About the Center for Women, Gender and Global Leadership
Where Black women's scholarship, leadership, and futures are made.
The Center for Women, Gender and Global Leadership (CWGGL) at Howard University is an interdisciplinary research center dedicated to advancing the leadership of Black women in the United States and across the African diaspora. Founded in 2020 with a transformative gift from the Murren Family Foundation, the Center has grown into a hub for rigorous research, leadership pipelines, and global convenings that center the experiences and contributions of Black women.
Women of color face barriers in professional, political, and family life that systemic racial and gender-based discrimination have built over generations. Meeting this moment requires an institution that does serious research, builds the next generation of leaders, and engages the public conversation.
CWGGL is that institution at Howard. Our programs and partnerships champion transformative leadership, global engagement, research, and service learning by producing knowledge, advocacy, and outcomes that serve Black women, their communities, and the broader public.
Our work is organized under three interlocking pillars: Research & Thought Leadership; Leadership Development & Student Success; and Global Engagement & Convening. Our values, Resilience, Integrity, Service, and Excellence (RISE), guide every aspect of our work.
Our Purpose
- prepare future leaders who are gender-conscious and grounded in Black feminist consciousness through collaboration with faculty on research, service learning, and global engagement
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foster a deeper understanding of women’s diverse roles and contributions to society
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increase awareness of obstacles created by gender, racial, and social class stratification and develop individual and collective strategies to address these obstacles
Our Values
Resilience
We seek to establish a dynamic community of confident and competent students grounded in intersecting gender consciousness, who uplift their communities by raising awareness on women and gender issues, promoting female leadership, and advocating for women's equal and equitable representation across all sectors.
Integrity
We foster transparency and accountability through innovative programming and preparing world leaders guided by ethical standards of care.
Service
We provide service to our students, faculty, and community through local and global outreach by advocating for universal issues, particularly those impacting the lives of women of color in the United States and the global African Diaspora.
Excellence
We dedicate ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in education, research, scholarship, and global advocacy.