Student Programs

The Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) program is a leadership development, resilience coaching, and career readiness program for undergraduate students.

Designed to respond to the unique opportunities and challenges students face at each stage of their undergraduate experience, LEAD provides participants with the tools, training, and community to navigate the journey from college to life and careers successfully.

What are the benefits of participating in LEAD?

• Being inspired to lead and take pride in your individual and collective achievements.
• Feeling empowered through experiential leadership training and problem-solving opportunities.
• Embracing experiences to build a resume, including job shadowing, internships, and community service.
• Exploring scholarship opportunities..
• Getting connected to a supportive network.
• Receiving lessons in life and career preparation, including salary negotiation, personal finances, and interview skills.
• Attending outings and events, forums, and conferences.
• Participating in professional, practical-life skills, and leadership development sessions.
• Forming lifelong bonds with fellow cohort members who empower each other

Who can apply for the LEAD program?

LEAD is for undergraduate students at the University of Hartford. Its cohort program is limited to 25-30 students per graduation class.

The call for LEAD applications is sent to incoming first-year students every spring. All applicants must secure their enrollment deposit before applying.

Please note that the deadline to complete the application for the 2025–26 academic year is June 1, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.

 

Dorothy Goodwin Project Grants – 2025 Open to All Call for Applications

This fund was created to honor Dorothy Goodwin, an educator, politician, world traveler, visionary, and family member, who inspired others to live beyond limitations and realize their full potential. She recognized and modeled that reaching one’s potential requires challenging opportunities, committed mentors, and financial support.

In honor of her influence and philanthropic spirit, The Women’s Advancement Initiative is proud to announce this annual project grant program that supports students engaged in creative, scholarly, or research projects with a University of Hartford mentor. Awards range from $1,000–$3,000 for projects to be completed in the Spring or Spring/Summer semesters.

Application Deadline: October 19, 2025
Submit the completed proposal to womenadv@hartford.edu by the deadline.

Who Is Eligible?

Dorothy Goodwin Project Grants are open to all creative self-starters who meet the following criteria:

• Be a sophomore, junior, senior, or post-baccalaureate certificate student or a graduate student (master's or doctoral) when applying for and completing the project. Up to 25% of scholarships to be awarded may be allocated to graduate students.
• Be in good academic standing with a GPA≥ 3.0.
• Develop and be able to implement an innovative, creative, scholarly, or research project that will be explored in partnership with a University of Hartford mentor (faculty, adjunct faculty, or staff).

Examples of Possible Projects

A student musician might explore the contributions of composers, crafting a performance that brings the life and works of the composer to greater public attention. A student scientist might pair with a mentor in carrying out a particular set of experiments as an independent project or as one aspect of a greater research agenda; the results compiled into a poster session for a professional conference or a paper co-authored and submitted to an academic journal. A student sociologist might select a discrete social issue and design an intervention to be implemented, measured, and evaluated.

Application Process

Application Deadline: October 19, 2025
Submit the completed proposal to womenadv@hartford.edu by the deadline.

Please include the following in your application and proposal:

• Applicant name, address, email (University and personal), phone (cell and home), expected graduation date, college, department, major, degree/program being pursued
• Please attach a resume and a transcript (unofficial copies will be accepted)
• Required Summary: Summarize your project and introduce yourself in a summary of 500 words or fewer. Include a brief project description, the need for this project/research, your proposed process/plan, how this project/research will impact you as a student and/or your future career and personal aspirations, and proposed use of scholarship funds (including if your project has additional funding).
• Complete Project Narrative (no more than three double-spaced pages total):
  • What are the main goals or questions that led you to want to undertake this project? You can include academic, professional, and personal goals/questions.
  • What activities or roles will you undertake during this project? How do they relate to your goals?
  • What does success in this project look like, and how will you know if you have succeeded?
• Project Timetable: When, and in what sequence, do you anticipate project activities taking place?
• Financial Plan: Awards of $1,000–$3,000 are available to Dorothy Goodwin Project Grantees. As best you can, please use the table that follows to describe how the Dorothy Goodwin funds will be used. Additional rows can be added. Note that there is a column to show additional funds you have or may receive for this project. Feel free to add comments below if you think it will help us understand your financial plans.
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• Project Impact: Please describe how this project and the award will have an impact on you academically, professionally, and/or personally. What do you anticipate learning from this project and your mentor? How does this connect with your future plans? How will receiving this scholarship make a difference in your life?
• Optional Statement: The Women’s Advancement Initiative is proud to be the legacy of Hartford College for Women, which was known for supporting and empowering its students. You are welcome to describe a time when you have demonstrated or had to be resilient. Feel free to share any information about yourself and your life that you're comfortable with.
• Faculty/Staff: Complete the Dorothy Goodwin Project Grantee Mentor Form and attach it to a one-page abbreviated CV or bio.

Proposal Review

Proposals will be judged by a committee representing The Women’s Advancement Initiative Board of Directors. Projects will be evaluated on the following criteria:

• Quality of project
• Originality of research or creative project
• Feasibility of research or creative project
• Student applicants’ capacity to contribute to, and benefit from, mentor partnership
• Student’s personal narrative
• Mentors’ capacity to contribute to, and benefit from, mentee partnership
• Student’s availability to participate in academic-year programming

Additional Requirements

• Awardees will be expected to participate in periodic workshops and advising sessions with staff and volunteers of The Women’s Advancement Initiative that will enhance their experience.
• Selected student applicants will receive a total award package of $1,000–$3,000, payable in two installments (75% of the award will be payable at start of scholarship period and 25% of the award will be paid upon completion of project requirements). This includes submission of final report and monthly project updates for Women’s Advancement’s e-newsletters and social media once a month, initial and final thank you letters to donors who make this program possible, and completed final report.
• All Dorothy Goodwin Project Grantees will publicly present their projects at The Women’s Advancement Initiative’s Annual Symposium scheduled for March 26, 2026. At this presentation and in any presentations, handouts or publications, students must include—This project is made possible with underwriting support from The Women’s Advancement Initiative – Dorothy Goodwin Project Grants
• Specific uses of the award will be reviewed with individual recipients, and may include scholarship dollars, project materials, conference registration, travel, etc. In addition, mentors will also receive $500 toward professional development in recognition of their service and project oversight.

For Questions or Proposal Assistance

Please get in touch with Dina Morris Lyga, Director of The Women’s Advancement Initiative.

Email: glmorris@hartford.edu

Phone: 860.768.5961

If you need this application in a Word Document format, please email womenadv@hartford.edu.

Application Deadline: October 19, 2025
Submit the completed proposal to womenadv@hartford.edu by the deadline.

Created by his widow, Margaret Donovan, the Robert E. Donovan Scholarship Fund honors and celebrates the life of Robert E. Donovan, who believed in the transformative power of education. These scholarships are awarded each year to one or more engineering students who are on track to complete their degrees but need financial assistance to continue.