Interview

Riley Schermerhorn, a Washington, D.C. native, has been raised with the stories of the political challenges that have faced women like her grandmother.

Bobby Kilberg served in five White House administrations and as one of the first women White House Fellows under former President Richard Nixon. She created an impressive legacy for her grandchildren to follow, Schermerhorn recalls. 

Schermerhorn is a senior advertising and communications student at the University of Colorado. 

“It’s very empowering to hear the stories and challenges of these pioneering women,” Schermerhorn said. 

While serving in the White House, Kilberg raised five children challenging traditional gender norms of the time, Schermerhorn recounts.

Schermerhorn grew up seeing women in power like Ruth Bader Ginsberg, encouraging her to create a future for herself. 

The current administration has shared a different ideology from what Schermerhorn was raised around. “It has now taken such a downturn of the president telling women to ‘shut up piggy,’” She said.

Schermerhorn expressed her gratitude toward her grandfather, William Kilberg who supported Bobbie Kilberg’s career and motherhood at the same time.