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First Lady Jill Biden and Secretary of State Anthony J. Blinken have invited Schar School of Policy and Government associate professor Bonnie Stabile to attend the 2023 International Women of Courage Awards. The ceremony recognizing 12 women from around the world for their efforts advocating for human rights, women’s equality, and social progress, often in the face of great personal risk, takes place at the White House on March 8.
For Stabile, who is associate dean for student and academic affairs at the Schar School, the event is an appropriate way to commemorate International Women’s Day: Stabile is the founding director of the Gender and Policy (GAP) Center at George Mason University’s Schar School. The center studies underrepresentation of women in positions of influence and power in the public sphere, as well as identifies policy inequities for women and other underrepresented groups.
The awards are given through the State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). Stabile delivered the keynote address in December to the IVLP delegation from Pakistan.
“I am delighted to be able to attend to cheer on the dozen courageous award recipients who were nominated by embassies around the world,” Stabile said. “I also look forward to the opportunity to represent the Schar School and GAP among this group of like-minded leaders to strengthen and expand our growing network of contacts and collaborators…I am glad that our GAP connection with IVLP led to this further opportunity.”
March 8 is a busy day for Stabile and the GAP Center. A few hours after attending the 2 p.m. ceremony at the White House, Stabile will moderate a panel discussion based on Schar School 2006 public policy graduate Nicole Lynn Lewis’ book, Pregnant Girl: A Story of Teen Motherhood, College, and Creating a Better Future for Young Families. Lewis is the founder and chief executive of Generation Hope, a nonprofit that provides teen parents with mentors, emotional support, and funding to thrive in higher education.
Joining Stabile and Lewis on the Van Metre Hall stage at Mason Square in Arlington will be Anne Hedgepeth, policy and advocacy leader of Child Care Aware America and a Schar School alumna (MPP ’13), and Delegate Charniele Herring (D), a Mason alumna (BA Economics ’93) and former chair of the Democratic Party of Virginia. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.