About the Women’s Institute
Chatham has been empowering women for over 150 years. When the Pennsylvania Female College (now Chatham University) was founded in 1869, women were frequently blocked from higher education. Despite many gains in the years since, women still face persistent social, political, and economic inequalities.
Today, Chatham University maintains its leadership role and historic commitment to women's education and gender equity. In 2014, the Board of Trustees established the Chatham University Women's Institute, which launched in 2015 with the hiring of inaugural director, Dr. Jessie Ramey. Its purpose on campus is to ensure the thoughtful continuation of the resources Chatham has – and will continue to have – in enhancing education for women and gender equality in all aspects of campus curriculum and campus life.
The Women's Institute provides a range of activities and opportunities for students, faculty, alumnae, and the community and helps support and coordinate the Center for Women's Entrepreneurship, Pennsylvania Center for Women & Politics, and the Women's and Gender Studies Program.
Women’s Institute Staff
Jessie B. Ramey, Ph.D.
Director and Associate Professor, Women's and Gender Studies
Jessie B. Ramey, Ph.D., is the Founding Director of the Women’s Institute at Chatham University and Associate Professor of Women’s and Gender Studies. She serves as a commissioner and was the Founding Chair of Pittsburgh’s Gender Equity Commission. Dr. Ramey is a historian of gender, race, working families, and U.S. social policy.
Read more about Jessie in her Chatham Faculty bio.
Emi Perdan
Graduate Assistant
Emi graduated in April 2023 with her Bachelor's in Business Management with a minor in Applied Data Science Analytics and a Women's Leadership Certificate. She is now working on her Master of Business Administration (MBA)
with a concentration in Project Management, and she expects to graduate in April 2024. She is a member of Sigma Beta Delta, an International Business Honor Society. Her interests include reading, camping, earrings, and art.
Rhegan Henry
Undergraduate Office Assistant
Rhegan Henry is an Undergraduate Office Assistant at the Women’s Institute at Chatham University. She is currently earning her Bachelor of Science in Social Work as well as Psychology. She is also working towards a Certificate in Women’s Leadership.
Ava Krepp
Undergraduate Office Assistant
Ava Krepp is the Undergraduate Office Assistant at the Women’s Institute at Chatham University. She is currently earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science with a minor in Women’s and Gender Studies.
Affiliated Faculty
Contact us for more about how you can get involved with women's leadership and gender equity at Chatham University.
Visiting Scholars
Specify a designation for areas supporting women's leadership and gender equity when you give to Chatham to support our students.
Scholar in Residence
The Scholar in Residence works closely with students in classes, small groups, and gives public lectures. This position is by invitation only.