Women continue to be a force in our nation, supporting themselves, their families, neighborhoods and communities, much of the time by sheer force of will and very little else. That is why it is important to celebrate Women’s History Month to give them recognition for the work they continue to do.
No limit to the height and breadth of their dreams
As our society slowly comes to fully understanding that women are just as capable as men in leadership roles, we find that more and more young women are seeking higher education. Women like Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States; Michelle Obama, former First Lady of the United States; Nancy Pelosi, former Speaker of the House; and Oprah Winfrey, billionaire entrepreneur and many other women right around them are inspirations for what can be achieved. In the insighful words of Mrs. Obama, the only limit to the height of these young women’s achievements and the reach of their dreams is their willingness to work hard for them.
Black women have been inordinately affected by the inequities in our society, yet through history they persevered and forced change in our institutions and in social norms. Today, they are just as active in politics, in government and in all other arenas in our nation.
64% of students at HBCUs are women
UNCF and its 37 member institutions share the responsibility of educating the next generation of women leaders and professionals. At our HBCUs, 64% of our student body is comprised of women. In addition, nine of our college presidents are women, and they are dynamic. They lead by initiating transformative learning, cutting-edge administrative and faculty development, and engaging in innovative thought leadership.
We take the responsibility to educate and prepare our students seriously. Many of them have been traditionally underserved. More than 70% of them are Pell Grant-eligible—meaning they are from households with significant financial need; and over 39% are their family’s first-generation in college. They are talented, motivated and ambitious. The dream to change the trajectory of their families’ lives rests on their shoulders.
As we celebrate this year’s Women’s History Month, stand with us as we continue our journey towards a nation where all Americans have equal access to a college education, because “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.”®
Sincerely,
Dr. Michael L. Lomax
President and CEO
PS: Black women show great interest and motivation in pursuing higher education when given the chance. Among Black students, they earn 64.1% of bachelor’s degrees, 71.5% of master’s degrees and 65.9% of doctoral, medical and dental degrees.