The past year has been particularly rewarding for me in my capacity as director of the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy. Our graduate education program has increased enrollment, achieved greater admission selectivity, and enhanced academic rigor – all while maintaining the distinction of having one of the most diverse student bodies of similar programs in the state. The program is now part of UMass Boston’s new John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies – which provides a new academic home in the field of public policy, greater prestige, and pathways to advanced graduate study for our students. Our research continues to reflect our belief in the importance of collaboration and effectiveness. We have completed major studies of women’s political representation in New England and have been working closely with our many partners in the legislature and the community on research that can have an impact on improving women’s lives. And, of course, the past year saw the Center contribute to women’s increased political participation and representation through the New England Women’s Political Summit.

2003-2004 also marks the tenth year since the founding of the Center. It is particularly fitting to report our efforts to build on the past to increase women’s political representation and improve the status of women in the Commonwealth through education, information, research, and collaboration – and to share our vision of the future. The Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy continues to offer important resources to promote women’s leadership and empower women in all aspects of politics and public policymaking. Today, as ten years ago, the Center is committed to fulfilling the urban mission of the University of Massachusetts Boston, responding to the academic and economic needs of the state’s diverse urban populations—particularly of women—by providing quality education, fostering connection, and providing policymakers with the research and information services they need to improve the status of women in our state.

We face a number of challenges. With the early retirement of our research information specialist, Carol L. Cardozo, we are confronting the need to raise funds to sustain our current level of staffing after three years of university-wide budget cuts. We are in the process, nevertheless, of drafting a vision statement for the next five years that is ambitious and clear: to expand the capacity of the Center to be even more responsive to our diverse constituents; offer a broader range of educational opportunities; and be the “go to” place for information on women. We have determined that our special niche is in the following areas: Educating and mentoring women for positions of leadership in policymaking, advocacy, political participation and elected office; focusing on the intersection of gender, race/ethnicity, and class in politics and policymaking; and concentrating primarily on women in Massachusetts and New England while gaining a national reputation as a women’s center of excellence.

What we need to achieve this vision is additional funding to support new initiatives such as regular political and policy summits/conferences; additional research staff for ongoing and innovative research projects; expanded educational programs (including community-based, non-degree courses); increased dissemination of fact sheets, research reports, and policy briefs; and development of CWPPP as a Women’s Information Clearinghouse.

I am pleased to send you this Annual Report to inform you about the accomplishments of the Center during this past year, to share our vision for the future, and to encourage you to take advantage of the many resources for women offered here at the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy.

Thank you for your ongoing support.