Bryant dedicates the Gertrude Meth Hochberg Women’s Center

On Tuesday, March 22, Bryant will celebrate the dedication of the Women’s Center to honor Gertrude Meth Hochberg, former Bryant vice president and visionary leader for women’s rights. A luncheon at noon in the Heidi and Walter Stepan Grand Hall in the George E. Bello Center for Information Technology will feature tributes to Hochberg from family and friends. An unveiling of the newly named Gertrude Meth Hochberg Women’s Center will follow in the Bryant Center.

An early visionary, Hochberg made a personal commitment to be a role model for women students at Bryant. Beginning with her position as director of public relations in 1949, and later as vice president of the College, Hochberg was a lifelong advocate for women’s issues. She was the moving force behind the first Commencement address given by a woman (Oveta Culp Hobby, 1953), and organized Bryant’s first women’s symposium in 1963, a precursor to today’s successful Women’s Summit®.

Today, Hochberg’s influence is felt throughout the University, and in the work done by the Bryant Women’s Center. Toby Simon, director of the Women’s Center, says, “It is enormously gratifying to work with students here, especially our female students. Their evolution, transformation, and empowerment are exciting and truly inspirational.”

The Gertrude Meth Hochberg Women’s Center will provide a centralized space to coordinate activities and events that educate the University community about women’s issues and the contributions of women at Bryant and around the world. The Center will serve as a forum for the discussion of issues facing women in business and society, as well as a resource for students, faculty, and staff to gather and celebrate diversity, engage in intellectual discussion, and ensure the full participation of women in the life of the University.

The celebration and dedication of the Gertrude Meth Hochberg Women’s Center is open to the public. Guests are welcome to join distinguished guests, including Hochberg’s children, Erica and Donald Stern, and Faith and Mark Hochberg, at the event. Register here.

If you have benefited from Bryant’s women’s advocacy programs, or were in any way touched by Gertrude Hochberg’s legacy, please consider a gift to the Women’s Center to enrich the experiences of future Bryant graduates.