About Us

Welcome from the Executive Director

Hello and welcome to the new website of the Pennsylvania Center for Women and Politics (PCWP). My name is Dana Brown and I am the Executive Director of the PCWP at Chatham University. We are thrilled to be launching our new website that offers you research and data on women in PA politics; information on our signature programs such as: Ready to Run™ Campaign School, NEW Leadership™, the Elsie Hillman Chair in Women & Politics; as well as information on our upcoming programs and highlights from our most recent events.

At the PCWP we believe that the women of Pennsylvania have important insights on politics and policy. However, right now women are largely under-represented across the state and local governments. Therefore, women's voices and experiences may not always be found and reflected in public policy. We believe that Pennsylvania can do better, but politics will not change on its own. The PCWP through its programs and research aims to educate and arm women in Pennsylvania with knowledge, so when an opportunity presents itself she will be willing and able to capitalize on that opportunity.

Dana Brown, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Pennsylvania Center for Women & Politics

Professional headshot of Dana Brown, a smiling white woman with brown hair and glasses

The mission of the center is to increase women’s influence and leadership in public life in Pennsylvania and improve the quality of women’s lives by providing them with educational and training opportunities in politics and public policy.

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About the Center

The Pennsylvania Center for Women and Politics (PCWP) at Chatham University is a non–partisan center devoted to fostering women’s public leadership through education, empowerment, and action.

The first to focus on women’s political involvement in Pennsylvania, the Center integrates disciplinary knowledge, civic education, and coalition building while examining the intersection of women and public policy. The Center conducts candidate and advocacy trainings, offers educational programs in applied politics, and provides timely analysis on women’s issues. The Center is also home to the University’s membership in Project Pericles – a select group of liberal arts colleges and universities that have made institutional commitments to promoting participatory citizenship and social responsibility.

The Pennsylvania Center for Women, Politics, and Public Policy was established in 1998 through the generosity of the Hillman Foundation, Inc. and the Maurice Falk Medical Foundation. It was then reconceived and endowed in 2003, by the Hillman Foundation.

Contact Us

The Center welcomes your feedback, questions, and inquiries.

Please let us know how we can be of assistance to you—for research, program information, or just to stay connected via our monthly e-newsletter—and how we might find ways to collaborate!

Chatham University
Woodland Road
Braun Hall
Pittsburgh, PA 15232

Email: pcwp@chatham.edu
Phone: 412-365-1878
Fax: 412-365-1515