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Women’s Leadership Legacy Fund Campaign Launched by Office of Women in Higher Education at the American Council on Education

Washington, DC (Feb. 10, 2007)—Boosting opportunities for mentoring, networking, and leadership training for women in higher education is the goal of a $200,000 fund raising campaign to establish the Women’s Leadership Legacy Fund (WLLF) by the Office of Women in Higher Education (OWHE) at the American Council on Education (ACE).

The campaign was announced tonight during the Women’s Leadership Dinner, sponsored by OWHE and the ACE Center for Effective Leadership.  The dinner is held annually in conjunction with the ACE Annual Meeting currently underway at the Omni Shoreham Hotel.

“Gender equity in higher education administration is important,” said Donna Phillips, director of OWHE.  “We cannot leave the development of women leaders to happenstance.  Serendipity is not a plan. The Women’s Leadership Legacy Fund will ensure that a pool of diverse, talented, and prepared women is available for senior-level administrative positions at America’s colleges and universities.”

Established in 1973, OWHE provides information and counsel regarding policies, issues, and research that influence women’s equity, diversity, and advancement. OWHE programming—powered by hundreds of volunteer hours donated by retired and sitting male and female presidents, chancellors, senior administrators, and search consultants—reaches about 5,000 women. 

“We believe our four-pronged approach will ensure a growing pool of talented, experienced, and qualified women candidates for all administrative levels, culminating in presidencies and chancellorships,” said Phillips. “We focus on encouraging women to follow their aspirations, teaching or showing women how to acquire the appropriate skills and experience, connecting emerging leaders with role models and mentors, and providing women with the power of a network.”

The fund raising effort will be used for two new initiatives where additional funds could improve both the breadth and the depth of OWHE outreach: The Emily Taylor Scholarships and OWHE Support Grants.

“Supporting the WLLF provides individuals with the opportunity to participate in the effort to assure that women have the support they need to contribute their ideas, talents, styles and values to the higher educational institutions of the future,” said Josafina Castillo Baltodano, chair of the ACE Network Executive Board and president of Marian College of Fond de Lac (WI).

The Emily Taylor Scholarships, named for a former director of OWHE, will be used to defray some of the expense of attending forums, conferences, and institutes. Budget cuts in most institutions have severely curtailed available dollars for academic and administrative career development; few women can afford to underwrite their aspirations.

The OWHE Support Grants will be used to provide honoraria or travel for women role models, mentors, and experienced teachers to attend professional development and mentoring events for emerging and advancing women academic leaders.

“In the end, every woman we help is one step closer to success,” added Phillips. “Each woman who succeeds brings all women one step closer to equity.  And every one step closer to equity moves all women one step closer to equality.”

More information is available by contacting ACE’s Office of Women in Higher Education by calling 202-939-9300.

Founded in 1918, ACE is the major coordinating body for all the nation's higher education institutions, representing more than 1,600 college and university presidents, and more than 200 related associations, nationwide. It seeks to provide leadership and a unifying voice on key higher education issues and influence public policy through advocacy, research, and program initiatives.

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