About

will is about...

  • CHANGEMAKING – Cultivating leaders who make a positive difference, in ways large and small.
  • THEORY TO PRAXIS – Using a WGSS lens to analyze and challenge inequities.
  • INTERSECTIONALITY – Foregrounding an intersectional approach in all aspects of the program, both in and out of the classroom.
  • GENDER EQUITY – Centering a space to foster community, critical conversation, and action.
  • COMMUNITY – Building inclusive community through effort and intentionality.

In will...

Intellectual curiosity thrives.
Through a minor in WGSS, will promotes intersectional thinking across disciplines to help students investigate today's most pressing social justice issues.

Students discover the power of community.
will students volunteer together, share coursework, meet with scholars and activists in small group settings, and interact with faculty and staff mentors across the university.

Students learn to make an impact.
will students learn to better understand inequities on a global scale while developing the tools to be changemakers. Students draw on a strong base of support to put their WGSS knowledge into practice on campus, in the Richmond community, and beyond.

Self-confidence increases.
will helps students approach their lives with more confidence, identify what values are important to them, and determine how best to live those values.

Students take the lead.
will students apply intersectional analysis to the practice of leadership. Through the student leadership organization, students learn to speak up, listen to one another, and become strong allies and advocates.

Students gain essential career preparation.
will prepares students to work effectively in diverse workplaces and to pursue a wide range of professions. Students learn to translate their academic experience into job preparation through a supervised internship, conference presentations, and by participating in a series of skills building workshops including salary negotiation, Op-Ed writing, and public speaking.

In short, will gives students the space to question, critique, and explore in a supportive environment. In the words of Adrienne Rich, students in will learn to "claim their education."