Student Programs

The Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) program is an exclusive leadership development, resilience coaching, and career readiness program for undergraduate women.

Designed to respond to the unique opportunities and challenges of female students at each stage of their undergraduate experience, LEAD provides students with the tools, training, and community to successfully navigate the journey to and through college to life and careers. 

What are the benefits of participating in LEAD?

• Being inspired to lead and take pride in your individual and collective achievements.
• Feeling empowered through experiential leadership training and problem-solving opportunities.
• Experiences to build a resume including job shadowing, internships and community service.
• Exploring scholarship opportunities offered by The Women's Advancement Initiative.
• Getting connected to a supportive network.
• Lessons in life and career preparation including salary negotiation, personal finances, and interview skills.
• Opportunities to attend outings and events, forums, and conferences.
• Professional, practical-life skill and leadership development sessions twice a month for all four years while you are at the University of Hartford.
• Cultivate lifelong bonds with fellow women who empower each other.

Who can apply for the LEAD program?
LEAD is for female undergraduate students at University of Hartford. Its cohort program is limited to 25-30 students per graduation class.

The call for LEAD applications is sent every spring to incoming first-year students.

The application deadline for the 2024-2025 school year is June 3, 2024.

Dorothy Goodwin Scholars – 2024 Call for Application

This scholarship was created to honor Dorothy Goodwin, an educator, politician, world traveler, visionary, and family member, who inspired women and girls to live beyond limitations and realize their full potential. She recognized and modeled that reaching one’s potential requires challenging opportunities, committed mentors, and financial support. In honor of her influence and philanthropic spirit, The Women’s Advancement Initiative is proud to announce this annual scholarship program that supports selected students who are engaging in creative, scholarly, or research projects with a University of Hartford mentor. Scholarship awards are between $1,000–$3,000 for projects to be done in Spring or Spring/Summer semesters.

Application Deadline: October 20, 2024
Submit completed proposal to womenadv@gxitma.net by the deadline.

Who Is Eligible? 

Dorothy Goodwin Scholars (DGS) will be creative self-starters who meet the following criteria:

• Be a woman* student at the University of Hartford, full-time or part-time in good standing during the project period.
• Be in good academic standing with a 3.0 ≥ for overall GPA.
• Develop and be able to implement an innovative creative, scholarly, or research project that will be explored in partnership with a University of Hartford mentor (faculty, adjunct faculty or staff).
• Preference given to students who are members in good standing of, and actively participate in, The Women’s Advancement Initiative’s programming. 
• Be a sophomore, junior, senior or post baccalaureate certificate student or a graduate student (masters or doctorate) when applying for and completing project. Up to 25% of scholarships to be awarded may be allocated to graduate students.

*Gender diverse students may apply.

Examples of Possible Projects

A student musician might explore the works of a little-known composer, crafting a performance bringing the life and works of the composer into greater public knowledge. A student scientist might pair with a mentor in carrying out a particular set of experiments as an independent project or as one aspect of a greater research agenda; the results compiled into a poster session for a professional conference or a paper co-authored and submitted to an academic journal. A student sociologist might select a discrete social issue, designing an intervention that might be implemented, measured, and evaluated.

Application Process

Application Deadline: October 20, 2024
Submit completed proposal to womenadv@gxitma.net by the deadline.

Please include the following in your application and proposal:

• Applicant name, address, email (University and personal), phone (cell and home), expected graduation date, college, department, major, degree/program being pursued
• Please attach resume and transcript (unofficial copies will be accepted)
• Required Summary: Summarize your project and introduce yourself in summary of 500 words or less. Include a brief project description, the need for this project/research, your proposed process/plan, how this project/research will impact you as a student and/or your future career and personal aspirations, and proposed used of scholarship funds (including if your project has additional funding).
• Full Project Narrative (no more than three double-spaced pages total):
  • What are the main goals or questions that lead you to want to undertake this project? You can include academic, professional and personal goals/questions.
  • What activities or role will you undertake during this project? How do they relate to your goals?
  • What does success in this project look like and how will you know if you have succeeded?
• Project Timetable: When, and in what sequence, do you anticipate project activities take place?
• Financial Plan: Awards of $1,000–$3,000 are available to Dorothy Goodwin Scholars. As best you can, please use the table that follows to describe how the Dorothy Goodwin funds will be used. Additional rows can be added. Note that there is a column to show additional funds you have or may receive for this project. Feel free to add comments below if you think it will help us understand your financial plans.

• Project Impact: Please describe how this project and the award will have an impact on you academically, professionally, and/or personally. What do you anticipate learning from this project and your mentor? How does this connect with your future plans? How will receiving this scholarship make a difference in your life?
• Optional Statement: The Women’s Advancement Initiative is proud to be the legacy of Hartford College for Women, which was known for supporting and empowering its students. You are welcome to describe a time when you have demonstrated or had to be resilient. Feel free to share any information about yourself and your life that you feel comfortable sharing.
• Faculty/Staff: Complete the Dorothy Goodwin Scholars Mentor Form and attach it to a one-page abbreviated CV or bio.

Proposal Review

Proposals will be judged by a committee representing The Women’s Advancement Initiative Board of Directors. Projects will be evaluated on the following criteria:

• Quality of project
• Originality of research or creative project
• Feasibility of research or creative project
• Student applicants’ capacity to contribute to, and benefit from, mentor partnership
• Student’s personal narrative
• Mentors’ capacity to contribute to, and benefit from, mentee partnership
• Student’s availability to participate in academic-year programming

Additional Requirements

• Awardees will be expected to participate in periodic workshops and advising sessions with staff and volunteers of The Women’s Advancement Initiative that will enhance their experience.
• Selected student applicants will receive a total award package of $1,000–$3,000, payable in two installments (75% of award will be payable at start of scholarship period and 25% of award will be paid upon completion of project requirements). This includes submission of final report and monthly project updates for Women’s Advancement’s enewsletters and social media once a month, initial and final thank you letters to donors who make this program possible, and completed final report.
• All Dorothy Goodwin Scholars will publicly present their projects at The Women’s Advancement Initiative’s Annual Symposium scheduled for March 27, 2025. At this presentation and in any presentations, handouts or publications, students must include—This project is made possible with underwriting support from The Women’s Advancement Initiative – Dorothy Goodwin Scholars Program.
• Specific uses of the award will be reviewed with individual recipients, and may include scholarship dollars, project materials, conference registration, travel, etc. In addition, mentors will also receive $500 toward professional development in recognition of their service and project oversight.

For Questions or Proposal Assistance

Please contact Dina Morris Lyga, Director of The Women’s Advancement Initiative
Email–glmorris@gxitma.net
Phone–860.768.5961

If you need this application in a Word Document format please email womenadv@gxitma.net.

Application Deadline: October 20, 2024
Submit completed proposal to womenadv@gxitma.net by the deadline.

Created by his widow, Margaret Donovan, the Robert E. Donovan Scholarship Fund honors and celebrates the life of Robert E. Donovan who believed in the transformative power of education. These scholarships are given each year to one or more female students studying engineering who are on track to complete their degrees, but who need financial assistance in order to continue.