Realizing RCWG goals
How can we create more opportunities for women and girls and work for greater gender equality, creating a better community for all?
Those goals are the driving force behind the Alverno College Research Center for Women and Girls (RCWG). Founded in 1970, the RCWG generates and applies research, develops curricula, prepares evaluation tools and conducts outreach for the purpose of supporting and inspiring initiatives to improve the lives of women and girls locally and nationally.
Dr. Mary Ann Schwartz & Dr. Richard Brewer Speaker Series
The RCWG collaborates with the Center for Academic Excellence and the Thea Bowman Institute to host a dynamic panel of women who engaged with Alverno students in meaningful dialogue about leadership. In 2022, panelists focused on leadership within diverse local communities. A video of the event is available online.
Explore the Research Center
Women in Public Life
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Research Center for Women and Girls and the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, we are conducting an updated version of the first RCWG report: Wisconsin Women in Public Life, published in 1971. This survey is intended to better understand women's pathway to office in Wisconsin in order to develop strategies and tell the stories of women's success in elected office.
The RCWG has further partnered with the Wisconsin Women’s Council to explore women’s representation at various levels of government.
Please click the links below to review our findings:
Our latest research
The Alverno Report: Wisconsin Women in Public Life
The newest report from the Research Center for Women & Girls is available to the public. This report, titled "The Alverno Report: Wisconsin Women in Public Life—Elected Officials,"
is based on a two-year, mixed methods research project, which included a non-partisan survey and in-depth qualitative interviews.
The objective of the research was to understand Wisconsin women officeholders’ pathways to public office. "The Alverno Report: Wisconsin Women in Public Life - Elected Officials" is
intended to be a call to action and includes recommendations for how to help improve gender equity in political leadership.
Download: The Alverno Report: Wisconsin Women in Public Life—Elected Officials
Testimonials
Testimonial by Lindsey Harness, PhD
"The Research Center for Women and Girls has a responsibility to be a voice that represents the binds many women and girls face as a result of the intersection of their identities, and it
must participate in local, national and international conversations about what it means to be a marginalized human and what it means to be a human who has an equal opportunity for a life of
authenticity, happiness and well-being."
— Lindsey Harness, PhD, director of the Alverno College Research Center for Women and Girls
Our services
The Alverno College Research Center for Women and Girls is proud to partner with other institutions of higher education, K-12 schools, nonprofit organizations and other groups. We offer the following services:
Support our work
Will you help us create a more equitable world?
We rely on generous donors like you to support our research, curriculum development and events and outreach initiatives. Your gift supports our goals to raise awareness about issues that impact the lives of women and girls and identify strategies to address these issues.
Make your gift today online via this form — please use the comments section to designate the Research Center for Women and Girls as the recipient of your gift.
Thank you for supporting the Research Center!
Get in touch
We invite you to get in touch to learn more about our work.
Lindsey Harness
Executive Director of the Research Center for Women and Girls
Alverno College
3400 South 43rd Street
P.O. Box 343922
Milwaukee, WI 53234
Research.Center@alverno.edu
Ready for what's next
