Center for Women in Government and Civil Society Center for Women in Government and Civil Society

Center for Women in Government and Civil Society

Promoting Social Justice and an Equitable Society 

The Center for Women in Government and Civil Society

Promoting Social Justice and an Equitable Society 

For 45 years, CWGCS has been a premier academic research and education center with a social change agenda.  

We expand opportunities and create possibilities for all students. The Center for Women in Government & Civil Society is part of the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy and is open to all, regardless of sex or gender.  


Vision

A world where people of all background participate equally in shaping the future.
 

Mission 

CWGCS seeks to deepen and broaden political access, economic opportunities and social inclusion by strengthening the capacity of government, nonprofit and business sectors to implement responsive, inclusive and equitable policies, practices and services.
 

Guiding Principles

  • Participatory decision-making and mutual respect
  • Recognition and celebration of diversity
  • Sensitivity toward boundaries, including those of geography and identity
  • Engagement with the community to inform our practices and work
  • Continuous evaluation of our work towards achieving equity
  • Readiness to embrace challenge as an agent of growth 
     

Core Values

Equity, Inclusion, Diversity, Integrity, Equality
 

Strategic Focus

Provide purposeful research and transformative education that: 

  • Fill knowledge gaps and facilitate the implementation of evidence-based approaches to advancing social equity.
  • Raise awareness about intersecting inequities.
  • Promote equal participation of all people in all aspects of society. 
     

The Center advances a rigorous research and education agenda that focuses public service leadership, economic security, health disparities, and safety and well-being.

UAlbany Video
Focus
Public Service Leadership

The lack of balanced representation at the decision-making tables in every sector, particularly in public service leadership, is one of the most critical challenges we face as a society today.

When we do not see equitable representation at the decision-making tables, we tend to trust government less and have less confidence in the credibility and legitimacy of government. We tend to have less faith in the ability of government to fully represent us and genuinely act in our interests. 

All of this translates to political alienation, lower political participation and an unhealthy democracy.

When people of all backgrounds are not equally represented in public service leadership, the needs and issues that affect minoritized groups disproportionately tend to be marginalized. When governance structures exclude, they shed doubt on the competency and ability of excluded groups to serve as leaders

Furthermore, when we narrow the pool of talent from which we are drawing, we diminish our ability to capture the full potential of the workforce. 

We must help all people construct and internalize leadership identities and provide them with the tools to address subtle and invisible forms of bias that interfere with their leadership identity construction. 

Economic Security

There are artificial dichotomies that hinder individuals from accessing high paying careers in science, technologies, engineering and mathematics. This is a matter of economic justice and social justice, but it is also a matter of maintaining economic development and global competitiveness. 

Our ability to meet workforce needs mandate that we widen the pool of talent that we are drawing from to include all people. Our changing demographics point to this critical need. 

Furthermore, research illuminates disparities in economic, political and social outcomes between different population groups. We must reform implicit and explicit institutional cultures as well as formal and informal structures that create exclusions and marginalization.

Health Disparities

Differences in health outcomes between groups are well documented in the research and practice literature. The World Health Organization (WHO) identifies disparities by the presence of differences in health outcomes that are unfair, unjust and are unnecessary and avoidable. WHO provides the criterion by which one determines if a difference is actually an unjust and unfair disparity by stating that if a person had restricted, limited or no choice in situations that produced poor health then the outcomes are produced by social forces or social determinants of health that are unnecessary and avoidable. The Center’s work contributes to bridging the knowledge gap in advancing equity and quality of healthcare and eliminating health disparities.

Safety & Wellbeing

Intimate partner violence continues to be a pervasive problem nationally and globally. The Center’s work raises awareness about the persistence of the problem and contributes to the development, implementation and evaluation of evidence-based approaches to prevention and eradication that are informed by survivors’ perspectives. 

CWGCS has been relentlessly working to fill knowledge gaps, develop evidence based approaches to advance parity, strengthen system responsiveness, raise awareness about existing inequities, and deepen and broaden access to educational and economic opportunities. 

Our vision of a society, free of inequities where people of all backgrounds participate equally in shaping the future, remains at the center of everything we do. 

Together, we can keep the momentum alive, and make our collective vision a reality. Get involved with your Center for Women in Government & Civil Society! 

Personnel
Board of Directors

The Directors are drawn from both the public and private sectors, from agencies and advocacy groups, labor and management, elected and appointed officials, former Fellows on Women & Public Policy and academia.

CWGCS Board of Directors

Karen Carpenter-Palumbo*
President

Terri Crowley
Vice President 

  • Dr. Rukhsana Ahmed 
  • Honorable Dr. Dorcey Applyrs* 
  • Dori Blanchard 
  • Lola Brabham 
  • Kathleen Brady-Stepien* 
  • Dr. Shanleigh Corrallo* 
  • Alexandra Greene 
  • Honorable Patricia Fahy 
  • Dr. Janell Hobson 
  • Canon Kay Hotaling 
  • Honorable Rachel Kretser 
  • Dr. Jennie Law* 
  • Hollyanne Lupi* 
  • Dr. Julie Novkov 
  • Hilary Papineau* 
  • Honorable Susan Pedo 
  • Dr. Debernee Privott 
  • Dana Rosenstreich* 
  • Emily Steinbach* 
  • Jessica Tanguay* 
  • Lauren Tobias 
  • Ruth Walters 

 

 *Former Fellow on Women & Public Policy 

Staff

Dina Refki, DA
Executive Director & Clinical Professor
Email Dina 
518-442-5127

Jisang Kim
Research Associate
Email Jisang

Esther Kim
Research Associate
Email Esther

Hongseok Lee
Research Associate

Joan Nellhaus
Fiscal Manager
Email Joan

Dr. Debernee Privott
Co-Chair Women’s Leadership Academy
Email Debernee 

Christine Rutigliano
Fellowship Instructor

Ryan Bunce
Publication and Media Specialist



 

 

News

Center for Women in Government & Civil Society
Draper 312

135 Western Ave
Albany, NY 12203
United States

Email
[email protected]
Phone
518-442-5127
Phone 2
518-591-8762
Fax
518-442-3877

Programs

Public Service Leadership

The Center provides leadership education for aspiring, emerging and senior leaders at critical career junctures. It conducts research to fill the knowledge gap on representation in public service leadership and institutional climates locally, nationally and globally.

 

NEW Leadership New York

 

NEW Leadership™ New York

This program strengthens policy knowledge and skills of undergraduate students, while positioning them to become advocates for change. This intensive week-long summer program fosters the principles of leadership through action, and guides participants’ community/campus action projects.
 

About

NEW LeadershipTM New York (NLNY), is a program of the Leadership Academy at the Center for Women in Government & Civil Society (CWGCS). 

In partnership with the National Education for Women’s (NEW) Leadership Network, a bi-partisan program to educate college students about the political process and strengthen leadership skills, NEW LeadershipTM New York is the first and only program of its kind in New York State. 

A week-long, residential undergraduate leadership development program, NLNY strives to instill the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary for effective political engagement and community organizing.

NLNY is open to all students, regardless of sex, gender or identity.

The goals of the NEW LeadershipTM New York program are to increase:

  • Self-efficacy of participants regarding leadership capacity and capabilities
  • Knowledge of political and policy-making processes, and ways by which we can shape the public policy process as citizens
  • Leadership principles and approaches of political and policy leaders; and how political campaigns are organized and run
  • The critical importance of diversity in enriching democratic political participation
  • Awareness and preparedness of career options in the fields of politics and public policy
  • Skills in developing and organizing a campus or community engagement project at their home institutions or communities
Program Sponsors

The Center would like to thank the many individuals — board members, fellows and friends — who gave generously of their time and resources to make its leadership development programs a success.

Fellowship on Women & Public Policy


Fellowship on Women & Public Policy 

About

The Fellowship is a six-month, rigorous and multi-faceted leadership development program primarily for graduate students. 

It is designed to provide a springboard for aspiring public service leaders, regardless of sex, gender or political affiliation, to pursue careers in public policy while increasing the capacity of New York State government and civil society. 

Now celebrating its 40th year, the Fellowship has graduated more than 300 individuals who occupy public policy leadership positions across the state and nation and around the globe.

The Fellowship Provides

  • Policy-related placements in New York State agencies, the Legislature and statewide nonprofit advocacy organizations.
  • Policy field experience and academic coursework in public policy and advocacy.
  • Professional development and co-curricular activities such as workshops, conferences, policy field trips, and community service opportunities.
  • Network Mentoring Program that gives access to over 300 alumnae fellows and other accomplished policy and social change agents.

Who is eligible?

The Fellowship is designed to provide a springboard for aspiring public service leaders, regardless of sex, gender or political affiliation. 

The Fellowship program is open to graduate students and working professionals who have successfully completed a minimum of 12 graduate credits in any academic discipline and have a minimum of three years of work experience.

Award and application

The Fellowship offers a $13,500 stipend and tuition assistance for academic coursework. In the spring semester, fellows are full-time graduate students at Rockefeller College with policy-related field placements for 25 hours a week from January through June. Health plans are available.

Please Email CWGCS for more information.

Host a Fellow

CWGCS Seeks Regional Partners

The Fellowship on Women & Public Policy is an intensive leadership development program designed to maximize the skills and contributions of all people to achieve excellence in public service. Using a balanced and comprehensive approach to leadership development, the Fellowship combines academic instruction and field placement with personal and professional development.

Interested in Hosting a Fellow?

The Fellowship on Women & Public Policy is an intensive leadership development program designed to maximize the skills and contributions of historically excluded population groups to achieve excellence in public service by working in partnership with NYS agency, legislative and nonprofit offices.

What are the Benefits of Hosting a Fellow?

  • Promote excellence in public service. The fellowship is an extraordinary opportunity for organizations to contribute to preparing a new generation of public policy leaders.
  • Fill the pipelines of leadership. By hosting a fellow, agencies are contributing to promoting balanced and effective leadership.
  • Expand organizational opportunities to better serve the needs of women, children, families, the socially disadvantaged and people of color.
  • Bring fresh, informed perspectives. Fellows introduce different ways of analyzing problems and tackling issues.
  • Recruit new talent. The Fellowship helps attract qualified graduates and professionals to the organization, cultivates interest in the agency’s work and helps fill current and future vacancies.
  • Save money. Fellows are highly qualified and cost much less than hiring a full-time employee.
  • Fellows work in their placement organization for 25 hours a week, for a six month period from January through June. Your organization gets the benefit of a full-time staff person with no commitment to the Fellow beyond the six month time frame.
    Please Note: All Fellowship placement offices must be located within the Capital District area of New York State.
  • Fellows are highly skilled, graduate students who possess a minimum of three to five years of prior work experience.
  • Fellows are supported and coached by CWGCS staff throughout their placement; if an issue arises CWGCS helps to resolve it.
  • The Fellowship program is funded through MOU's with placement agencies. The overall cost of hosting a Fellow is significantly less than hiring a staff member.

Cost Sharing Information

CWGCS strongly encourages organizations to explore cost sharing options. For example, if a number of units/divisions in an agency are working on a joint initiative, they can partner on funding a Fellow who would be shared amongst the units and could potentially be responsible for coordinating the initiative.

Alternatively, units can split the time of the Fellow (25 hours per week) amongst them and share the cost of supporting the Fellow. There are several models that can be explored and we would be happy to talk further with you about available options.

 

If you have questions, please contact CWGCS at [email protected] or by phone at 518-442-5127.

Why Public Service Leadership?

Broadening opportunities for acquisition of policy knowledge and leadership skills strengthens public service descriptive and substantive representation and fortifies the democratic foundation of our nation. It advances the vision of social justice and equity for all.

 

Women's Leadership

 

Economic Security

The Center is leading activities that raise awareness about the underrepresentation of different population groups in certain occupations. It conducts research to fill the knowledge gap on education and workforce-related issues adversely affecting minoritized populations.
 

Education

The Non-Traditional Employment & Training Program

NET (Non-traditional Employment & Training) Project provides state-wide technical assistance for non-traditional career options to Career and Technical Education institutions that sponsor Carl D. Perkins funded programs. As per the Act, non-traditional occupation has been defined as any occupation in which one gender comprises less than 25% of the employment within that field. For more information, please visit the NET Program website.

Research

The Center is currently conducting several research studies that are in different stages of completion including:

  • Pedagogical Practices that Foster Inclusion of Minoritized Students in the Classroom
  • Gender Dominated Occupations in the Public Sector: Toward Equivalent Pay for Equivalent Work
  • Social Wellbeing Index for Foreign New Yorkers

Health Disparities

The Center promotes the development and implementation of evidence-based approaches to strengthen the healthcare system response and service structures to diverse populations including culturally and linguistically diverse patients.

The Center is currently developing a study to promote the implementation of a communication system that improves responsiveness to patients who do not speak English well.

 

Safety & Well-being

The Center conducts research and education to systematically eradicate gender-based violence and increase protections.

The Center advances research and education on integrating an equity lens in the development of prevention programs that combat all forms of gender-based violence.

CWGCS Publications

CWGCS periodically publishes research reports and briefs related to our projects.

Research Topics
Public Service Leadership
Economic Security

Research

  • Refki D., Avci B., Krans E, Muro A., Sangdod S. and Bhargava N (2016-2018) Immigrant Integration Index: The New York State Experience.
  • Refki D., Avci, B., Krans, E, and Muro, A. (2016) Immigrant Integration Index: The New York State Experience.
  • Refki D., Avci, B. (2016) Economic Integration of the Most Vulnerable Immigrant Population in New York State. Policy Brief. Center for Women in Government & Civil Society
  • Easter, M; and Refki, D. (2004). Research Facts & Findings: The Changing Face of NYS: Immigrant Youth in Every Community. A quarterly publication by Cornell University (Invited).
  • Easter, M; and Refki, D. (2004). Practice Matters: Creating Successful Programs for Immigrant Youth. A quarterly publication by Cornell University (Invited).
Safety & Well-being

Nonprofit Research

 

Support CWGCS

Your generosity has played a significant role in keeping the Center for Women in Government & Civil Society (CWGCS) strong. 

It has enabled us to continue to prepare the next generation of public service leaders, keep the vision of balanced leadership on the front burner of public discourse, complete the public record, inform decision makers on access to political and economic opportunities, and facilitate the implementation of evidence based approaches that transform institutions.

The generous support of our friends and partners helps us move the agenda forward, and enables us to advance CWGCS’s work:

  • Public Service Leadership
  • Economic Security
  • Health Disparities
  • Safety & Well-being
Make a Gift online

Note: To be sure your donation benefits the Center, your gift must be designated to "The Center for Women in Government & Civil Society" (with any additional information) by typing in the comment field under "Gift Instructions' on the donation form.

You can make a donation with your credit card through a secure server at the University at Albany using this online giving form.

Make a Gift by mail

You or your company can send a tax-deductible contribution to support the Center’s work. Checks should be made out to:
University at Albany Foundation/cwgcs

Mailing address:
Center for Women in Government & Civil Society
Draper 312
135 Western Avenue
Albany, New York 12222