May 20, 2010

Vision 2020 announced the selection of 102 national delegates – extraordinary women who were chosen to shape the future of women’s leadership into the next decade. Vision 2020 is a national project of the Institute for Women’s Health and Leadership at Drexel University College of Medicine, focused on advancing gender equality by energizing the dialogue about women and leadership.

Two women leaders were nominated and selected from all 50 states, including the District of Columbia, to join Vision 2020 as national delegates.

• More than 1,000 people registered to nominate or become Vision 2020 national delegates.
• 102 women were selected as national delegates.
• 13 women were selected as visionary delegates, who will advise and assist the national delegates by connecting them to organizations and resources that will assist in the implementation of the action agenda.

“The credentials and commitment of the women who applied to become national delegates was astounding,” said Lynn Yeakel, Vision 2020 co-chair and director of Drexel University College of Medicine’s Institute for Women’s Health and Leadership. “We have no doubt these women will be effectively leading the initiative in their states.”

Among the national delegates are a federal judge, medical doctors, college and university professors, state senators, leaders of women’s organizations and high-ranking executives. See a complete listing of National and Visionary Delegates by state.

The national search for delegates focused on finding women who have demonstrated a commitment to helping women and girls. The delegates, who serve for three years, will mobilize resources to bring about positive change and implement elements of the decade-long Vision 2020 agenda.

Vision 2020 kicks off October 21, 2010, with a two-day conference at the National Constitution Center. The conference is composed of eight conversation topic areas: Arts & Culture; Business, Law & Finance; Communications & Media; Education; Politics & Government; Health; Philanthropy, Faith & Volunteerism; and Science, Technology & Engineering. Each conversation has three panelists, two moderators and a large audience participating in a dynamic discussion about issues and solutions to these issues in their fields.

For more information about Vision 2020 and the National Delegates, contact Drexel’s Institute for Women’s Health and Leadership at vision2020@drexelmed.edu or 215.991.8830.