The WILL Program strives to foster a deeper understanding of gender and its intersections with race, culture, class, sexuality and other aspects of social identity. By connecting students with each other, and to a strong supportive network of faculty, staff, alumnae, and community mentors, WILL students develop critical thinking, intellectual curiosity, problem-solving and leadership skills. In addition, WILL students participate in a variety of learning projects designed to promote positive participation in the their communities. While originally designated solely as a women’s leadership program, WILL welcomes members of all genders and is committed to building a program that is welcoming of a diverse student body.
Goals of the WILL Program are:
- To encourage critical thinking, intellectual curiosity, and active learning opportunities which empower women as leaders, professionals, and engaged citizens during and after college
- To promote support networks for women students in all fields, particularly those in which they have historically been under-represented
- To foster a deeper understanding of women’s diverse roles and contributions to society
- To increase awareness of obstacles women have faced and are facing, and to foster individual and collective strategies to address these issues
- To cultivate skills for living and working with people of diverse backgrounds and opinion
- To promote the self-esteem and self-confidence of its members.
The WILL Program fulfills its mission and enhances women’s college experience through a three-pronged approach that connects the curricular and co-curricular: 1) WILL students complete a WILL specific WGS minor that provides an academic curriculum of courses focused on women’s diverse roles, contributions, and challenges. The curriculum also promotes intersectional thinking across disciplines to help students investigate today’s most pressing issues. 2) WILL students organize and attend gender-related programming outside of the classroom. 3) WILL tudents participate in a student-run leadership development organization.
Additionally, WILL students are provided with opportunities to attend national leadership training seminars, public-speaking workshops, conflict resolution/transformation workshops, and other forums designed to build and enhance leadership skills.