Victoria A. Budson

Victoria A. Budson is the founding Executive Director of the Women and Public Policy Program (WAPPP) at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.[1] WAPPP closes gender gaps in economic opportunity, political participation, health and education by creating knowledge, training leaders and informing public policy and organizational practices.[2] Budson founded and chairs "From Harvard Square to the Oval Office: A Political Campaign Practicum", a non-partisan initiative of the Women and Public Policy Program that provides a group of Harvard graduate students with the training and support they need to ascend in the electoral process at the local, state and national levels.[3]

Victoria A. Budson
Victoria A. Budson
Websitehttp://www.hks.harvard.edu/centers/wappp/about-us/people-at-wappp/executive-director

Budson serves as chairwoman of the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women, to which she was appointed by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick.[4][5] The commission is an independent state agency created in 1998 to advance Massachusetts women to full equality in all areas of life and promote their rights and opportunities. The Commission is made up of 19 members who are appointed by the governor, Senate president, speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Caucus of Women Legislators.[6] Budson is an appointed member of the Boston Mayoral Women's Workforce Council, the first of its kind in the country, that makes recommendations on policy and workplace proposals to help women in the workforce.[7] Budson is also a member of the Women in Public Service Project Institute Planning Committee.[8] The Project, an initiative founded by the Seven Sisters Colleges Barnard College, Bryn Mawr College, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, and Wellesley College in partnership with the U.S. Department of State, aims to educate a new generation of women committed to public service, create an infrastructure of support and mentoring, and help enable more women to enter public service and political leadership.[9] Before coming to Harvard, Budson was the Political and Community Affairs Director for Steve Grossman. Budson has also worked extensively in Massachusetts’ politics, both as an activist and an elected official on the state and local levels.[10]

Budson is a frequent commentator for news publications, television, and radio programs. Recently, she has participated in discussions on pay discrimination in the workplace at the Center for American Progress[11] and the White House Working Families Summit. Her other appearances include: New York Times,[12] USA Today,[13] the Boston Globe,[14] US News and World Report,[15] and National Public Radio.[16]

Budson graduated Magna Cum Laude and with Departmental Honors from Wellesley College with a joint degree in Sociology and Women’s Studies.[17] As a graduate of the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Mid-Career Masters in Public Administration Program, she received the Lucius N. Littauer Fellow award for her distinction in academics at the Kennedy School, her contribution to the Kennedy School and the greater Harvard community, and her potential for continuing leadership excellence.[18] For her work in closing gender gaps, Victoria was named one of CNN's "Ten Visionary Women" [19] and a member of Boston Magazine's "Power Class".[20]

References
  1. Johnston, Katie. "Boston aims to be first to erase gender wage gap". Boston Globe. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  2. Blyer, Linda. "National Council for Research on Women". National Council for Research on Women. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  3. Lee, Barbara. "Harvard University – Kennedy School of Government". Barbara Lee Family Foundation. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  4. McLean, Derek (July 27, 2011). "Wellesley resident to lead state panel on women". The Boston Globe.
  5. "Victoria A. Budson". Mass.gov. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  6. "About the Commission". Mass.gov. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  7. Nanos, Janelle (January 31, 2013). "How Menino Plans to Address the Wage Gap". Boston Daily. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  8. Kauth, Anne. "Victoria Budson shares her vision for WPSP Pilot Institute". The Women in Public Service Project. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  9. Sergent, Talley. "U.S. Department of State Announces "The Women in Public Service Project"". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  10. Hanson, Katherine; Guilfoy, Vivian; Pillai, Sarita (2009). More than Title IX how equity in education has shaped the nation. Lanham, Md.: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 213. ISBN 0742566420.
  11. "Pay Discrimination Against Women". National Cable Satellite Corporation. April 7, 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  12. Lowrey, Annie (August 26, 2013). "In Obama's High-Level Appointments, the Scales Still Tip Toward Men". The New York Times. Retrieved March 2014. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  13. Madhani, Aamer (March 4, 2013). "Obama nominations: Will they silence diversity critics?". USA Today. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  14. Johnston, Katie. "Boston aims to be first to erase gender wage gap". Boston Globe. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  15. Fox, Lauren (May 4, 2012). "Mitt Romney Can't Dodge Paycheck Fairness and Win Over Women". US News and World Report. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  16. Nickisch, Curt (October 7, 2012). "Massachusetts Senate Race Gives New Meaning To Gender Politics". National Public Radio. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  17. Cabalquinto, Sofiya. "Wellesley Passed Torch of Hosting WPSP Summer Institute to Bryn Mawr". Wellesley College. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  18. Kauth, Anne. "Victoria Budson shares her vision for WPSP Pilot Institute". The Women in Public Service Project. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  19. "The CNN 10 Visionary Women". The New Cable News Network. March 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  20. "The Power of Ideas". Boston Magazine. May 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
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