Moving Howard Forward - January 2022

Moving Howard Forward

“We cannot overstate the importance of advancing Black women’s leadership at this moment in history. Facing a global pandemic, a severe economic downturn and a renewed societal focus on racial injustice, the country is facing a critical inflection point. Women already represent a significant and growing proportion of the labor force and a vocal component of civic life. This gift seeks to capture that energy, develop this exceptional talent pool and push our country forward, with women at the helm.” – HU Trustee Jim Murren and Heather Hay Murren.

Howard University is thrilled to announce the launch of the Center for Women, Gender and Global Leadership thanks to an extremely generous $1 million gift from Trustee Jim Murren and Heather Hay Murren.

For generations, Howard has educated powerful Black women who have emerged as leaders in every way – from Kamala Harris to Zora Neale Huston, Roberta Flack, and Toni Morrison, to name just a few. The opening of this center is a historical moment for Howard – and we’ve never needed these leaders more.

 The Center for Women, Gender and Global Leadership will accelerate interdisciplinary research and illuminate pressing global issues facing women. As a center of excellence focused on the transformational leadership of Black women, the center will concentrate on five core areas:

• Law and social justice;
• Entrepreneurial leadership;
• Politics and public policy;
• Science and technology; and
• Health and wellness.

The center will serve as a hub for curriculum development and a new minor in women, gender and sexualities studies. Other programming will include the launch of a lecture series, graduate and undergraduate fellowships, development of a pipeline to leadership program for students, and grantmaking for action-oriented faculty research.