Center for Women
Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice Center for Women
The NASPA Center for Scholarship, Research, and Professional Development for Women examines and advocates issues of concern to women in higher education and student affairs. It designs and implements relevant programs, services, advocacy, and mentoring opportunities for women professionals and students. The Center encourages, in particular, research by women, for women, and about women in student affairs and about women students.
This year the Center for Women Board is focused on Meaningful Mentorship, examined through monthly conversations that are free to NASPA members. Visit the Meaningful Mentorship series page for more information and to register.
The Center for Women is accepting applications for 2024-2026 Board terms. Apply here Friday, May 17.
Message from the Chair
For the past 20 years, the Center for Women Board has worked diligently to provide resources and a voice for women across the academy. Through our celebration of faculty, staff, and students with the Ruth Strang and Zenobia Hikes awards; collaboration with Journal for Women and Gender in Higher Education; our programming focused on authentic leadership and mentoring; our support of professional development opportunities like Women’s Leadership Institute and Alice Manicur Symposium for women who aspire to be VPSAs; and through the hard work and good will of our board members who create opportunities for development, discourse, and diversity – it is my esteemed honor to represent the women of NASPA and beyond as the Chair of the Center for Women Board! I look forward to connecting in genuine ways throughout this year of service.
- Acquanetta Pinkard, Ph.D., Board Chair
About
What the Center for Women Does:
- Serves as an information, networking, and funding resource to support women in producing scholarship and research in the field
- Offers a professional home in NASPA for women, including leaders in women's centers
- Partners with other organizations who are looking at various issues affecting the education and advancement of women
- Publishes an annual journal for scholarship and research on women
- Provides mentoring possibilities for women through our Meaningful Mentorship series
- Collaborates with other organizations that focus on professional development for women
History
In 2001, then NASPA Executive Director, Gwen Dungy drafted a proposal to create a Center for Scholarship, Research, and Professional Development for Women to honor the legacy of the National Association of Women in Education (NAWE).
NAWE was founded in 1915 as a professional association for deans of women (NADW) and evolved into an association addressing issues in higher education focused on the interests of women educators and students. As professional opportunities for women in education expanded, organizations for women began to lose ground. Such was the case with NAWE. In 2000, the association disbanded, transferring some of its programs to NASPA.
The NASPA Center for Women proposed to advance NAWE's work by addressing educational issues relevant to women in higher education. The mission for the Center was to "examine issues of concern to women in education, matters of policy development, and the design and implementation of relevant programs and services for women students." The Center was also envisioned as a professional home for women who are leaders in women's centers.
NASPA President Shannon Ellis championed the Center for Women proposal, and under her presidency, it was approved by the NASPA Board for implementation in 2001.
Mission Statement
The NASPA Center for Scholarship and Professional Development for Women (Center for Women) amplifies issues concerning individuals who identify as women in higher education. It designs and implements relevant programs, services, advocacy and mentoring opportunities for women professionals. The Center encourages, in particular, research by, for, and about women in higher education.
Awards
Congratulations to our 2025 Award Winners
2025 Ruth Strang Research Award
The Ruth Strang Research Award recognizes a NASPA member for their outstanding contributions to the body of knowledge about womxn and gender in higher education. Ruth Strang served as editor of the National Association for Women journal Initiatives: The Journal of NAWE for 25 years and was a prolific writer and editor in field of student affairs.
Dr. Daksha Khatri, Community Coordinator, Campus Living and Residential Education, George Washington University
Dissertation: Exploring the Cultural Conflicts and Community Cultural Wealth of South Asian Female Students in U.S. Higher Education
2025 Zenobia Hikes Memorial Award
Dr. Zenobia Hikes led student affairs divisions at Virginia Tech and Spelman College before she passed away in 2008. Dr. Hikes was recognized posthumously as a NASPA Pillar of the Profession in 2009. The NASPA Foundation and Center for Women established the Zenobia Hikes Memorial Award in her honor to recognize a member who has demonstrated a commitment to the advancement of women in higher education and student affairs and to celebrate leaders who help students to become engaged change agents for the common good.
Reverend Callista S. Isabelle, Director for Religious, Spiritual, and Ethical Life, Washington University in St. Louis
Alyssa Cashman, Associate Director, Student Engagement, Endicott College
The Center for Women recognized these scholar-practioners at the 2025 NASPA Annual Conference.
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Events
One of the best resources available to you is the wide range of professional development opportunities. This list contains both our “Hosted Events,” workshops and webinars that we plan and manage, and some “Related Events,” hosted by the NASPA Central Office or other NASPA Constituent Groups. To see a full listing of NASPA events, please see the Events page.
