NY1's "News All Day" is celebrating Women's History Month with "Women Wednesday," where anchor Ruschell Boone will speak with some modern trailblazers about their careers. Last month history was made at Fordham University when they announced their new president Tania Tetlow. Not only will she be the first non-Jesuit or layperson to be president, but she will also be the first woman to lead the university and its 181-year history.

Q: What was your reaction to finding out that you would be the new president your family has a history with the school?

Tania Tetlow, incoming Fordham University President: Well, I kept thinking back to my parents when they were Fordham students in the late 60s and met and my mom was studying theology and whether she could have ever imagined having a daughter who would someday run the whole university. So excitement.

Q: A lot of people see folks like you when they end up in these great positions. But what has the path been like for you?

Tetlow: I think I jumped ahead in some ways, by taking an untraditional path, there are a lot of obstacles to women becoming deans and provost. So instead, I was a law professor and then chief of staff to a university president. And now I serve as the president of Loyola University in New Orleans.

Q: What can we expect from you now, in this new role as president?

Tetlow: I believe strongly that Fordham will do well because of its Jesuit Catholic mission. So a focus on that, of taking ownership of that and reminding laypeople that they have to own that too. It's not something we just ask if the priests in our midst of raising the profile, the University of continuing to be more and more excellent and relevant to the world.

Q: As a trailblazer, what would you say to women who want to follow in your footsteps?

Tetlow: That you have to have a mix of talent, skill, hardwork, and courage and not to let anyone persuade you that you can't do what you set your mind to. It takes a lot of hard work to undo the ways that girls are taught.

Q: You have an incredible resume. You attended Tulane University on a dean's honor scholarship at 16 years old.

Tetlow: I don't know why my parents let me go to college at 16. But it was an adventure. And I've just loved pushing forward my whole life.

Q: In honor of Women's History Month we're asking, what does it mean for you to fight like a girl?

Tetlow: To be fearless.

Tania Tetlow will start July 1 as Fordham's next president.