The Gertrude Meth Hochberg Women's Center

The Hochberg Women's Center at Bryant offers education for the entire Bryant community about issues that affect women, both on- and off-campus. Annual events celebrate the diversity and contributions of women at Bryant, and around the world, and provide a forum for discussing issues facing women in business and society.

About The Gertrude Meth Hochberg Women's Center

The Hochberg Women's Center is committed to enhancing the quality of life for the community of women at Bryant University. It is a resource for students, faculty, and staff to gather and celebrate diversity, engage in intellectual discussion, and work toward the full participation of women in the life of the University.

The Women's Center supports the mission of Bryant University by

• Providing resources and support to the increasing number of women students on campus
• Organizing programs geared toward increasing women's awareness like Women's HERstory Month
• Participating in International Education Week
• Collaborating with faculty and student organizations to strengthen co-curricular education and foster a student-centered learning environment.

History

What some people may not know is that the Gertrude Meth Hochberg Women’s Center is a fairly new addition to the Bryant campus. Several years ago a group of faculty and staff began to promote the idea of a Women's Center on campus.  The existence of an identifiable space devoted to women's issues, the group felt, would strengthen Bryant's commitment to one of its strategic goals: Working toward gender balance within the student population.  On March 27, 2002, the Women’s Center opened its doors. 

During the first year the center was staffed by volunteer faculty and student workers. In April 2003, Toby Simon was hired as the first Director of the Women Center. 

"It is enormously gratifying to work with students here, especially our female students. From their first days moving in to the residence halls to marching at Commencement, their evolution, transformation, and empowerment is exciting and truly inspirational."

Toby Simon
Assistant to the Dean of Students
Director, Gertrude Meth Hochberg Women's Center

Naming of the Women's Center

In March of 2011 the director of the Women’s Center, along with several faculty and staff members, believed it was fitting to pay tribute to one of Bryant’s own female pioneers who broke the glass ceiling and paved the way for the women of our University – Gertrude Meth Hochberg, by naming the center in her honor.  Gertrude was an ardent advocate for women’s equality and achieved many “firsts” during her accomplished career as Vice President of Public Relations at Bryant which spanned from 1949-1977.    Not only was she the first female vice president of a college or university in Rhode Island, but she was also the moving force behind Bryant’s first Commencement address given by a woman. 

Gertrude helped to promote the University’s focus on educating and empowering women to achieve fulfilling careers – a continuous theme in Bryant’s history.  A consummate professional and a devoted mother and wife, she served as a great mentor and role model, helping women realize that achieving a balance between a career and a loving family can indeed be accomplished.