KSG receives $1.5 million gift to endow women in U.S. politics program

At a time when women are ascending to the executive branch of government in countries such as Liberia, Germany, and Chile, the Kennedy School of Government (KSG) has announced a $1.5 million gift to endow the Barbara Lee Women in U.S. Politics Training Program and Lecture Series to train women for electoral office in the United States.

“This is a terrific opportunity at a crucial time. We at the Kennedy School are thankful for Barbara Lee’s commitment to women in politics,” said David T. Ellwood, dean of KSG.

About her recent gift, Lee said: “I am pleased to partner with the Kennedy School and greater Harvard community to further our collective efforts to engage more women in the political process. This program will ensure that the fundamental issue of women’s equal representation in government remains at the core of the School’s mission to prepare students for public leadership.”

The Barbara Lee Women in U.S. Politics Training Program and Lecture Series is part of a program run by the Women and Public Policy Program (WAPPP) titled “From Harvard Square to the Oval Office.” The program provides a select group of Harvard students with the training and support they need to succeed in the electoral process at the local, state, and national levels. Lee’s gift will permit the Oval Office program, as it is known, to significantly expand its long-term capacity to train women and equip them with the knowledge and resources to make a dramatic difference in the political landscape, with the goal of increasing the number of women in the corridors of power.

“We are grateful for Barbara Lee’s generous gift that will allow us to examine and change the paradigm of women’s leadership in electoral life,” remarked Victoria Budson, executive director of WAPPP.