Women's Philanthropy--Women's Issues

Progressive Breakfast | OurFuture.org

Progressive Breakfast | OurFuture.org.

Progressive Voices

Wall Street, Held Accountable
By The New York Times | May 12, 2011

Why the GOP Can't Get Rid of Its Clowns
By Earl Ofari Hutchinson | May 12, 2011

The Art of Campaigning for High-Speed Rail
May 12, 2011 by

The Art of Campaigning for High-Speed Rail
By Andrew Colopy and Diana Lind | May 12, 2011

What's the GOP Without Osama bin Laden?
By Robert Scheer | May 12, 2011

The Demise of the Moderate Republican
By Paul Staff | May 12, 2011

Feelin' Bad
By Harold Meyerson | May 12, 2011

Gas Prices Up, Wages Down, Americans Caught in the Middle
By Bryce Covert | May 12, 2011

Why CEOs Avoided Getting Busted in Meltdown
By William K. Black | May 12, 2011

What Alan Simpson Doesn’t Know About Life Expectancy And Social Security
By Ezra Klein | May 11, 2011

Deconstructing the Paul Ryan Sound Bite

by Sam Pizzigati

May 07, 2011

American Majority Rejects Washington Austerity Consensus – And We Demand Media Coverage

by Roger Hickey

May 09, 2011

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Position on Balancing Work and Life

http://www.aauw.org/act/issue_advocacy/actionpages/fmla.cfm

AAUW believes that creating work environments that help employees balance the responsibilities of work and family is good public policy — good for workers, good for families, and good for business. AAUW's 2009-2011 Public Policy Program supports "greater availability of and access to benefits and policies that promote work-life balance," which are critical for women for "equitable access and advancement in employment."¹

Despite the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and a patchwork of state laws and employer-based benefits — many of which AAUW members helped to pass — family and personal sick leave remain elusive to many working Americans. In addition, despite the relative wealth of the United States, family oriented workplace policies in this country lag dramatically behind those in much of the rest of the word, including all high-income countries and many middle- and low-income countries as well.

While American workplace policies have lagged, the past 50 years have seen substantial changes in the composition of the American workforce. Two-thirds (64 percent) of women with children under six are in the labor force.² Nationwide, 22.9 million families provide care for an adult family member or friend, and nearly 80 percent of those care recipients are over the age of 50.³

AAUW will also work to advance policies that will improve workplaces for employees with family responsibilities of all kinds. Such protections and improvements are critical to breaking through educational and economic barriers for women.

Paid Sick Days Resource Kit

Millions of Americans still do not have the option of taking a sick day to care for family members or themselves without putting their jobs, their healthcare benefits, or their family stability at risk. Download the AAUW Paid Sick Days Resource Kit. This resource kit contains a variety of useful resources to help you take action for paid sick days. We've included information about state and federal legislation, and step-by-step suggestions to help you pursue legislation mandating a minimum number of paid sick days for all workers.

For more information, call 202/785-7793 or e-mail VoterEd@aauw.org.

AAUW Public Policy and Government Relations Department

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¹ American Association of University Women. (June 2009). 2009-11 AAUW Public Policy Program. Retrieved July 9, 2009, from http://www.aauw.org/act/issue_advocacy/principles_priorities.cfm.

² Lowell, Vicky. (May 2004). No Time to be Sick: Why Everyone Suffers When Workers Don't Have Paid Sick Leave. Institute for Women's Policy Research. Retrieved October 23, 2008, from http://www.iwpr.org/pdf/B242.pdf.

³ National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. (April 2004). Executive Summary. Caregiving in the U.S.: Findings From the National Caregiver Survey. Retrieved October 23, 2008, from http://www.caregiving.org/data/04execsumm.pdf.

Nomfundo Walaza to Receive 2010 Woman of Distinction Award

http://www.aauw.org/media/pressreleases/Walaza_0602.cfm

06/02/10

Contact:
Lisa Goodnight, goodnightl@aauw.org
202/785-7738

Nomfundo Walaza to Receive 2010 Woman of Distinction Award
CEO of Desmond Tutu Peace Centre to Accept AAUW, NASPA Honor on June 3

WASHINGTON — Nomfundo Walaza, chief executive officer of the Desmond Tutu Peace Centre in Cape Town, South Africa, will receive the AAUW/NASPA Women of Distinction Award during the 2010 National Conference for College Women Student Leaders. This year's ceremony, to be held at the University of Maryland, College Park, on Thursday, June 3, marks the 25th anniversary of the conference.

The 2010 Women of Distinction Awards pay tribute to leaders who have made extraordinary contributions in their professions or in their communities. In addition to Walaza, the following individuals will be honored:

• Dorothy Height (in memoriam),chair and president emerita,National Council of Negro Women
• Patti Solis Doyle, partner, Utrecht & Phillips, a Washington, D.C., law firm,and the first Hispanic woman to run a major U.S. presidential campaign
• Christina Lagdameo, deputy director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
• Marie Tillman, founder and chair of the Pat Tillman Foundation

Walaza and the other 2010 Women of Distinction honorees join a prestigious group of more than 100 women who have been celebrated in conjunction with the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders since the inception of the conference in 1985.

Focused on Fostering Peace
A clinical psychologist who has worked in the human rights field for the last two decades, Walaza has been CEO at the Desmond Tutu Peace Centre since 2007. Co-founded by Archbishop Desmond and Leah Tutu in 1998, the Tutu Centre plays a unique role in building and leveraging the legacy of Archbishop Tutu to foster peace in the world. Walaza has also served as a commissioner in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and as the executive director of the Trauma Centre for survivors of violence and torture, both in South Africa, where she has focused on empowering and healing victims of torture, trauma, and violence, many of whom suffered severely at the hands of the apartheid government.

Passionate about women's issues and restoring the dignity of those who have suffered as a result of human rights violations and abuses, Walaza served on the subcommittee of the NICRO Women's Support Centre from 1999 to 2001 and was a consultant editor for Femina magazine from 1996 to 2001. In conjunction with a lobby of progressive women's organizations in Cape Town, South Africa, Walaza played a leading role in shaping a gendered response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Walaza has addressed audiences and run workshops on human rights issues both in South Africa and internationally. She participated on the BBC program Facing the Truth with Archbishop Tutu and has taken part in dialogues and workshops aimed at teaching nonviolent ways of responding to conflict and developing pathways to mutual acknowledgment in the Middle East. In 2001 and 2002, she was a visiting research scholar at the Human Rights Center at the University of California, Berkeley.

Walaza's zeal as an activist for human rights extends far beyond the South African borders, as she is also actively involved in Psychologists Without Borders. She is a board member of the Open Society Foundation and the Social Change Assistance Trust and co-chair of the Electoral Commission Code of Conduct (ECCOC) and Women Demanding Dignity.

2010 NCCWSL Events and Sponsors
As part of this year's 25th anniversary celebration of the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders and its awards program, a special reception will be held for this year's honorees. Several past honorees will attend this celebration, including Amy Richards, Soapbox: Speakers Who Speak Out, Inc.; Brigadier General Wilma L. Vaught, USAF, and president, Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation, Inc.; and Dorothy Gilliam, founder and director of the Prime Movers Media Program at the School of Media and Public Affairs, George Washington University.

The Ruth Z. Sweetser Honorary Fund and Prudential are platinum sponsors of the 2010 National Conference for College Women Student Leaders. Other conference sponsors include the University of Maryland, College Park, and The Princeton Review.

Since 1985, the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders has provided a platform to help thousands of college and university women to develop leadership skills, network with other student leaders, and interact with women who hold leadership positions. The conference is presented each June by AAUW and NASPA.

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AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research. Since 1881, AAUW has been one of the nation’s leading voices promoting education and equity for women and girls. AAUW has a nationwide network of more than 100,000 members and donors, 1,000 branches, and 500 college/university institutional partners. Since AAUW’s founding more than 128 years ago, members have examined and taken positions on the fundamental issues of the day—educational, social, economic, and political. AAUW’s commitment to educational equity is reflected in its public policy advocacy, community programs, leadership development, conventions and conferences, national partnerships, and international connections. Take a virtual tour of the AAUW Experience and visit the new AAUW website!

NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education is the leading voice for student affairs administration, policy, and practice and affirms the commitment of student affairs to educating the whole student and integrating student life and learning. With more than 11,000 members at 1,400 campuses and representing 29 countries, NASPA is the foremost professional association for student affairs administrators, faculty, and graduate and undergraduate students. NASPA members are committed to serving college students by embracing the core values of diversity, learning, integrity, service, fellowship, and the spirit of inquiry. The NASPA Center for Scholarship, Research, and Professional Development for Women addresses issues relevant to women in student affairs, women in higher education, and women students through a variety of programs and publications. To learn more about NASPA, visit www.naspa.org.

SOURCE:  http://www.tutu.org/about-nomfundo-walaza.php

THE DESMOND TUTU PEACE CENTER

Nomfundo Walaza,Chief Executive Officer

Nomfundo started her association with the DPTC as a Board member from 1999 – 2007 and took the reigns of the organization as CEO in April 2007. She is a clinical psychologist who started out her career at Valkenberg Hospital where she worked for 5 years and then moved on to become the Director of the Trauma Centre for Survivors of Violence and Torture in Cape Town which she headed for 9 years. She was actively involved as a commissioner in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa.

Nomfundo's passion for her work as an activist for human rights extends far beyond the South African borders as she is also actively involved in organizations such as Psychologists without borders and Operation Dove. She is a Board member of the Open Society Foundation, Social Change Assistance Trust, co-chair of the Electoral Commission Code of Conduct (ECCOC) and Women Demanding Dignity.

Education

-   MA, Clinical Psychology
-   BA (Hons), Psychology
-   B Soc Sci, Sociology and Psychology

AAUW Applauds Passage of America COMPETES Reauthorization Act

http://www.aauw.org/media/pressreleases/americaCompetes_0528.cfm

Contact:
Lisa Goodnight, goodnightl@aauw.org
202/785-7738

Bill Contains Provisions to Reduce Gender Barriers in Science and Math

WASHINGTON – AAUW applauds the House of Representatives today for passing the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act (H.R.5325), which contains a number of provisions to improve education and training in science, technology, engineering, and math and to reduce barriers that deter women from pursuing academic and career goals in these fields. This bill, which was introduced by Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN), authorizes science and technology research programs for three years.

"Thanks to today's vote, our nation will be in a better position to compete on the global stage," said AAUW Executive Director Linda D. Hallman, CAE. "This legislation helps provide the tools we need to close the divide in critical fields. It also begins to address the societal and cultural barriers outlined in our latest research, barriers that often hinder the advancement of women and underrepresented populations in the areas of science and math."

Although women now make up half the workforce, they only make up 25 percent of the labor force in science, engineering, and technology fields. AAUW's 2010 report, Why So Few? Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, profiled eight key research findings that point to environmental and social barriers — including stereotypes, gender bias, and the climate of science and engineering departments in colleges and universities — that continue to block women's participation and progress in these fields.

Originally enacted in 2007, the America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science (COMPETES) Act (P.L. 110-069) expanded programs to strengthen educators' math and science teaching skills; helped to prepare thousands of new science, technology, engineering, and math teachers; and established a program to provide mentors for women and underrepresented minorities interested in careers in these fields.

The reauthorization bill includes provisions from the AAUW-supported Fulfilling the Potential of Women in Academic Science and Engineering Act (H.R. 1144), introduced by Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX). These provisions would create workshops to educate program officers, members of grant review panels, and others about methods that minimize the effects of gender bias in evaluation of federal research grants and faculty hiring and tenure practices. It also requires the director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy to develop a uniform policy to extend the period of grant support for federally funded researchers who have care-giving responsibilities and to provide funding for interim technical staff support who take a leave of absence for care-giving responsibilities. Additionally, the legislation requires more thorough data collection regarding federal research grant awards and faculty hiring and tenure practices.

"Data collection is extremely important. Without accurate statistics, we really can't tell where we're improving and where we need to work harder," said Lisa Maatz, AAUW director of public policy and government relations. "AAUW has long supported promoting and strengthening science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education, especially for girls and other underrepresented populations. These efforts aren't just the feel-good, right thing to do; they will improve the economic security for women and their families while also increasing America's global competitiveness in the process."

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AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research. Since 1881, AAUW has been one of the nation's leading voices promoting education and equity for women and girls. AAUW has a nationwide network of more than 100,000 members and donors, 1,000 branches, and 500 college/university institutional partners. Since AAUW's founding more than 128 years ago, members have examined and taken positions on the fundamental issues of the day — educational, social, economic, and political. AAUW's commitment to educational equity is reflected in its public policy advocacy, community programs, leadership development, conventions and conferences, national partnerships, and international connections.

AAUW Launches New "Elect Her" Initiative to Change Status Quo in U.S. Politics

SOURCE:  http://www.aauw.org/media/pressreleases/electHer_042310.cfm

Running Start, Women's Campaign Forum Collaborate to Increase Women Office Holders

WASHINGTON – AAUW is launching Elect Her — a new initiative — to expand the pipeline of women running for elective office, an effort that could change the face of politics in America. Women now hold just 17 percent of the seats in Congress and 24 percent of seats in state legislatures.

AAUW's new Elect Her initiative aims to close the long-standing political leadership gender gap by empowering and training women to run for office at all levels. The initiative consists of a full continuum of programming. The centerpiece is Elect Her — Campus Women Win, in which AAUW, in conjunction with Running Start, will train college women to run for campus-based elective office. Additionally, AAUW will promote Running Start's successful Young Women's Political Leadership High School Program and the Women's Campaign Forum's She Should Run campaign, which also has Running Start's support.

"AAUW, Running Start, and the Women's Campaign Forum are committed to helping women become leaders on their campuses and in their communities. We focus on the different aspects of the leadership gap, but our ultimate goal is to have better representation of women at all levels — from the highest halls of government to student government," said AAUW Executive Director Linda D. Hallman, CAE.

AAUW and Running Start have worked together since 2007 to encourage college women to run for campus-based elective office. Building on those successes, AAUW and Running Start have developed a new and improved training program, Elect Her — Campus Women Win.

"Running Start is thrilled to launch Elect Her — Campus Women Win with AAUW so that we can reach more college-aged women with our message of women's political empowerment. Our collaboration allows us to build a pipeline from high school through college of young women ready to run. Running Start's high school programs expose young women to the importance of political leadership. Elect Her — Campus Women Win gives college women the concrete skills they need to be confident to run for student government. And She Should Run sends young professional women the message that they are ready to lead. I am confident that these programs will change the future of politics in America by filling the pipeline to power with more young faces," said Susannah Wellford Shakow, president and founder of Running Start.

AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research. Since 1881, AAUW has been one of the nation's leading voices promoting education and equity for women and girls. AAUW has a nationwide network of more than 100,000 members and donors, 1,000 branches, and 500 college/university institutional partners. Since AAUW's founding more than 128 years ago, members have examined and taken positions on the fundamental issues of the day — educational, social, economic, and political. AAUW's commitment to educational equity is reflected in its public policy advocacy, community programs, leadership development, conventions and conferences, national partnerships, and international connections. Take a virtual tour of the AAUW Experience and visit the new AAUW website!

Running Start is a nonprofit organization that brings young women to politics so that they are knowledgeable about the process, invested in the outcome, and interested in participating as elected leaders. Our programs educate young women and girls about the importance of politics and imbue them with the skills they need to be leaders, so that they can get the "running start" they need to achieve greater political power. With an earlier start in politics, women will climb higher on the leadership ladder, allowing more women to share in the decision-making power of this country. Website: www.runningstartonline.org.

The Elect Her initiative acknowledges the necessity to build the pipeline of women running for office in order to diminish the long-standing political leadership gender gap. This initiative consists of a full continuum of programming to empower females from high school onward to view themselves as political candidates. Learn more by reading the Elect Her FAQ.

Young Women's Political Leadership Program

Running Start's Young Women's Political Leadership Program (YWPL) introduces high school girls to the importance of women in political leadership. Students can apply on the Running Start website to the Washington, D.C. and regional locations of this program.

Elect Her – Campus Women Win

Elect Her – Campus Women Win, a collaboration between AAUW and Running Start, encourages and trains young women to run for student government on their campuses. Any students who attend the selected campuses can participate in the training. Elect Her – Campus Women Win builds on our lessons with Campaign College over the past two years to develop a more interactive and comprehensive training for college women.

An application will be available in late August online for campuses to apply to be Elect Her – Campus Women Win sites in Spring 2011. The sites that held Campaign College trainings in Spring 2010 will received updated program materials so they can begin to institutionalize the new program on their individual campus.

If you are interested in applying for a future Elect Her – Campus Women Win training, please e-mail leadership@aauw.org.

Previous Campaign College Sites

2010 Training Sites
Idaho State University - Pocatello, ID - 2/19/10
Loyola University - New Orleans, LA - 2/20/10
University of Connecticut - Storrs, CT - 2/28/10
Mt. San Jacinto College, Menifee Valley - Menifee, CA - 3/20/10
Northern Michigan University - Marquette, MI - 3/20/10
University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth - North Dartmouth, MA - 3/27/10
University of North Carolina, Wilmington - Wilmington, NC - 2/27/10
University of Texas, Arlington - Arlington, TX - 3/6/10
University of West Indies, Mona Campus - Kingston, Jamaica - 3/13/10

2009 Training Sites

Iowa State
Blogs
First Stop with the Cyclones
I'm Running for Secretary of Agriculture
Press
"Women Trained to Campaign," Iowa State Daily

University of Louisiana, Lafayette
Blog
Campaign College and the RajinCajuns
Press
"Seminar to be held for aspiring female candidates," The Vermillion
Letter from former Governor of Louisiana, Kathleen Babineaux Blanco, supporting the training

She Should Run™

Women's Campaign Forum's She Should Run™ provides an easy way to ask a woman to run for office — and then connects her with the support, training, and resources they need to join the next class of strong and successful women leaders in our country. Nominate yourself and other women you know to run for office!

Why So Few? Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

SOURCE: 

http://aauw.org/About/newsroom/pressreleases/whysofew_032210.cfm

Why So Few? Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

New NSF-Funded Study Released Today Points to Barriers Facing Girls and Women

WASHINGTON – In an era in which women are increasingly represented in medicine, law, and business, why do they continue to lag behind men in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics?

Why So Few? Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics is a comprehensive report on the controversial issue of the continued underrepresentation of women in these fields. The report was funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation, the AAUW Letitia Corum Memorial Fund, the AAUW Mooneen Lecce Giving Circle, and the AAUW Eleanor Roosevelt Fund.

Drawing upon a large and diverse body of research, AAUW’s report provides compelling evidence of environmental and social barriers — including unconscious gender bias, stereotypes, and the climate within college and university science and engineering departments — that continue to limit women’s participation and progress.

A presentation on the report will be held at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, March 25, 2010, at 10 a.m. EDT. It will also be broadcast live online. The presentation will be followed by a panel discussion among invited experts on how to move this important research to practice.

AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research. Founded in 1881, AAUW is a 501(c)(3) charitable membership organization, with a nationwide network of more than 100,000 members and donors, 1,000 branches, and 500 college/university partners.

Visit aauw.org/WhySoFew for more information on the report. To register for the live webcast presentation and dialogue on the report on Thursday, March 25, 10–11:30 a.m. (EDT), go to WhySoFewWebcast.eventbrite.com.

Why So Few? (2010)

SOURCE: http://www.aauw.org/research/whysofew.cfm

In an era when women are increasingly prominent in medicine, law and business, why are there so few women scientists and engineers? A new research report by AAUW presents compelling evidence that can help to explain this puzzle. Why So Few? Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics presents in-depth yet accessible profiles of eight key research findings that point to environmental and social barriers – including stereotypes, gender bias and the climate of science and engineering departments in colleges and universities – that continue to block women’s participation and progress in science, technology, engineering, and math. The report also includes up to date statistics on girls' and women's achievement and participation in these areas and offers new ideas for what each of us can do to more fully open scientific and engineering fields to girls and women.

Download a PDF copy (3mb)

Download a zipped archive (1.5mb)

Contributors:

Catherine Hill is the director of research at AAUW, where she focuses on higher education and women's economic security. Prior to her work at AAUW, she was a researcher at the Institute for Women's Policy Research and an assistant professor at the University of Virginia. She has bachelor's and master's degrees from Cornell University and a doctorate in public policy from Rutgers University.

Christianne Corbett is a research associate at AAUW and co-author of Where the Girls Are: The Facts About Gender Equity in Education (2008). Before coming to AAUW, she worked as a legislative fellow in the office of Rep. Carolyn Maloney and as a mechanical design engineer in the aerospace industry. She holds a master's degree in cultural anthropology from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and bachelor's degrees in aerospace engineering and government from the University of Notte Dame. As a Peace Corps volunteer in Ghana from 1992 to 1994, she taught math and science to secondary school students.

Andresse St. Rose is a research associate at AAUW, where she focuses on gender equity in education and the workplace. Before joining the AAUW staff, she worked as an academic counselor at Northeastem University in Boston and taught high school math and biology at the International School of Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. She is a co-author of Where the Girls Are: The Facts About Gender Equity in Education (2008). She has a doctoral degree in education policy from George Washington University, a master's degree in higher education administration from Boston College, and a bachelor's degree in biology from Hamilton College.

For press information, or to schedule an interview:

Ashley Carr, Director of Marketing and Communications
202/785-7745 or carra@aauw.org

Katherine Broendel, Social Media
202/728-7607 or broendelk@aauw.org

Lisa Goodnight, Media Relations
202/785-7738 or goodnightl@aauw.org

AAUW Provides Policy Recommendations for a True "Woman's Nation"

10/16/2009

Katherine Broendel, broendelk@aauw.org
202/728-7607

Katharine Burnham, Katharine@turnerstrategies.com
202/466-9633

AAUW Applauds Shriver, Center for American Progress on Report Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – AAUW has provided detailed policy recommendations that will help society's institutions catch up with the women’s progress detailed in The Shriver Report — A Woman's Nation Changes Everything. AAUW's recommendations on a variety of subject areas, including pay equity, work-life balance, and education, can be found at www.aauw.org/womansnation.

A Woman's Nation emphasizes one of the most remarkable changes of the past half century: the movement of millions of women into paid employment. Women now make up half of all workers in the United States, a stunning shift from just a few generations ago.

"There hasn't been a comprehensive account of the status of women in more than 45 years," said AAUW Executive Director Linda D. Hallman, CAE. "Given the nation's rather complicated economic situation, this report could not have come at a better time. AAUW is taking the lead on providing policy recommendations and grassroots action items for our members and others who are interested in issues affecting working women. These recommendations are aimed at continuing to improve women’s status and strengthening the economic security of their families."

The report highlights the rise of women in the workforce while emphasizing that working women and their families lack critical supports. An opinion poll linked to the report found that women and men both want to change social norms to improve family and economic security, particularly on issues of balancing work and life.

"Women have broken through many barriers in the last 45 years, but there is still much to be done to adequately respond to women's — and men's — changing roles. We only need to look at the stark reality for working women who are simultaneously caring for children or parents to know this is true," said Lisa Maatz, AAUW director of public policy and government relations. "Even though there are laws on the books to promote equity in education and income, it does not necessarily mean that those laws are enforced and that women are being given a fair chance. CAP’s timely report and AAUW's policy recommendations help bring those subjects to the forefront as women move forward in true, equal partnership with men."

The report is divided into various chapters, each focusing on its own topic area. AAUW is providing policy recommendations for five chapters, including education and pay equity, because we believe that the laws and regulations about work must be updated to meet the needs of today's workers. In the area of education, AAUW is advocating to strengthen the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), to improve access to higher education, and to ensure educational equity through Title IX. To advance pay equity, AAUW is focusing on building on the successful passage of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act by enacting the Paycheck Fairness Act, advancing pay equity within the federal government, and improving and advancing equal opportunity in the workplace. For a detailed listing of policy recommendations, visit www.aauw.org/womansnation.

AAUW is especially pleased to note that one of the co-editors of the report, Heather Boushey, is a former AAUW Fellow. "It's immensely gratifying to AAUW members, who have been supporting our fellowships and grants for more than 121 years, to see their support of women scholars come to such amazing fruition," said Hallman. "Boushey is a senior economist at the Center for American Progress and a well-known expert on women and the economy." In addition, AAUW Senior Researcher Catherine Hill provided peer review support for the chapter on education.

To schedule an interview with an AAUW spokesperson, please contact Katherine Broendel at 202/728-7607 or broendelk@aauw.org, or Katharine Burnham at 202/466-9633 or Katharine@turnerstrategies.com.

Read The Shriver Report — A Woman's Nation Changes Everything at http://awomansnation.com.

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AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, and research. Since 1881, AAUW has been one of the nation's leading voices promoting education and equity for women and girls. AAUW has a nationwide network of nearly 100,000 members, more than 1,300 branches, and 400 college/university institutional partners. Since AAUW’s founding more than 128 years ago, members have examined and taken positions on the fundamental issues of the day — educational, social, economic, and political. AAUW's commitment to educational equity is reflected in its public policy advocacy, community programs, leadership development, conventions and conferences, national partnerships, and international connections. Visit the AAUW website at www.aauw.org.

Visit the AAUW website at www.aauw.org.

Voices of Support for Historic College Affordability Legislation Bill described as single largest investment in higher education

http://www.aauw.org/About/newsroom/pressreleases/studentAidAct-091509.cfm

09/15/2009

Contact:
Lisa Goodnight, goodnightl@aauw.org
202/785-7738

AAUW Adds to Voices of Support for Historic College Affordability Legislation

Bill described as single largest investment in higher education

WASHINGTON – AAUW urges the House of Representatives to pass the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009 (H.R. 3221), which is scheduled for a vote this week. The bill will be discussed today at two media events hosted by U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, and other lawmakers.

This critical legislation would move all federal student loans to the Direct Lending Program, which would save the federal government and taxpayers almost $100 billion over the next 10 years. These savings will be used to make college more affordable for millions of students at no new cost to taxpayers. The bill also states that improving postsecondary access for women and underrepresented students in STEM should be a priority.

"AAUW has been a leader in promoting women and girls in the science, technology, engineering, and math fields. Our work in this area dovetails with our efforts to improve women's economic security and to close the gender wage gap because STEM jobs are usually high paying," said AAUW Executive Director Linda D. Hallman, CAE.

AAUW is pleased that the legislation provides funding to improve community colleges, increases funding for early childhood education, and strengthens the Pell grant program.

While many students struggle with the cost of higher education and loan repayment, the burden is particularly significant for women. AAUW’s report, Behind the Pay Gap, found that college-educated women earn 5 percent less than men one year out of college and 12 percent less than men 10 years out of college, even when they have the same major and occupation as their male counterparts and when controlling for factors known to affect earnings such as education and training, parenthood, and hours worked. This immediate and pernicious wage disparity makes it that much harder for women to repay their student loans.

"Only about 29 percent of Americans have college degrees — and that's not nearly enough to make us competitive in the global economy or to prepare people for 21st-century, technologically oriented jobs. This isn't just a feel-good, fairness issue — it's about keeping jobs at home and ensuring innovation and growth in the United States economy," said Lisa Maatz, AAUW director of public policy and government relations.

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AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, and research. Since 1881, AAUW has been one of the nation's leading voices promoting education and equity for women and girls. AAUW has a nationwide network of nearly 100,000 members, more than 1,300 branches, and 400 college/university institutional partners. Since AAUW’s founding more than 128 years ago, members have examined and taken positions on the fundamental issues of the day — educational, social, economic, and political. AAUW's commitment to educational equity is reflected in its public policy advocacy, community programs, leadership development, conventions and conferences, national partnerships, and international connections. Visit the AAUW website at www.aauw.org.

Visit the AAUW website at www.aauw.org.

AAUW Directory of Fellowship and Grant Recipients

2009-2010 Award Recipients
AAUW supports five fellowship and grant programs. Select a button below to read more about each program and to learn about the awards granted for 2009-2010.  You may also search for recipients from previous years.

For more than a century, AAUW has helped more than 10,000 women from over 130 countries pursue their dream of obtaining a graduate degree or making an impact in their community.

Fellowship and grant recipients perform research in a wide range of disciplines and work to improve their schools and communities. Their intellect, dedication, imagination, and effort promise to forge new paths in scholarship, improve the quality of life for all, and tackle the educational and social barriers facing women in the United States and around the globe.

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Fellowship and grant recipients undergo a highly competitive selection process. Academic excellence, commitment to improving the human condition, and the promise of continued impact are cornerstones of the rigorous criteria. Respected scholars, researchers, teachers, and practitioners review the fellowship and grant applications. These reviewers are either experts in specialized fields of study or community leaders who recognize the power of collaboration at the local level.

The current fellowship and grant recipients join AAUW's growing network of more than 10,000 women. To reach an award recipient, contact AAUW at 202/728-7602 or foundation@aauw.org.  For information about sponorship and endowments, contact development@aauw.org.

http://www.aauw.org/education/fga/fellows_directory/index.cfm