Women Lead! 

Women's Leadership at Rutgers University


Women's Leadership Education at Rutgers

Want to develop your leadership skills, but not sure who's offering programs relating to your interests?  Here is our listing of information on leadership programs supportive of women's leadership at Rutgers.  Whether you are a future engineer, teacher or politician, there is sure to be a program on our list that focuses on leadership in your field.



Leadership does not always mean simply political leadership, as students involved in the Douglass Project for Rutgers Women in Math, Science, and Engineering will remind you. Douglass Project is an umbrella organization that sponsors numerous programs for students on campus, including the Douglass Science Institute Program and the Douglass Science Weekend Academy for high school students, Project SUPER and leadership roles in the high school pre-college programs for college students.

Project SUPER is an innovative program that engages first-year Douglass College women and College of Engineering women who reside at Douglass College in co-curricular activities designed to enrich academic performance and expand knowledge of research and career opportunities in the physical sciences, life sciences and engineering. Project SUPER begins with a 5-day residential orientation during which students can explore options in math, science, and engineering, meet other undergraduate students, participate in hands-on experiments and more. During the academic year, Project SUPER students participate in group and faculty mentoring programs, attend workshops on skills and career development, enroll in a research process course and receive a stipend for a research internship.

For more information on Project SUPER and other Douglass Project programs, check out their web site or e-mail them at dougproj@rci.rutgers.edu.




The mission of the Douglass Scholars program is to attract academically talented students to Douglass College and provide intellectual and scholarly enrichment to them, as well as to assist students in the process of formulating their academic and career choices through advising. Students admitted to this honors program are required to take 2 Douglass Scholars honors seminars in their first year of college and 1 in their second year. Students admitted into the Douglass Scholars program can also take advantage of academic advising and extra-curricular activities offered through the program.

Students are admitted to the Douglass Scholars program either as incoming first year students or, based on high academic performance, at the end of their first year of college. Once admitted, a student remains a Douglass Scholar through graduation unless she fails to meet the on-going academic standards for the program

You can find more information about the Douglass Scholars program on their web site or by contacting Deirdre Kramer, Director of the Douglass Scholars Program at dakramer@rci.rutgers.edu.




DC PLEN is the campus branch of the national Public Leadership Education Network, based in Washington, DC. Through the national PLEN office, DC PLEN offers an annual series of four seminars that give students the opportunity to meet with a wide variety of women leaders and public-policy makers. Students interested in internship opportunites in government or policymaking either Washington, DC or Trenton should check out the national PLEN and DC PLEN internship programs! Additionally, DC PLEN offers a series of speakers on campus in the spring semester to discuss women's public and political leadership through their own experiences.

Students interested in public or political leadership can get involved in DC PLEN at any point in their college career. Sandra Marshall, DC PLEN Coordinator, offers informational meetings on campus during the beginning of each semester. For more information about these meetings or the DC PLEN program in general, check out the national PLEN web site, look for campus announcements and postings or e-mail Sandra Marshall directly by clicking here!




The Emerging Leaders program, founded in 1983, is designed to promote new models of leadership for women here at Douglass College. It gives women a better understanding of their leadership potential and the opportunity to envision themselves having leadership skills. You will have the opportunity to:

All Douglass College students are eligible to apply for the Douglass Emerging Leaders program, which will take place during the spring semester. This program can only accept a limited amount of students.

For further information, please contact Dean Jocelyn Briddell, briddell@rci.rutgers.edu or 932-9433.




The Leadership Scholars Program offered by the Institute for Women's Leadership offers women throughout Rutgers University the opportunity to learn more about leadership through study and practice. Leadership Scholar students deepen their understanding of leadership and women's contributions to social change, learn about the issues and porblems specific to their academic interests and majors, develop and implement their own social action project, and make connections to other areas of the university and community through internships with women leaders in non-profit organizations and corporations

Unlike other leadership programs, the Leadership Scholars program includes a 15 credit curricular program, as well as co-curricular activities and workshops. Students who are interested in women's leadership, as well as internship opportunities, social activism and change, should refer to the program web site or contact Mary Trigg, Program Director, by e-mail at trigg@rci.rutgers.edu.




Sponsored by the Center for American Women and Politics, the NEW Leadership program educates and empowers college women to actively participate in political leadership and activism by connecting students to the worlds and work of activists, politicians and public policymakers. This year-long program begins with a week long residential leadership institute held on the Cook/Douglass campuses during June, during which time students meet with women public officials and political leaders and learn leadership skills, such as public speaking, advocacy, and leading in a diverse society. NEW Leadership students then return to their campuses and communities to apply these leadership skills through leadership projects and experiences that serve their schools or communities.

NEW Leadership New Jersey is open to all women attending college in New Jersey, including all Rutgers University students. Participants apply to attend the NEW Leadership program in the late fall and winter. Despite the costs of a residential program, CAWP's generous supporters ensure that students pay nothing to attend this program.

For more information on the NEW Leadership program, including application forms, check out the program's web site at www.newleadership.rutgers.edu.
How are YOU feeling about graduating these days? Excited that it's almost over but haven't a clue as to how you are going to deal with the new changes in your life? Are you wondering whether you will make the right choices regarding savings and investments? Do you second-guess yourself about your ability to be savvy in handling office politics and successfully networking in the workforce?

This seven-week program will focus on your concerns and trepidations as you transition from Douglass to the world of employment. You will have the opportunity to concentrate on a variety of transitional issues as well as evaluate your college experience. In addition, you will learn what it means to be a woman in the workforce and what the barriers and opportunities are.

This program will be offered in the fall semester only and is available to both juniors and seniors but seniors will receive a higher priority. For more information about this program, please refer to the program web site or contact Dean Jocelyn Briddell at briddell@rci.rutgers.edu.

If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail us at ruwmnld@rci.rutgers.edu.