Mary Ellsberg to Lead George Washington University's Global Women's Institute

Institute to Enhance the Lives of Women and Girls Through Teaching, Research and Service

WASHINGTON, May 7, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Mary Ellsberg has been named director of the George Washington University's Global Women's Institute, which will launch in the fall. In this role, Dr. Ellsberg will lead the institute in its mission of enhancing the lives of women and girls by assessing and responding to challenges that this population faces. She brings more than 30 years of experience in international gender and development research and program work. Dr. Ellsberg will join the university on August 1.

The goal of the institute is to enhance the roles of women and girls worldwide through research, teaching and engaged service in the areas of health, education, rights and security. The idea for the institute originated in 2009, when GW President Steven Knapp proposed that the university investigate the possibility of launching an institute that would coordinate all university activities focused on women's issues.  A university-wide task force spent several months investigating the idea and in 2011, a search committee was formed to conduct an international search for the institute's first director.

Dr. Ellsberg will lead the institute's efforts in facilitating research collaborations and curriculum development and in developing financial support through grants and donations. Additionally, through cross-collaboration within the university as well as through external partnerships, she will work to increase the visibility of the institute.

Before joining the university, Dr. Ellsberg served as vice president for research and programs at the International Center for Research on Women. Previously, she held the position of senior advisor for gender, violence and human rights at the Program for Appropriate Technology in Health. Prior to that, Dr. Ellsberg lived in Nicaragua for nearly 20 years and worked on public health and women's rights advocacy.

In the heart of the nation's capital with additional programs in Virginia, the George Washington University was created by an Act of Congress in 1821. Today, GW is the largest institution of higher education in the District of Columbia. The university offers comprehensive programs of undergraduate and graduate liberal arts study, as well as degree programs in medicine, public health, law, engineering, education, business and international affairs. Each year, GW enrolls a diverse population of undergraduate, graduate and professional students from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and more than 130 countries.

SOURCE George Washington University