Education & Training Opportunities

In a democracy, all individuals are expected to participate in public life as voters and informed citizens. Many take their involvement to the next step by speaking out and becoming advocates on the important issues in their lives. But can the skills and processes of civic engagement also be learned?

The answer is yes.

The Pennsylvania Center for Women and Politics offers a variety of trainings to help further engage citizens in public life, and hosts numerous speakers, workshops, and forums throughout the year. The public is always welcome to join us. To hear about upcoming opportunities, view our calendar or add your name to the email list.

NEW Leadership Pennsylvania™

The National Education for Women's (NEW) Leadership Pennsylvania is an intensive, five-day, leadership and public policy institute designed to educate and empower young women for future political participation and leadership.

Ready to Run™ Pennsylvania

Ready to Run™ Pennsylvania provides non-partisan political training to encourage women to run for government leadership positions. The day-long program targets women considering or recently deciding to run for political office, providing training and mentoring by campaign professionals, political women, and officeholders.

Elsie Hillman Chair in Women & Politics

The Elsie Hillman Chair in Women and Politics serves as an inspiration and role model for the university community and citizens of Pennsylvania. The purpose of the Chair is to bring nationally renowned political leaders, scholars, and activists to Chatham University and the Pittsburgh community to enrich the experiences of students and educate citizens about the role of women in the political process.

The Public Leadership Education Network

Chatham University is a founding member the Public Leadership Education Network (PLEN), a coalition of women’s colleges and universities that offers Washington DC-based seminars and internships. The Center offers scholarships for Chatham students to attend PLEN Seminars throughout the year. 

Civic Engagement & Democratic Learning

The Center is home to the University's membership in Project Pericles, a select group of liberal arts colleges and universities that have made institutional commitments to promoting participatory citizenship and social responsibility. Each term the Center creates a calendar of events titled the Periclean Series.

Stay in Touch

To hear about upcoming opportunities, view our events calendar or add your name to our email list.