Louisiana Center for
Women and Government

Welcome

The Louisiana Center for Women and Government at Nicholls State University was established in 1990 to help encourage the future leadership of women by preparing them for public service through nonpartisan provision and support of education. As part of the center’s mission, it develops programs to make women more aware of the governmental process in general and urges women to participate actively in that process on an ongoing basis.

The primary focus of the center is education at various levels. An internship program, which is one of its kind in Louisiana, began with the Spring 1992 semester. The program allows students, both male and female in any major, to earn 15 hours of college credit while gaining hands-on experience working in a governmental office. The students work four days a week and spend one day in the classroom. Interns receive stipends and those assigned to offices in Baton Rouge are provided dormitory space. The internship is open to students from colleges and universities around the state.

The center’s other main activity is the recognition of women leaders in Louisiana at an annual Hall of Fame function.

The center has accepted donations of scholarly books and papers and has purchased library resources to enhance the collection of the Ellender Memorial Library at Nicholls State University.

The center is also a co-sponsor of the Governor’s Conference on Women as part of its efforts to educate more women from across Louisiana about issues that affect them.