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Center for American Women and Politics
Eagleton Institute of Politics
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Education and Training

Senator Wynona Lipman Lecture in Women's Political Leadership

Valerie B. Jarrett

Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama and
Chair of the White House Council on Women and Girls
Valerie Jarrett

Presented the 2011 Lipman Chair Lecture at Rutgers on 5/2/11

Lecture video available here.

  • Co-Chair, Obama-Biden Presidential Transition Team
  • Senior Advisor, Obama for America 2008
  • Former President and Chief Executive Officer, The Habitat Company
  • Served on Boards of University of Chicago Medical Center, University of Chicago, Local Initiative Support Corporation, The Joyce Foundation, Museum of Science and Industry
  • Past Positions Include Chairman, Chicago Transit Board; Chairman, Board of the Chicago Stock Exchange; Director, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago; Finance Chair, Obama for Illinois 2004, Inc.
  • New York Times Magazine article: The Ultimate Obama Insider





Senator Wynona Lipman Chair in Women's Political Leadership Program


The Senator Wynona Lipman Chair in Women’s Political Leadership
is made possible by the generous support of the New Jersey Legislature.

  About the Senator Lipman Chair

  Biography of Senator Lipman

  Holders of the Senator Lipman Chair

  Chairholder Biographies

  Video of 2008-09 Senator Lipman Chair event



About the Lipman Chair

The Lipman Chair was created to honor the legacy of the late state senator, the first African American woman in the New Jersey legislature. The Chair was established in 2000, when Governor Christine Todd Whitman signed legislation that had been sponsored by the legislative leaders in both parties and passed in both houses without opposition. The Legislature has generously continued its support for the Lipman Chair.

The Chair is intended to celebrate Senator Lipman, remind people of her achievements, and encourage others to follow in the footsteps of this path-breaking African American woman leader. An advisory committee, including members of Senator Lipman's family, members of the New Jersey legislature, and former members of the Senator's staff, has worked with CAWP to make the chair a success. CAWP is grateful to the Governor, the legislature, and advisory committee members for their commitment to honoring Senator Lipman's memory and advancing women's leadership.

Consistent with the Senator’s legacy, CAWP uses the generous support provided by the state legislature to:

  • inspire a broad public audience with prominent speakers whose work reflects Senator Lipman's interests and values;
  • educate college women at CAWP’s NEW Leadership New Jersey program about how and why they should become engaged in the political process and take on leadership roles;
  • train women considering running for office or working on campaigns in New Jersey at CAWP’s Ready to Run™ program and its associated diversity programs.

Whenever possible, Lipman Chair funds are directed toward participation of women from Essex County, the area represented by Senator Lipman in the legislature, in NEW Leadership™ New Jersey and Ready to Run™.


Holders of the Lipman Chair
Shirley Chisholm
Former Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm (2000)
Gertrude Fester
The Honorable Gertrude Fester (2001)
Alexis Herman
Former U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman (2001-2002)
 
Patricia Williams
Professor Patricia Williams (spring 2002 and spring 2003)
 
Carol Moseley-Braun
Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun (2004)

 
Donna Brazile
Donna Brazile (2005)

 
Eleanor Holmes Norton
Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (2006)

 
Gwen Ifill
Gwen Ifill (2007)
 


Michele Norris
Michele Norris (2008)