Signature Events and Programs

The Ada Comstock Distinguished Women Scholars Lecture Series

The Ada Comstock Distinguished Women Scholars Lecture Series acknowledges and honors the scholarly accomplishments and leadership of distinguished women faculty at the University of Minnesota and offers a forum for them to share their insights and ideas with a campus and community audience.

Bufandas By Yolanda: Intergenerational Knitting Group

Bufandas By Yolanda is an opportunity for students, staff and faculty of all ages and genders to get together to build community, knit (and crochet), and donate to a local Twin Cities organization.

Celebrating University Women Awards Program

The Celebrating University Women Awards Program is held in the spring to honor the winners of Women’s Center awards.

Discover Exceptional Women

The Discover Exceptional Women event is a week-long showcase event in the fall featuring welcoming receptions and workshops sponsored by University units which focus on University women’s issues and achievements.

National Conference for Women in Higher Education

The National Conference for Women in Higher Education will be held in October 2010 and will be designed to have a significant, positive, long-lasting impact on women in higher education and the institutions where we work and learn.

Women on Wednesdays

Women on Wednesdays are monthly lunchtime brown bags sessions focused on issues of concern to women.

Women R.E.A.D.

Women R.E.A.D. (formerly Leading from Where You Are) book groups for Civil Service and Bargaining Unit women encourage leadership from all levels of the University.

Women’s Professional Circles

A selected cohort of University women that meets monthly to develop leadership skills via small groups who support individual professional development and climate change projects. Applications are due each spring.

Women's Leadership Institute

The Women's Leadership Institute is a selected cohort of University women that meets monthly to learn about and cultivate leadership skills via guest speakers, reflection and group discussion. Applications are due each spring.

Women's History Month

Women's History Month (March) typically features a number of programs sponsored by the Women’s Center, e.g., International Women’s Day.

Workshops and Trainings

Workshops and trainings are available for classes, organizations, and departments regarding improving the climate for women, women and leadership, feminism today, etc.

Women in Leadership Development (WILD)

The Women in Leadership Development Program (WILD) offers University women undergraduate students the opportunity to both learn about women’s leadership and to put their leadership principles and interests into action by planning the Women’s Center’s fall week-long event, Discover Exceptional Women (DEW).

The Ada Comstock Distinguished Women Scholars Lecture, Fall 2005

Provost Tom Sullivan (left) and inaugural Ada winner/lecturer, Professor Catherine Verfaillie (right)

This prestigious award/lecture has been established to acknowledge and honor the scholarly accomplishments and leadership of distinguished women faculty at the University of Minnesota and to offer a forum for them to share their insights and ideas with a campus and community audience. One scholar from the sciences or engineering and one scholar from the humanities, arts, or social sciences will be selected to present a lecture, one during the fall semester and one during the spring semester.