Chatham University

Promoting women's leadership and gender equity through education, research, and outreach.

The Women's Institute continues the legacy of Chatham University's historic commitment to women's leadership and gender equity.
We serve as a hub to draw together the university's broad range of gender initiatives, resources, and academic programs. Through education, research, and outreach, we work across campus and into the community promoting social, political, and economic equality.

Women leaders thrive at Chatham University.
We were ranked in the top three schools nationwide for aspiring women leaders. And TIME Magazine named Chatham's most famous alumna, the environmental pioneer Rachel Carson '29, one of the most powerful women of the 20th century.

Recent women leaders hosted by the Women's Institute include:

Inside the Classroom

As a fully gender inclusive university, we continue our historic commitment to advancing the causes of women's leadership, empowerment, and gender equity in the classroom. Our academic initiatives build on our history of innovative education while maintaining our values and helping students become the social change makers of the future.

Academic Programs Supported by the Women's Institute

Women and Gender Studies Program

Women's & Gender Studies Program

Students can major and minor in Women's & Gender Studies.

Women's Leadership Certificate Program

Women's Leadership Certificate Program

Students in any major can add a certificate in Women's Leadership.

Women's Leadership Course

Women's Leadership Course

All students can take "Women's Leadership in the 21st Century."

Outside the Classroom

The Women's Institute sponsors a wide variety of activities outside the classroom for graduate and undergraduate students interested in women's leadership and gender equity. We recognize that gender intersects with other power structures, including race, class, sexual identity, national origin, religion and more – and therefore our feminism is intersectional. Honoring Chatham's values of inclusion, diversity, and respect, we use a social justice lens to practice gender equity and center those in our work who have historically been most marginalized.

▶ Women's Leadership Living Learning Community

  • The Women's Institute provides special programming for the LLC, housed in historic Laughlin Hall (take a tour!), and students plan activities and events that promote women's leadership and gender equity on campus and in the community.

▶ Student Scholarships

The Barbara Stone Hollander '60 Student Leadership Award is granted to a female Chatham student for a hands-on practical experience in leadership development related to a program outside the academic track in the areas of government internships, community involvement, or like programs.

▶ Lecture and Film Series

  • The Barbara Stone Hollander '60 Lecture in Women's Leadership brings nationally recognized women to campus each year to work closely with students and give a public lecture. Learn more »

  • The Women's Institute Distinguished Speaker Series hosts leading women in their fields. Learn more about a recent Distinguished Speaker event »

  • The Just Films Series is a collaboration of the Women's Institute, Gwen's Girls, Women & Girls Foundation, Women's Law Project, and YWCA Greater Pittsburgh. Monthly screenings of documentaries about gender and social justice are followed by panel discussions featuring local experts and activists. Learn more »

▶ Student Clubs & Programs

  • The Women's Institute sponsors the Chatham Feminist Coalition. Learn more »

  • We co-sponsor many student-initiated lectures and events on campus every year. Tell us your idea!

  • We co-sponsor programs with campus partners such as the Office of Multicultural Affairs, Alumni Relations, and Career Development.

▶ T.G.I.F. (Talking About Gender Issues Fridays)

  • Weekly coffee and cookie hour open to all students, faculty, and staff; hosted by the Women's Institute to discuss gender issues in politics, current events, pop culture, and campus happenings.

▶ Gender and Sexual Violence Prevention

The Women's Institute convenes the Gender and Sexual Violence Prevention Committee of the Diversity and Inclusion Council. We are also involved in policies and programs promoting a diverse and welcoming campus climate for LGBTQIA+ students.

  • The Chatham Men's Project engages men and male-identified students and faculty in regular dialogue sessions about masculinity, culture, and the role men can play in creating change around violence. A collaborative project of the Women’s Institute and the Office of Student Affairs.

  • Green Dot is a national bystander program that aims to reduce rates of personal power-based violence. This is any violence where a person uses power to harm another; including sexual assault, dating and domestic violence, and stalking. This program empowers our community – students, faculty, and staff – to take small actions that can make a big difference in making our campus community safe. Green Dot has been proven to reduce rates and raise awareness of personal power-based violence. Chatham launched Green Dot in Spring 2018 by conducting faculty and staff overview talks and is moving into the launch phase with students in Fall 2018.

Thrive at Chatham University Women's Leadership booklet thumbnail image

Download our Women Leaders Thrive guide to Chatham »

Lectures & Film Series

Chatham University faculty are experts in the scholarship and pedagogical practice of promoting women's leadership and gender equity. The Women's Institute provides continued professional development and consultation on issues of gender equity in the classroom and beyond.

Teaching Resources

Women's Institute Affiliated Faculty

More than 1/3rd of Chatham's faculty are affiliated with the Women's Institute. Learn more »

Visiting Scholars

Each year the Women's Institute hosts Visiting Scholars working on cutting-edge gender research. Learn more »

Scholar-In-Residence

The Scholar-in-Residence works closely with students and gives public lectures. Learn more »

Research Support

▶ Research and Conference Funds

The Women's Institute has limited funding to support faculty and student research on topics related to women's leadership and gender equity. We also have a small pool of resources to support conference attendance to present findings. Contact the Women's Institute for details »

▶ Pittsburgh Gender Scholars Consortium

The Pittsburgh Gender Scholars Consortium (PGSC) is a collective of scholars from universities across Southwestern PA working on women, girls, gender, and sexuality. The consortium hosts writing retreats, brown bags, social events, and more. The Women's Institute provides administrative support. Learn more and get on the mailing list »

▶ Annual Gender Symposium

An annual gender symposium pulls together cutting edge scholars with community leaders to bridge theory and practice related to women, girls, gender, and sexuality. Learn more »

Public Scholarship

Our director regularly presents invited talks in the community about issues related to women, girls, women's leadership, and gender equity. Recent topics include:

  • "On Mother's Day: The Status of Women, Girls, and Gender Equity," Westminster Speaker Series.
  • "#MeToo and Lessons from the History of Anti-Gender Violence Activism," Labor and Employment Relations Association.
  • "Gender and Inequality in the Age of Neoliberalism," Humanities Center Marx@200 Series, Carnegie Mellon University.
  • "Repression and Resistance: The Legacy of Tera Hunter's 'To 'Joy My Freedom'," A Symposium on Black Feminist Histories, University of Virginia.
  • "Gender, Underwear, and the Body," Frick Art and Historical Center.
  • "Taking Stock of Women's Status in the Post-Election Era," American Association of University Women.
  • "Gender Equality in the 21st Century," Longwood at Oakmont Lecture Series.
  • "Gender and Those Killer Heels," Frick Art and Historical Center.
  • "Gender, Neoliberalism, and the Fight for the Public Good," Sarah Lawrence College.
  • "Gender and the History of Toys, 1950s-1970s," Heinz History Center, Pittsburgh.

News

Chatham University Rea House

Chatham University ranked in top 3 in nation for women's leadership

COLLEGE MAGAZINE

READ MORE

Chatham University Chapel and view to downtown Pittsburgh

Chatham recognized as one of the top "Admired Institutions for Women's Empowerment"

THE KNOWLEDGE REVIEW

READ MORE

image Mayor's Gender Equity Commission

Mayor's Gender Equity Commission Announces Executive Committee Election Results

READ MORE

 

Upcoming Events

Mon

Jun 10

+ Add to Calendar 06/10/2019 6:30PM 03/04/2020 9:00PM 15 JUSTfilms: A fresh series of social justice films that will educate, inspire, challenge, and move you to action.

SUBSCRIPTION PACKAGE Thank you for your interest in supporting the Just Films documentary series!Subscribe to get this VIP package: Guaranteed preferred seating at every screening (with registration – just tell us you’re coming and we’ll save you one of the best seats in the house). Invitation to a private wine and cheese reception before each film. Mingle with panelists and other special guests (TBA for each film)! Just Films branded item. Swag bag of gender equity goodies. Eddy Theater Melody Harris m.harris@chatham.edu

JUSTfilms: A fresh series of social justice films that will educate, inspire, challenge, and move you to action.

SUBSCRIPTION PACKAGE

Thank you for your interest in supporting the Just Films documentary series!Subscribe to get this VIP package: Guaranteed preferred seati …

 

Thu

Nov 21

+ Add to Calendar 11/21/2019 6:00PM 11/21/2019 7:30PM 15 Vintage Generations Cookbook Launch Party Come celebrate the launch of the Vintage Generations Cookbook, a collaboration between Chatham University students and Vintage Senior Services, an active community center for older adults in East Liberty. Students and senior contributors will share their experiences working together, and a limited number of copies of the cookbook will be available for a donation. Funded by the Council of Independent Colleges and AARP Intergenerational Connections grant. Co-sponsored by Chatham's Humanities Department, Women's Institute, and Food Studies Mellon Living Room Carrie Tippen ctippen@chatham.edu

Vintage Generations Cookbook Launch Party

Come celebrate the launch of the Vintage Generations Cookbook, a collaboration between Chatham University students and Vintage Senior Servic …

 

Wed

Dec 04

+ Add to Calendar 12/04/2019 6:30PM 12/04/2019 9:00PM 15 Just Films - Las Madres de Berks Las Madres de Berks documentary shares the testimonials of four mothers that were detained for 2 years with their children at The Berks County Residential Center, a family prison in Pennsylvania. The film will be followed by a panel discussion and Q & A session with filmmaker Michelle Ortiz Michelle Angela Ortiz is a visual artist/ skilled muralist/ community arts educator who uses her art as a vehicle to represent people and communities whose histories are often lost or co-opted. Through community arts practices, painting, and public art installations, she creates a safe space for dialogue around some of the most profound issues communities and individuals may face. Her work tells stories using richly crafted and emotive imagery to claim and transform spaces into a visual affirmation that reveals the strength and spirit of the community. For 20 years, Ortiz has designed and created over 50 large-scale public works nationally and internationally. Since 2008, Ortiz has led art for social change public art projects in Costa Rica & Ecuador and through the US Embassy as a Cultural Envoy in Fiji, Mexico, Argentina, Spain, Venezuela, Honduras, and Cuba. Ortiz is a 2018 Pew Fellow, a Rauschenberg Foundation Artist as Activist Fellow, a Kennedy Center Citizen Artist National Fellow, and a Santa Fe Art Institute Equal Justice Resident Artist. In 2016, she received the Americans for the Arts' Public Art Year in Review Award which honors outstanding public art projects in the nation. www.michelleangela.com Eddy Theater Melody Harris m.harris@chatham.edu

Just Films - Las Madres de Berks

Las Madres de Berks documentary shares the testimonials of four mothers that were detained for 2 years with their children at The Berks Coun …

 

Wed

Jan 08

+ Add to Calendar 01/08/2020 6:30PM 01/08/2020 9:00PM 15 Just Films - No Mas Bebes This event is free and open to the public. No Más Bebés tells the story of a little-known but landmark event in reproductive justice, when a small group of Mexican immigrant women sued county doctors, the state, and the U.S. government after they were sterilized while giving birth at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center during the late 1960s and early 1970s. The film will be followed by a panel discussion and Q & A session. Eddy Theater Melody Harris m.harris@chatham.edu

Just Films - No Mas Bebes

This event is free and open to the public. No Más Bebés tells the story of a little-known but landmark event in reproductive justice, when a …

 

See more women's leadership and gender equity events »

Lectures & Film Series

 

Women's Business Center logo

Center for Women's Entrepreneurship logo

Pennsylvania Center for Women and Politics logo

Women's & Gender Studies program

Chatham has been empowering women for almost 150 years. When the Pennsylvania Female College (now Chatham University) was founded in 1869, women were frequently blocked from higher education. Despite many gains in the years since, women still face persistent social, political, and economic inequalities.

Today, Chatham University maintains its leadership role and historic commitment to women's education and gender equity. In 2014, the Board of Trustees established the Chatham University Women's Institute, which launched in 2015 with the hiring of inaugural director, Dr. Jessie Ramey. Its purpose on campus is to ensure the thoughtful continuation of the resources Chatham has – and will continue to have – in enhancing education for women and gender equality in all aspects of campus curriculum and campus life.

The Women's Institute provides a range of activities and opportunities for students, faculty, alumnae, and the community and helps support and coordinate the Center for Women's Entrepreneurship, Women's Business Center, Pennsylvania Center for Women & Politics, and the Women's and Gender Studies Program.

People

Jessie Ramey, PhD

Jessie B. Ramey, Ph.D.

Director and Associate Professor, Women's and Gender Studies
jramey@chatham.edu • (412) 365-1446

Jessie B. Ramey, Ph.D., is the Founding Director of the Women's Institute at Chatham University and Associate Professor of Women's and Gender Studies. She is a historian of gender, race, working families, and U.S. social policy. Dr. Ramey was named one of the top "people to know" by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; one of "5 People Making Pittsburgh a More Livable City for All," by NEXT Pittsburgh; and was invited twice to President Obama's White House to discuss education policy. Pittsburgh City Council appointed her as an inaugural member of the Gender Equity Commission, and she serves on the Mayor's Task Force on Women in Public Art. Read more.

Melody Harris

Melody Harris

Program Coordinator
m.harris@chatham.edu • (412) 365-1578

Melody Harris has a background in event planning and program support in the philanthropic and non-profit sector. At Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania, she worked with the region's foundation community. A graduate of Edinboro University and Leadership Pittsburgh, Melody has taught as an adjunct in women's studies at Carlow University. She has also served on the board of the Pittsburgh chapter of GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network) and the junior board of the Andy Warhol Museum.

Affiliated Faculty

Contact us for more about how you can get involved with women's leadership and gender equity at Chatham University. Learn more »

Visiting Scholars

Specify a designation for areas supporting women's leadership and gender equity when you give to Chatham to support our students. Learn more and apply »

Scholar in Residence

The Scholar in Residence works closely with students in classes, small groups, and gives public lectures. This position is by invitation only. Learn more »

 

Chatham University Women's Institute
Woodland Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15232
(412) 365-1578

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chatham.edu/cwi