It is an honor to celebrate Women’s Equality Day, which commemorates the 1920 adoption of the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that prohibits the states and federal government from denying the right to vote on the basis of sex. On this day, we have the unique opportunity to recognize the many women who have and continue to work toward creating a more equitable world for women and girls in America and across the globe.
This year is particularly meaningful as I reflect upon the vital role that women-centered higher education institutions play in the effort to advance gender equity and leadership. Simmons University was founded for equality 125 years ago with the idea that women, through education, could achieve greater financial security and independence. This vision — using education to create social and economic equity — is the core DNA of this institution. And, it remains at the heart of who we are today.
As we celebrate Simmons’ 125th anniversary, it is not lost on me that this institution is just as critical today as it was when it was founded in 1899. Despite many advances, women in 2024 are forced to fight to achieve an equal voice and place in society — including when it comes to issues such as healthcare, outdated gender stereotypes, gender-based violence, discrimination, and career glass ceilings. The workplace is also still very much a work in progress. The gender pay gap has largely stagnated in recent decades. Just as concerning, the gender leadership gap continues to persist in organizations, corporations, and industries across the United States and the world. This gap begins early in a woman’s career — with only 87 women promoted to management for every 100 men, according to Forbes.
Women-centered colleges like Simmons not only prepare students to lead and succeed in today’s world, they empower graduates to tackle many of these persistent inequities. At Simmons, our faculty, students, and alumni demonstrate their dedication to issues that directly impact women and nonbinary people, including reproductive health, promoting menstrual equity, and sex education. Students also report higher levels of class participation, faculty interaction, and are more likely to participate in faculty-led research projects. Simmons students also pursue a variety of research opportunities, while connecting with the larger community in their field, and supporting local girls and women with much-needed resources and support. In addition, we recently launched the Simmons Edge, which offers every undergraduate student the opportunity to earn an accelerated and more affordable graduate degree.
All of this means that students enter their chosen professions — including many male-dominated fields such as biochemistry, engineering, computer science, and business — poised to excel early in their careers, brimming with confidence after honing their leadership skills. Research shows that graduates of women-centered colleges like Simmons on average hold higher positions in their careers, increase their earning power, and find more satisfaction in their work. In addition, they are more likely to express the goal of wanting to influence our political structures and to have worked on a local, state, or national campaign.
This is especially important given the large number of Americans who are increasingly questioning the value of a college degree. Just 36 percent of Americans have strong confidence in higher education, according to a 2023 Gallup poll, while 56 percent no longer believe that a four-year college degree is worth the cost. At the same time, 58 percent of Americans believe that university leaders are failing students today, and only 45 percent trust university leaders to do the right thing for their students, according to a recent survey by U.S. News & World Report and The Harris Poll.
In my travels across the country speaking to Simmons alums, I see the profound impact of a college education firsthand. Our alums are leading in critical fields that make our communities stronger, from healthcare, social work, and library sciences, to management, communications, and so much more.
On this Women’s Equality Day, let us recognize the many women throughout our history who have paved the way for the world we enjoy today, and celebrate the individuals who are fighting for an even better tomorrow.