Dear Yale women alums:

YaleWomen Council is responsible for recommending candidates for each new Class of the Council. The committee is beginning the process for terms that will begin July 1, 2023, and we need YOU!

Each year, YaleWomen elects a portion of its members to the central governing Council. We invite both eligible sitting Council members whose terms will end on June 30, 2023, and other Yale women alumni who have an interest in serving on the Council to apply for these seats.

You have seen YaleWomen grow from the “big idea” of possibilities that was envisioned when it was founded in 2011 – following the 2010 celebration of the 40th anniversary of the coeducation of Yale College and the 140th anniversary of the coeducation of the Graduate & Professional Schools – to the tangible realities of compelling initiatives that connect Yale women alums and amplify their voices to transform the world, including newsletters, social media, webinars, chapter events, conferences and symposia that we produce. As we celebrate the start of our second decade, the import of YaleWomen’s work has never been more meaningful. Yale women have a significant contribution to make to Yale and to the world in which we live, and we share a profoundly nourishing, intellectually stimulating and friendly bond that we wish to strengthen and celebrate as we learn from and work with one another. Please consider joining us!  

Our mission, set forth in our 2022 Strategic Plan, is: “To create a vibrant, engaged community of alums, drawn together by the common thread of our Yale experiences, that is committed to advancing women's voices and perspectives and to enriching and inspiring one another, Yale, and the world.” Our vision, which emerged from YaleWomen’s inaugural conference in 2013, continues: Connecting women, Igniting ideas, Transforming the world. The Council is responsible for stewarding and advancing this bold mission and vision. 

YaleWomen is an all-volunteer organization. When we say “we produce,” we mean we produce. We are hands-on in everything we do, including managing and upgrading our digital communications platform, writing the stories the newsletters tell, producing webinars, fundraising, and hosting global and local “Chapter” events. Equally important, we continually raise the bar on our own expectations of the work we do, whether it is enhancing current initiatives or producing new ones: our best work is always ahead. This is one of the most remarkable and rewarding aspects of engaging with YaleWomen. 

We encourage you to consider joining the YaleWomen Council. Applications are due Wednesday, March 15, 2023. The election will be held by Thursday June 1, 2023.

Who would be a good nominee? “The ideal Council member will be an engaged alumna, who has demonstrated volunteer commitment to Yale or to a Yale alum organization (including YaleWomen) or project. Nominees for the Council should be able to devote adequate time to Council activities and be willing to make Council service a priority. They should possess good judgment, listening and speaking skills, follow through on work they undertake, be able to work collaboratively.. and be willing to serve as ambassadors for YaleWomen.”

These criteria envision active participation by Council members, both in the work of the Council, including the Council’s committees, and in one or more ongoing projects.  We ask each nominee to commit to a significant level of engagement as we continue to build infrastructure and create compelling programming that engages alums within the four focus areas set forth in our 2011 Strategic Plan: Broadening our reach by extending the Yale Experience, Foster New Connections, Support Career and Life Transitions, Catalyze New Ideas, and Become a more Sustainable & Responsive Organization. Please see the Statement of Expectations here or specific information about the ways in which Council members are expected to contribute to YaleWomen’s work.

Much of YaleWomen’s work is done through our committees, which meet outside of our monthly Council meetings. Committees are responsible for the production of newsletters, social media, webinars, chapter events, fundraising, and conferences and symposia. It is important to emphasize that while Council members are expected to attend monthly Council meetings (virtual), this is not sufficient. We have ambitious goals for FY 2023 and beyond. Their realization requires serious commitment and hands-on work. We ask each nominee to be realistic about her ability to make service to YaleWomen a priority. There are opportunities to be a significant contributor to YaleWomen without serving on the Council and some potential nominees may want to serve in less formal but just as meaningful ways that permit them more flexibility. 

If you have any questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected].  You must submit your completed application no later than Wednesday, March 15, 2023. The election will be held by Thursday, June 1, 2023.

Click here to apply to the Council. 

With our thanks and best wishes,

YaleWomen Governance Committee 

Evangeline Tross '78, Governance Chair 

Susan Pepin ‘87, Chair

Belinda Wu MPH '15, Vice Chair

Jane Fincke Orenstein '78, Treasurer

Priscilla Morales '00, Secretary

Jennifer Ebisemiju Madar ‘88, Immediate Past Chair