Salem College president Dr. Susan E. Pauly joined presidents of women’s colleges from across the country, as well as dignitaries such as Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, feminist leader Gloria Steinem and Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, for The Women in Public Service Project Colloquium last week in Washington, D.C.

The event served as a global conversation on increasing women’s participation in public service and creating a global network of women equipped to tackle today’s challenges. The colloquium was held to draw public attention to the importance of increasing participation and leadership roles for women in public service, to explore creative solutions to increasing the number of young women who aspire to and are empowered to pursue a career in public service and to build a network of advocates and expertise that will help advance this effort.

“It was truly inspiring to see women leaders meeting and talking about women mentoring women to help them succeed,” says Dr. Pauly.

In addition to college presidents and dignitaries, the event also featured a host of global government leaders, policy makers, public officials, scholars, students, researchers and leaders in public service. The Women in Public Service Project is a new initiative founded by the U.S. Department of State and five women’s colleges (Barnard, Bryn Mawr, Mount Holyoke, Smith and Wellesley) to help build generation of women leaders who will invest in their countries and communities, provide leadership in their governments and change the way global solutions are forged.