In recognition of Georgian Court’s commitment to recruiting, hiring, and promoting women, the university has been named a 2023 Empowering Women Honoree by NJBIZ. With 100% female deans, 67% female faculty members, and over 50% female administrators on its President Leadership Council*, Georgian Court University (GCU) is a leader amongst state and national universities in its efforts to provide opportunities at all levels of higher education for women.
NJBIZ announced the recipients of the inaugural Empowering Women recognition program on Wednesday, June 21st. Georgian Court and more than 50 other NJ-affiliated companies and organizations are being recognized for their tangible and innovative efforts to advance women in the workplace and community.
Georgian Court has been a trailblazer of opportunity for women since its founding by the Sisters of Mercy in 1908 as an all-women’s educational institution. The university became co-ed in 2012, but its legacy of women’s leadership laid the strong foundation that makes GCU what it is today.
The administration and faculty at Georgian Court hope to instill confidence in the next generation of leaders who can promote equality: their students. Women’s issues are integrated into the curriculum—undergraduate and graduate—in student/faculty research, and in student life. As a result, Georgian Court teaches women and men about the importance of an equitable society where women are valued, treated with respect, and enjoy the same fiscal and leadership opportunities as their male counterparts.
Georgian Court’s Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) program, of which most participants are women, provides educational access and opportunity to promising New Jersey residents from under-represented populations throughout the state. It also offers support services aimed at improving students’ personal, social, professional, and academic success throughout their higher education journey. New Jersey DREAMERS are among those eligible to apply for the EOF program.
In March of this year, Georgian Court hosted “CCW 23 Women: Critical Concerns Week,” a week-long series of events dedicated to improving the situation of women around the world. These included faculty/staff retreats, panel discussions, service opportunities, and presentations on a broad range of topics, such as:
- Celebrating Women in Business and Digital Media
- Women as Agents of Change
- The Recovery of Women’s Voices in Catholic Tradition
- Women on the Move: The Changing Face of Migration to the U.S.
In addition to hosting the above discussions, Georgian Court facilitated support and trips to Providence House, a non-profit offering a wide range of services to women experiencing domestic violence and their children.
In November 2022, Georgian Court student Hanna Thrainsdottir was named a finalist for NCAA’s Woman of the Year Award. Thrainsdottir has been a superstar in the classroom throughout her time at Georgian Court, with a resume that includes four CACC All-Academic selections, induction into Chi Alpha Sigma (College Athlete Honor Society), the 2021 CACC Top XVI award, and the exclusive Fulbright Fellowship for the 2022-23 academic year.
Thrainsdottir also served as president of GCU’s LGBTQ student organization and participated on the GCU Council for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as an active contributor to its programming committee.
As the university looks toward its future, the institution intends to increase its focus on formal mentoring programs and support for its women faculty, staff, and students, as well as launch new events to promote collaboration and community between the women on campus and beyond.
Georgian Court, along with other award recipients, will be honored on August 1 at a celebration at The DoubleTree by Hilton in Somerset as well as in a future edition of NJBIZ. Tickets to the gala are now available on the event page.
*This information was gathered in Fall 2022.
