| Board Service in Women and Public Policy course (PA 5690) In 2006-2007, CWPP Director Sally Kenney continued her pioneering work integrating teaching, research and public engagement through a year long Board Service Course. CWPP wrote to feminist non-profits asking them if they would be interested in having a women and public policy student sit on their boards. This year, we matched nine students with organizations. The students and Professor Kenney meet monthly for two hours to discuss their activities, and challenges.
The class fulfills three objectives:
The course smoothes the way for WPP students and graduates to actively participate in a non-profit world that is often closed and cliquish to new entrants. Our students are able to network with both board members and staff and learn how their organizations work from the inside.
Students provide a bridge between the organizations and the next generation of women leaders and provide the organizations with fresh ideas and the expertise of WPP graduates. Although non-profit organizations lament the absence of young women in their activities, they do little to invite them in. The boards class not only creates opportunities for these students, but helps the organizations become more open and welcoming to an entire generation of new activists. Moreover, by forming a learning community among themselves, the students are learning about nine boards and organizations, not just one. They inspire each other, and give each other ideas and encouragement. The meetings have provoked high level discussions about where feminism is going, what organizations need to do to meet the challenges of a new century, and how students should think about their own career trajectories.
WPP student board members are ambassadors from the Humphrey School to Minnesota’s non-profit community. They demonstrate the value of young women leaders who are educated at the Humphrey School. While initially reluctant, the organizations involved have been thrilled with their new board members and are asking for more young Humphrey School women for leadership roles in their organizations. The class comprised the selection committee for the new Young Women’s Leadership award and we are planning an exciting event on intergenerational feminism for June 7, 2007.
Board Service in Women and Public Policy (PA 5690) syllabus |
