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's & Gender Studies Program

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

Women's Leadership Certificate Program

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

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 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, 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.

Download our Women Leaders Thrive guide to Chatham »

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

• 15 Evidence Based Teaching Strategies to Create Productive and Inclusive Classroom Climate and Address Implicit Bias
• Sex and Gender 101
• Checklist of Assumptions that Can Impact Motivation, Learning and Performance
• Establishing Ground Rules for Interaction
• Managing Hot Moments in the Classroom

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

Upcoming Events

See more women's leadership and gender equity events »