Utah Women and Leadership Project hosts event

In an effort to promote more women leadership in the community, women leaders gathered in the Sorensen Center to attend an event by Utah Women and Leadership Project (UWLP) titled “Utah Women, Giving, and Identity: The Complexity of Philanthropy in Utah.”

UWLP is a statewide initiative hosted at UVU regularly. 

“Since I’ve been attending these events, I have been able to learn different leadership skills and network with others,” said Taylor McKennan, a junior studying English education. “I feel like I’ve grown a lot as a person, as well as a female leader.”

The mission of the UWLP is to strengthen the impact of Utah girls and women through informing, engaging and developing their voices. It provides events, research and resources. 

“We want to share our research and bring the community together,” said Dr. Susan R. Madsen, director of UWLP. “Everything we do helps to impact the lives of students and the education they receive.”

In 2015, the most recent year for which data is available, 72.5 percent of females who had recently graduated high school were enrolled in a two-year or four-year college, compared to 65.8 percent of men. In comparison, in 1967, 57 percent of recent male high-school graduates were enrolled in college, compared to 47.2 percent recent female high-school graduates. 

“I want to help families and society,” said Madsen. “It’s very clear that when women and men work together and are equal partners, society benefits.” 

UWLP partners and collaborates with many women organizations in the state, as well as other groups that focus significant attention on strengthening the impact of girls and women.