As we close out our Fall 2024 semester, we wish you a happy and healthy holiday season. We look forward to seeing you and the rest of our WPI community in the new year.

Click here for a full overview of our busy year and during this season of giving, please consider supporting us with a tax-deductible contribution here.

Thank you so much for your help and support. Together, we will change the face of politics!

WPI's WeLead campaign training program successfully positions young professional women to serve in a political leadership position, and the Fundraising Challenge lets them practice the critical skill of asking for support. Please join our work to close the gender gap in political leadership. 
Give to the Challenge Now

Gender on the Ballot is a nonpartisan project of AU’s Women & Politics Institute that examines and contextualizes gender dynamics in American politics. Originally co-founded by WPI and the Barbara Lee Family Foundation in 2019, Gender on the Ballot contributes to the dialogue on gender and politics through accessible content from experts and practitioners.

As the 2024 election comes into focus, Gender on the Ballot and the BSG explores the issues shaping women voters and their political opinions leading up to the 2024 election.

As Americans begin to cast their votes, our new study shows Vice President Kamala Harris enjoying strong support among women voters. Her favorability has jumped +12 points since last year and she holds a +15 point advantage with women over former President Trump (54%-39%) entering the final month of the campaign. Furthermore, Harris is favored +18 points among Independent women, (50%-32%). In terms of issues, women voters cite “the economy and inflation” as their top concern, with abortion and immigration as their second and third choices. Across the board, women say they trust Harris more than Trump on these key issues.

To learn more about this new research, check out our Gender on the Ballot website where you will find key takeaways, memo, and our press release.

Rosalynn Carter – Political Partner: Jane Hall, associate professor at American University, reflects on the remarkable legacy of Rosalynn Carter, hailing her as one of the most politically active First Ladies since Eleanor Roosevelt. Hall highlights Rosalynn’s significant contributions, from shaping the presidency alongside her husband to advocating for mental health and human rights.

Beyond Numbers: Understanding the Influence of Gender Quotas on Women's Political Empowerment: Maria Ellul, Head of Gender Mainstreaming for the Human Rights Directorate of Malta, writes about the strides that Malta is making to increase women’s political participation. “Achieving true gender equality will require broader reforms, such as making parliamentary roles full-time, providing more financial resources, and fostering a political culture that values gender diversity.”

The following core courses will be offered in Spring 2024 for the Women, Policy and Political Leadership (WPPL) Undergraduate and Graduate Certificate Programs. View all WPPL courses here and learn more about the certificate program here.

Check out all event recaps here, or visit our Crowdcast channel here to watch full replays of previous events.

Oct 23: Nancy LeaMond, Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy & Engagement Officer at AARP, Margie Omero, Principal at the Democratic polling firm GBAO, and Kristen Soltis Anderson,  Founding Partner at Echelon Insights, discussed findings from their latest She’s the Difference poll on issues of importance to women voters ages 50+ leading up to the 2024 elections with WPI Executive Director Betsy Fischer Martin. Watch the full replay here.

Oct 16: Following a special screening of Shaking It Up: The Life and Times of Liz Carpenter, co-producers/co-directors AU Alumna Christy Carpenter WCL/’95 and Peabody Award-winning filmmaker Abby Ginzberg discussed the impact and legacy of pioneering Texan journalist and influential feminist leader Liz Carpenter, with Washington Post Political Columnist Karen Tumulty and Zakiya Thomas, President and CEO of the ERA Coalition and the Fund for Women's Equality. WPI Executive Director Betsy Fischer Martin moderated the discussion. Watch the full replay here.

Oct 9: Amanda Hunter, Lindsay Vermeyen, and Betsy Fischer Martin presented findings from our new Gender on the Ballot poll “She Votes: From Issues to Impact,” conducted by BSG, that explored the issues shaping women voters and their political opinions. POLITICO’s National Political Reporter Elena Schneider shared reporting on the campaign. Watch the full replay here

April 10: New York Times best-selling author Liza Mundy discussed her new book, The Sisterhood: The Secret History of Women at the CIA, a “vivid, compelling, and important book” that offers a “riveting new perspective on history, revealing how women at the CIA ushered in the modern intelligence age, and how their silencing made the world more dangerous.” Watch the full replay here

Nov 29: Dr. Diana Carlin and Anita McBride discussed their new textbook, U.S. First Ladies: Making History and Leaving Legacies, which examines how “first ladies are uniquely positioned to influence American society, public policy, politics, diplomacy, and life in the White House.” Watch the full replay here