The Women's Advancement Initiative

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05/29/2026

Kicking off summer in our community! Women’s Advancement staff and LEAD students joined dozens of volunteers to help assemble more than 1,500 Summer Preparedness Care Packages that will be picked up by agency partners and distributed to the community as part of the United Way’s 860CARES Day of Action.

The United Way brings communities together to face their greatest challenges, whether that’s helping families find stability, empowering young people or responding to crises. Thank you for making a difference!

and

Let’s run that back with more pics because we love our grads!
05/21/2026

Let’s run that back with more pics because we love our grads!

05/18/2026

The rest is still unwritten. Congratulations LEAD Class of 2026! University of Hartford

05/15/2026

This year, we celebrated milestones, created opportunities, and continued building a community rooted in leadership, empowerment, and connection.

As we close out the 2025–2026 academic year, we’re reflecting on the moments, people, and accomplishments that made this year so meaningful for LEAD and The Women’s Advancement Initiative.

From celebrating the 20th anniversary of The Women’s Advancement Initiative to welcoming the LEAD Class of 2029, this year was filled with growth across generations. Together, 291 LEAD alumnae joined 3,570 Hartford College for Women alumnae in a powerful unity across time.

Over the course of the year, we hosted 104 LEAD sessions and events, engaged 115 students in programming, and welcomed 90 middle and high school girls to campus for mentorship and inspiration. Our students gave back through 100+ volunteer hours across Greater Hartford, Florida, and beyond, while continuing to lead with compassion, creativity, and purpose.

We proudly celebrated:
• 33 graduating seniors in the Class of 2026
• 22 Dorothy Goodwin Project Grantees pursuing innovative research and creative projects
• 19 Laura Johnson Leaders continuing dynamic leadership programming
• 9 Irene Robinson Marshall & Dr. Dan Marshall Scholarship recipients
• 11 Robert Donovan Scholarship recipients
• 5 Alison Gallagher Coolbrith Lastra ’65 (HCW) Scholarship and Leadership Award recipients

This year also marked the first-ever distribution of LEAD graduation stoles, honoring the journeys and impact of our graduating seniors.

And through it all?
0 days without empowerment, community, and leadership.

Thank you to every student, alumna, mentor, donor, supporter, and community member who made this year unforgettable. Here’s to continuing the legacy and creating even more impact together.

05/08/2026

As this year’s LEAD Closing Circle comes to an end, we reflect with gratitude on the connections, growth, leadership, and community that made this past year so meaningful. Closing Circle serves as more than a tradition… it is a celebration of the women who continue to uplift one another, lead with purpose, and leave lasting impacts within the Hartford College for Women community.

This year also marked a special milestone for our graduating seniors. For the first time ever, seniors received LEAD honor stoles designed by Karen Gibbs Orefice and made embroidery-ready by Millie Hamlin. The stoles showcase the HCW logo and acorns symbolizing strength and opportunity for growth. The Class of 2026 also received their LEAD graduation cords — Hartford College for Women royal blue intertwined with University of Hartford red — signifying unity across time and the enduring legacy of women supporting women.

To our seniors, thank you for the paths you have paved and the example you have set. To our future leaders, may you continue to carry forward the spirit of LEAD with courage, compassion, and confidence.

Congratulations Class of 2026!

05/04/2026

- The LEAD Classes of 2016-2026 reconnected, reflected, and reminisced at an alumnae reunion. It was beautiful to see 11 LEAD graduating classes represented and building community across generations. We are inspired by all that you have accomplished and are yet to become in the future.

Special congratulations to our prize winners:
First to arrive: Julia St. Amand '21
Furthest Traveled: Megan Bainbridge '23 (from Maine)
Earliest Class Year and Furthest Traveled: Gabby Novak Fallis '16
Class Year with the Most Attendees: 2024

University of Hartford

ICYMI – Last week was National Volunteer Appreciation Week. At The Women’s Advancement Initiative, we believe every day ...
04/30/2026

ICYMI – Last week was National Volunteer Appreciation Week. At The Women’s Advancement Initiative, we believe every day is a chance to give our time, talents, and treasures to others. For the past 10 years, our LEAD students and staff have volunteered nearly 7,000 hours of their time to give back to the Greater Hartford community and beyond. A heartfelt thank you to our community of women and men who volunteer and support our efforts to empower others. We appreciate you!

Spotlight on our 2026 Dorothy Goodwin Grantees:Jacqueline Tran. ’28Biochemistry | Minor: Computer EngineeringCollege of ...
04/27/2026

Spotlight on our 2026 Dorothy Goodwin Grantees:

Jacqueline Tran. ’28
Biochemistry | Minor: Computer Engineering
College of Arts & Sciences
Mentor: Olivia Soliman

Jacqueline proposes an innovative research project focused on sustainability and environmental remediation through the chemical recycling of polylactic acid (PLA) 3D printing fibers into calcium lactate supplements. As global plastic production continues to rise, her work addresses the urgent need for scalable solutions to plastic waste and its environmental and health impacts.

Her research explores green chemistry approaches to convert PLA into valuable, reusable compounds, contributing to a circular economy model that transforms waste into usable resources. By developing environmentally responsible chemical processes, Jacqueline aims to reduce plastic accumulation in landfills and ecosystems while advancing sustainable industrial practices.

Inspired by her upbringing in Vietnam and witnessing the impacts of pollution, Jacqueline is motivated to explore the potential links between environmental contaminants and chronic disease, particularly in agricultural systems. Her project reflects a commitment to applying chemistry to real-world environmental challenges, with an emphasis on sustainability, public health, and innovation.

Through this work, she will gain hands-on laboratory experience while integrating concepts from analytical, organic, and environmental chemistry into a real-world application aimed at reducing harmful chemical exposure and advancing cleaner production methods.

Thanks to the generosity of Dorothy Goodwin, an educator, political leader, philanthropist, visionary, and longtime trustee of Hartford College for Women, project grants are awarded to students who propose innovative research or creative projects in collaboration with faculty and staff mentors. Since 2010, this program has supported the work of more than 170 students.

Spotlight on our 2026 Dorothy Goodwin Grantees:Kendra Walz ’26 (Graduate Candidate)Business Administration | Minor: Inte...
04/27/2026

Spotlight on our 2026 Dorothy Goodwin Grantees:

Kendra Walz ’26 (Graduate Candidate)
Business Administration | Minor: International Business
Barney School of Business
Mentor: Daphne Berry

Kendra proposes a research project exploring the resilience of small knitting and fiber arts businesses in the United States amid the growing pressures of globalization, e-commerce, and fast fashion. Inspired by her study abroad experience in Spain’s Basque Country examining cooperative business models and labor culture, she turns her focus to how community-based, often women-led, fiber arts enterprises sustain themselves within the American economy.

Her project will include a comprehensive review of limited existing literature on knitting and fiber arts businesses, alongside survey research across Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York. Kendra has already identified a foundational list of Connecticut-based businesses and, with support from the Dorothy Goodwin Scholarship, aims to expand her research across major cultural hubs such as New York City and Boston to compare regional trends.

In addition to surveys, she will conduct in-depth interviews with business owners to better understand how tradition, identity, and cultural history shape their work. Her findings will examine themes of economic resilience, gender, and community impact, with the goal of contributing to underdeveloped scholarship on small business ecosystems and cultural preservation. Kendra intends to publish her findings and share policy recommendations with local leaders to strengthen support for small businesses and historic community economies.

Thanks to the generosity of Dorothy Goodwin, an educator, political leader, philanthropist, visionary, and longtime trustee of Hartford College for Women, project grants are awarded to students who propose innovative research or creative projects in collaboration with faculty and staff mentors. Since 2010, this program has supported the work of more than 170 students.

Young Women’s Initiative high school students recently visited the University alongside LEAD students for an immersive e...
04/17/2026

Young Women’s Initiative high school students recently visited the University alongside LEAD students for an immersive educational experience. During the visit, students explored academic programs, learned about campus resources, and engaged in meaningful discussions about higher education pathways. The experience encouraged leadership development, college readiness, and goal setting. This visit highlighted the importance of access, mentorship, and exposure in empowering young women to pursue their academic aspirations.

Aurora Women and Girls Foundation

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200 Bloomfield Avenue, GSU 327
West Hartford, CT
06117

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+18607685961

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