7,000+ member staff, oversaw religious accommodations, and served on the university’s ADA coordinator team. Winfield was a commercial litigator with Barclay Damon, LLP where she was voted a SuperLawyers Rising Star. Winfield is a certified leadership coach and motivational speaker and has presented to companies including 3M, Société Générale, and LexisNexis. She also is a member of the Practicing Law Institute’s advisory committee on diversity, serves on the board of trustees for Cayuga Community College, and sits on the board of directors for The Rev Theatre Company, Reader’s Digest Partners for Sight Foundation, and Success Beyond Sight. Winfield earned her JD from Cornell Law School and is admitted to the New York bar. She earned her BA from Barnard College of Columbia University.
Q: How old were you when you started losing your sight?
A: When I was 4 years old, I was diagnosed with juvenal rheumatoid arthritis, glaucoma, cataracts, and uveitis. I was declared legally blind when I was 10 years old.
Q: What happened to cause your vision loss?
A: At age 10, I had a detached retina during surgery, which left me totally blind in that eye and legally blind in my other eye. Then, when I was 19, I had a flair up with my uveitis and lost the remaining sight I had in that one eye.
Q: How did you handle this loss initially, and what brought you to acceptance?
A: In a phrase- not well. I really struggled with what it meant to be blind and experienced pretty severe depression as a teenager. Through the support of my parents, siblings, a team of mental health professionals, self-reflection and spirituality, I was able to shift my perspective from one of hopelessness to one of curiosity. Instead of simply accepting defeat and thinking there was nothing for me in the world and that I could never contribute, I began asking what if I was wrong. I became enthralled with the idea of finding out. And, boy did I find out! Of course I’ve failed and had disappointments along the way, but I found out there is plenty of joy, laughter, and success available to me.
Q: What are the things you miss seeing/doing the most?
A: I miss seeing faces and facial expressions- especially my family’s. I also miss stargazing.
Q: What is your favorite technology device?
A: I love my iPhone and all of the accessibility apps I use to navigate.
Q: Who do you admire the most-famous and not?
A: Oprah and my mom.
Q: Favorite book and or movie?
A: I love reading and have read too many incredible books across so many genres that I don’t have a favorite.
Q: Favorite pastime?
A: I love exploring the world and experiencing the multitude of places, peoples, and cultures through food, drink and travel. I also appreciate great live theatre.
Q: One thing you want to do before you die?
A: So much! I’d say sky diving, but I’m doing that in November as my birthday gift to myself. But I’d love to be fluent in a language other than American English.
Q: Favorite quote or inspirational saying?
A: I have two. “You alone can do it, but you can’t do it alone” And, the serenity prayer, Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference”
Q: Best experience in your life so far?
A: Feeding and bathing elephants in Thailand, white water rafting in Costa Rica, surfing in Portugal and, of course, marrying my husband. Our wedding weekend was truly magical and so special.
Q: Worst experience in your life?
A: The day my mom died.
Q: If you had twenty four hours of perfect sight, what would you do?
A: I’d drive along a scenic route , take a flying lesson, visit an art museum, and then throw the best sunset party on the beach with, magicians, cultural dancers, a bon fire, and night-time fireworks for my nearest and dearest family members so I could experience seeing their faces and watching them laugh and enjoy themselves.
Q: If you could re-live your life without your vision loss, would you do it?
A: No, surprisingly I would not. Even though it is definitely challenging and more difficult being blind, I love my life and don’t know who I would be without having experienced vision loss. I’ve been humbled and have learned so many lessons about life, myself and others because of my blindness. I also met my husband because we are blind and I can’t imagine my life without him either.