The Women and Public Policy Program of Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government was founded with the internal goal of incorporating an understanding of gender perspectives on public policy into the education of future and current leaders trained at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, and the external goal of contributing to the canon of scholarship on women and public policy. Its mission, program areas, events, newsletter, fellowships, and research are detailed within this site. The Women and Public Policy Program is led by Director Ambassador Swanee Hunt and Faculty Chair Professor Iris Bohnet (see People). Please send your ideas and feedback to WAPPP@harvard.edu and join us at our public events.

• Facilitating scholarship on women and public policy: conducting, coordinating, and commissioning research projects; developing fellowships and small grants for practitioners and scholars; acting as a clearinghouse on gender-related research; and organizing conferences, seminars, and workshops.
• Publishing materials on women and public policy: disseminating occasional papers and research results; and maintaining a website with links to related research centers.
• Encouraging and enhancing teaching on women and public policy: developing new courses, case studies, executive programs, and materials for classroom use; creating a venue for women students of all backgrounds to find mentoring partners and networking resources; designing training that prepares women for public leadership; and coordinating information about available gender-related courses throughout Harvard University.
• Applying research findings to the public policy process: educating policy makers about issues of concern to women and girls; responding to media inquiries about issues that affect women and girls domestically and globally; and advancing women’s role in the public arena.
• Enriching the culture at the Kennedy School: organizing events that facilitate dialogue among high-level and grassroots leaders, men and women students, staff, and faculty; providing role models, networking contacts, and mentors for women students; hosting events to raise the awareness of men students regarding issues affecting women; bringing the interests of women of color into central focus; and counseling and training women students for careers in the public arena.

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