The Yale University Women’s Organization was established in 1965, and was originally designed to welcome and serve all women members of the Yale community, including female faculty and staff, wives of faculty and staff, and others affiliated with the university in any way. According to the organization’s bylaws,
“The purpose of the organization is to provide women in the Yale community with opportunities to pursue intellectual and social interests; to develop friendships; and to support the scholarship program.”
Education, recreation, and service have formed the heart of the organization’s structure from its earliest days. Talks by guest speakers such as Robert Penn Warren, Betty Friedan, Lillian Hellman, and James Earl Jones and lecture series by Yale professors in fields ranging from astronomy to literature to economics have been some of the highlights — and hallmarks — of YUWO’s 40-year history. The group’s Scholarships for Continuing Education program offers members a means of providing support and encouragement to other women of the Yale community. As for recreation, our list of activity groups speaks for itself!
Who are the members of YUWO?
Membership in YUWO is open to all women who are friends of the Yale community. For additional information about membership in YUWO, click here.
What’s in it for you?
YUWO offers women members of the university community, whether new to Yale and the New Haven area or long-time members of the Yale family, a variety of opportunities for learning, friendship, and service. Activity groups offer everything from language study to bus excursions to gourmet cooking.
Our Newcomers group offers those who are new to YUWO an opportunity to meet other newcomers.
The popular Lunch and Learn lunch-hour lecture series features exciting speakers from both within and outside the Yale community. Designed to accommodate those with busy workday schedules, the series begins at 12 noon. Recently, some lectures have been presented in person and others via Zoom.
Our Fall and Spring Lecture Series also offer stimulating opportunities for growing and learning. Topics of recent lecture series, which are generally 4-5 lectures given by current or retired Yale faculty, have included the poetry of Emily Dickinson, black holes and other astronomical wonders, southeast Asian history.“YUWO is an all volunteer organization. Its members are active in running the organization, as board members, program chairs, and supporters of the YUWO Scholars Program.
Exploring Yale and New Haven offers a number of opportunities to visit and learn about new, unusual or less well known destinations in the New Haven area. Members meet at the chosen location, and the visits last about one hour. The tour groups may sometimes be limited in size, depending on the requirements of our destination.
Click here for the most recent Annual Report.
Click here for the Bylaws of the Yale University Women’s Organization.
YUWO is an all volunteer organization. Its members are active in running the organization, as board members, program chairs, and supporters of the YUWO Scholars Program.