Structure and Governance

The Center will promote faculty and student engagement through the "Collective" groups of individuals interested in women and gender issues. The faculty Collective has been in existence and in operation since 2016 and will be brought under the Center.

All parties shall work collaboratively. The Center Director shall exercise executive administrative decision-making authority.

The interdisciplinary Center engages students and faculty through multiple programs and events around four pillars.

Develop academic programs, events, professional opportunities, and global engagement linkages that foster student awareness on women and gender-related issues.

The Interdisciplinary Faculty Collaborative Networks (IFCN) brings together faculty across the university to engage in action-oriented research, new program development, and grant applications for student-oriented programming.

Collaboration through formalized mentoring programs, faculty-sponsored research, and courses for the Minor in Women, Gender, and Sexualities Studies, approved in Fall 2020 by COAS.

As part of faculty programming, the Center Director oversees the newly approved Minor in Women, Gender, and Sexualities Studies, housed in the COAS Interdisciplinary Studies Program (IDSP). The Director of the Center works to streamline the Center's activities to help students in the Minor meet their Capstone and internship requirements through the Center's partner organizations. The Minor is structured according to the course offerings in the IDSP.

Develop programs to meet the needs of the Black community in Washington, DC, and other Black communities nationally. The strategic focus on what forms of community engagement the Center focuses on is put in place by the Center's Faculty Council, responsible for drafting the Center's Strategic Plan, in line with the University and COAS strategic plans. Community service involves students working with faculty and community groups.

Build strategic alliances and partnerships with other bodies, including higher education institutions, business, corporate entities, and international organizations. The focus of these institutional linkages is on institutions across Africa and the Black Diaspora. The Center's global engagement activities and programs are tailored to meet the Center's core mission.

Innovative and action-oriented interdisciplinary research

(Howard Forward #3 Inspiring New Knowledge; COAS Strategic Plan #2 Modernize Academic Programs, #3 Establish New Interdisciplinary Research Centers of Excellence)

Promoting excellence and innovative programming on women and gender issues

(Howard Forward #1 Academic Excellence; COAS Strategic Plan #2 Modernize Academic Programs, #3 Establish New Interdisciplinary Research Centers of Excellence)

Developing strong and sustainable multinational global partnerships

(Howard Forward #4; COAS Strategic Plan #1)

Promoting student learning through community engagement

(Howard Forward #2 Serving the Community; COAS Strategic Plan #4 Formalize domestic and international experiential learning)