The Women’s Center promotes and advocates for gender equity on campus and in the community. We facilitate opportunities for learning and activism to support and empower all individuals in building an inclusive and compassionate society.

Located on the ground floor of the Memorial Gym Room 109, the Women's Center strives to offer a safe environment for all. The center includes a kitchenette with free hot and cold beverages and snacks, lactation and baby-changing area, lounge area, study room with computers and a printer, and more in a child-friendly setting.

Kay Keskinen, U of I Retiree

1972-2003

The Women’s Center has been an important part of my life for over 50 years. When I began working at U of I in June 1972 as a young computer professional, there were virtually no female role models for me in math or computer science. When the Women’s Center opened in late October that year, I was there for its first brown bag program, “The Legal Status of Women.” The programs and informal gatherings provided me with role models who were successful professionals in other areas: faculty, coaches, staff and community. The programs also opened my eyes to issues that confronted women. For example, I had hoped to buy a house, but I learned from that first program that a woman could not get credit in her own name, she needed a man to co-sign her loan or mortgage. It wasn’t until the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974 that women could get credit on their own. The Women’s Center not only helped me become more informed on issues affecting women and minorities, it also provided me with lifelong friends whom I met there.

Amy Lowe Hieb

History, 2006

The University of Idaho Women’s Center became the beating heart of my time on campus and forever changed my trajectory in life. Coming from a limiting background, the Women’s Center opened my imagination to treasure troves of buried stories and practices of solidarity. The Women’s Center is a space of community and shared learning which is rooted in a simple message: “Your life and experiences are valuable, no matter who you are.” I would not be my brilliant self without the influence of this liberatory gem. The U of I Women’s Center is a rare and beautiful garnet in the Gem State.

Erin Fenner

Journalism & Mass Media, 2011

The Women's Center was a foundational space for me where I could jump-start a career in Media and Communications. I was the first editor of the Women's Center blog and helped relaunch the Feminist Alliance (formerly F.L.A.M.E.), a student organization built around identifying initiatives to support gender equity across campus. I began reporting in 2012, working in newspapers in Oregon, Colorado and Idaho, writing about healthcare, behavioral health, housing, courts, social movements and energy. My favorite aspect of working in newsrooms was connecting with community members who wanted to share their stories. In 2017, I shifted into political communications, working at Washington Community Action Network, where we won renter protections with community-led organizing through state legislation and in a ballot initiative in a Seattle suburb. Since March 2022, I've been working as a Communications Specialist for the Department of Community and Human Services with King County. I’m happy to be a public servant in an agency whose goal is to build up equitable systems.

Briana Navarro

International Studies & Sociology, 2022

When I think about my undergraduate education at the University of Idaho, I can't help but remember the Women's Center. I am reminded of a place where I felt comfortable expressing myself and learning from others. I worked at the Women's Center for three years as a work-study employee and enjoyed everything that came with the job. The Women's Center has always made sure that everyone feels included and supported beyond academics. It is a place where I developed skills that I carry with me, and I am immensely grateful to all the staff that continue to make it a safe space for so many students. I am currently a law student at the University of Washington School of Law, and everything I learned and gained from the Women's Center continues to benefit my education and career. I hope the Women's Center can continue to assist more students in the years to come.

Get Involved/Upcoming Events

The Women’s Center hosts a wide range of educational and cultural enrichment programs to educate, entertain and celebrate members of our campus, local, national and global community. Our Events Calendar is updated regularly with Women’s Center programs, campus collaborations and other events of interest to our constituents.

There’s something for everyone at the Women’s Center — from our bimonthly Friday Crafternoon arts and crafts program, to professional development topics offered as part of our Brown Bag Lunch & Learn series, to programs led by our student staff featuring special interest movie screenings and discussions, there’s so much going on and so many ways to get involved!

March is Women’s History Month. Stay tuned for details of a month-long series of events to highlight and commemorate the global achievements of women. Signature events this semester include:

• Women’s History Month Film Screening: Join us at the Kenworthy Performing Arts Theatre for a reception and screening of the documentary, "Marianne."
• Virginia Wolf Distinguished Service Awards: Nominate a deserving colleague or student today!
• Women’s Leadership Conference: Submit a proposal that speaks to our conference theme, Together We Rise.

All of our programs and events are free for University of Idaho students with a valid ID; some have a nominal fee for non-students. All are welcome!

Scholarships

The Women’s Center offers a number of scholarship opportunities for students seeking financial support for their academic pursuits. The following scholarships listed below were created by the Women’s Center. Some are administered centrally by Student Financial Aid, other are reviewed by the Women’s Center staff and Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies program faculty.

• Agnes Eikum Chase Memorial Scholarship: Established by Clinton I. Chase in memory of his mother, awarded to a full-time student who is the child of a single parent or a single parent who is the primary care-giver to a minor child/children.
• Shirley Grossman Caldwell Endowed Scholarship: Funded by a gift from Shirley Grossman, to provide an educational opportunity for single parents who are the primary care providers for one or more of their own dependent minor children.
• Betsy Thomas Gender Equity Scholarship Award: Established in honor of a former Women’s Center director, honors students who display exceptional motivation, innovation, involvement and commitment to advancing gender equity issues through their academic studies and/or via volunteerism and community service.
• Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies Excellence Scholarship (to be awarded for the first time in Fall 2025): Established by the Women’s Center for a student with a declared Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies minor who has demonstrated excellence in the discipline.

Request a Presentation

The Women's Center staff is committed to increasing the knowledge and involvement of students, staff and faculty around issues pertaining to women and gender. To meet the needs of university community, we provide in-depth, personalized learning experiences for your students, living group or club.

Presentations are typically 1.5-2 hour sessions that include lecture, discussion and interactive activities. Presentations can be shortened to accommodate a 50-minute class period. For all presentations and guest lectures, a minimum attendance of 10 people is required.

Available Presentations

• About the Women's Center
• Moving from Ally to Accomplice
• Body rEvolution
• Feminism 101
• Feminist Leadership
• Gender and the Media
• Mobilizing Men
• Respectful Communication
• Respecting Boundaries: Preventing Sexual Harassment
• Healthy Relationships: Love Shouldn't Hurt