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The NYU Women's Initiative

The goal of the Women's Initiative is to engage NYU's 177,000 alumnae in the intellectual, cultural, and educational life of the University. Programs and events featuring outstanding NYU faculty and alumnae provide graduates opportunities to return to the University, meet prominent leaders and scholars, and continue lifelong learning.

In keeping with NYU's greening initiative, our events are promoted primarily via email, so please send us your email address. Your inclusion on our list ensures you will receive invitations to all upcoming Women’s Initiative activities. Be the first to hear about new events, and be sure to tell your fellow alumnae to join, too! Email womens.initiative@nyu.edu or join the Facebook group to be the first to hear about new events!

Our past programs

The second program in the Women’s Initiative Workshop series, “How to Wow” featured alumna Frances Cole Jones (GSAS ’90). The engaging program taught us how to confidently respond in all situations and prepare ourselves for any contingency. Attendees of this program gained invaluable advice; and some even a copy of How to Wow: Proven Strategies to Sell Your [Brilliant!] Self in Any Situation! The Women’s Initiative will continue to provide NYU alumnae with engaging programs, and we invite you to email womens.initiative@nyu.edu at any time to learn more and to guarantee you have the opportunity to take advantage of this unique network.

The inaugural Women's Initiative Workshop, "Women in the Workplace" was a great success! On May 4th, our alumnae participated in a dynamic discussion led by Trudy Steinfeld, the Executive Director of the Wasserman Career Center. Ms. Steinfeld shared her unique perspective on the resources that women bring to the office and how these translate into opportunities, regardless of circumstance. The evening culminated with all attendees increasing their professional and social networks during a lively reception.

In the beginning of April, student leaders and prominent alumnae from the NYU community came together for the Women's Initiative Mentoring Breakfast. The conversations that this group began were not simply discussions, but a continuation of a program that has become a tradition within our campus community. Entrepreneur and motivational speaker Gabrielle Bernstein welcomed the women with a wonderful energy, and discussed how her own goals and successes were shaped largely by female mentors.

For March's celebration of Women's History Month, The NYU Women's Initiative proudly co-sponsored "An Evening with Soledad O'Brien" in collaboration with the Women's Herstory Month student club. The banner event also provided a wonderful opportunity for students and alumnae to meet and network. Ms. O'Brien, the current anchor and special correspondent for CNN, discussed the challenges and successes of her award winning career and how women can balance personal and professional identity.

On October 7, 2008, 150 members of the Women's Initiative came together at the Grey Art Gallery to view The Poetics of Cloth:  African Textiles / Recent Art exhibition.  Attendees had the opportunity to enjoy a beautiful multi-media exhibition of traditional textiles and contemporary paintings, sculpture, photographs, and videos featuring works by a number of Africa's leading contemporary artists. Speakers included Beverly Hyman, a member of the Women's Initiative's steering committee, and Lynn Gumpert, Director of the Gallery, who introduced the exhibition. As is tradition, a networking reception was held in Hemmerdinger Hall prior to the exhibit. View Photos

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For our third event this spring, the NYU Women’s Initiative co-sponsored “What to Eat: Nutrition for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention,” with the College of Nursing during Alumni Day on May 17. Over 170 graduates and community members attended this event, which featured Dr. Marion Nestle, the Paulette Goddard Professor in the Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health at The Steinhardt School as the Keynote speaker. Dr. Beverly Malone of the National League for Nursing and Dr. May Dobal of the College of Nursing also spoke. Their presentations emphasis was on healthy food choices and ways in which everyone can improve their health through dietary and lifestyle changes.

Over 60 students and 13 alumnae attended the NYU Women’s Initiative mentoring breakfast on April 2, 2008. This breakfast, hosted each semester, brings outstanding alumnae together with women student leaders to network and be inspired. Here are some testimonials:

“Thank you so much for putting together such a lovely breakfast. I thought it was very well planned out, a great way to show the young women at the breakfast how to start networking, and it was a really nice way to start off the day! Thanks again!” - Lauren Camadeco (STEINHARDT ’10)

“The breakfast was a really worthwhile experience. All of the alumni and students were so friendly, and I'm really appreciative of the contacts I made.” - Mallory Pladus (GSP ’08)

See photos from the breakfast here.

On March 26, 2008, Muslim reformer Irshad Manji spoke to an audience of over 450 students, alumni, and community members at the Kimmel Center. Manji is the bestselling author of The Trouble with Islam Today: A Muslim's Call for Reform in Her Faith, which has been published in 30 countries. She joined the NYU community in the spring of 2008 as founding director of the Moral Courage Project, based at NYU Wagner's Research Center for Leadership in Action (RCLA). The lecture was co-sponsored by RCLA and the NYU Women's Initiative. View photos.

In September 2007, 340 members of the Women's Initiative gathered in Grey Art Gallery to enjoy "The Geometry of Hope: Latin American Abstract Art from the Patricia Phelps de Cisneros Collection." Speakers included Lynn Gumpert, Director of the Gallery and Assistant Professor Miriam Basilio, from the Faculty of Arts and Science Department of Art History. Also present was Professor Sheila Wellington, faculty advisor to the Women's Initiative. A networking reception accompanied the exhibition.

During Alumni Reunion Weekend '07, the Women's Initiative and the College of Nursing co-sponsored a conversation on health and social security with Dr. Shirley Chater, former U.S. Commissioner of the Social Security Administration and Visiting Professor at the Institute for Health and Aging at UCSF School of Nursing. She was joined by NYU's College of Nursing alumna and faculty member Caroline Dorsen and Tisch School of the Arts alumna Eda Roth, who is a member of the Robert Wood Johnson Executive Nurse Fellows Program.

February 07 featured "NYU Gets to the Heart of the Matter," with three of the School of Medicine's world renowned cardiologists. Over 160 alumnae, parents and friends heard thought-provoking and practical presentations from Dr. Glenn Fishman, Director of the Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, Dr. Nieca Goldberg, Medical Director of the NYU Women's Heart Program, and Dr. Jennifer Mieres, Director of Nuclear Cardiology. The program exemplifies the continued collaboration between the Medical Center and the Women's Initiative to increase re-engagement of our graduates and promote the excellent research and care at the Center. View photos.

Over 250 alumnae and guests enjoyed "Moving Pictures: American Art and Early Film, 1880-1910" at our annual event at NYU's Grey Art Gallery in the fall of 2006. Early motion pictures displayed on flat screen TVs mixed with paintings and lithographs exploring the visual and content links in these media. View photos.

During Alumni Reunion Weekend 2006, we co-sponsored two events: a presentation on "Women, Aging and the Good Life," with the College of Nursing, and a walking tour led by Gallatin alumna Joyce Gold, "The Immigrant, Radical, and Notorious Women of Washington Square."

In April 2006, The Women's Initiative launched a networking program that introduces young women student leaders at NYU to some outstanding alumnae.

January 2006 brought us "The Downtown Show" where alumnae and friends had an opportunity to revisit the unique and exciting New York art scene from 1974-1984.

In September 2005, alumnae and guests visited the NYU Clinical Cancer Center for "Miracle on 34th Street" to discuss the latest advances in cancer research, diagnosis, and treatment for women.

April 2005 welcomed the official public launch of The NYU Women's Initiative, "New York at the Movies," an evening that was filled with delightful entertainment.

View photos from other past events.

How to Reach The NYU Women's Initiative

Join your NYU classmates and colleagues at our events. Stay connected to your University through intellectual and social events throughout the coming year. Please contact Lauren Carrescia at 212-992-7623 or by email at

NYU Women's Initiative Steering Committee