About Us

Who We Are

The Penn Women’s Center was founded in April, 1973, after protestors occupied College Hall for four days to protest a series of rapes on campus. We moved to our current location on Locust Walk in the early 1990s, following the “Diversify Locust Walk” movement that sought to make Penn safer for minorities and female students. For over 40 years, the center has been active in promoting the rights of women on campus and beyond. We strive to include voices of gender, sexual, and racial minorities, acknowledging that feminism has historically been white and cis-centered. Come visit us to walk through a timeline of our history!

Contact Us

Address:

3643 Locust Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19104

Hours:

  • Monday – Thursday 9:30 am – 5:30 pm
  • Friday 9:30 am – 5:00 pm
  • Evenings and weekends by special arrangement.
Email Penn Women's Center
Call Us 215.898.8611
Support Services

Our Team

Elisa Foster
Elisa Foster (she/her)
Director

As Director of PWC, Elisa supports and advocates for gender equity among all areas of the campus community. Elisa focuses on PWC’s educational programming, community outreach, and on mentoring key student groups such as PAGE (Penn Association for Gender Equity). Prior to joining Penn in 2017, Elisa served as the Manager of the Women’s Leadership & Mentorship Program at Robert Morris University where she supported peer and professional mentoring relationships and developed leadership training programs for undergraduate women.

Elisa has a background in grant writing and strategic planning for nonprofit organizations throughout the Philadelphia region, as a consultant for Fairmount Ventures, and a fundraiser for the Women’s Business Development Center and Urban League of Philadelphia. She also served as a marketing coordinator and market researcher for The Melior Group where she helped colleges and nonprofit organizations meet the needs of their constituencies. In her spare time, Elisa uses these skills to support the local nonprofit community. She is currently a board member of Pathways to Housing PA in Philadelphia and a former board member of Ursuline Support Services in Pittsburgh. 

Elisa received her undergraduate degree in English and Communication with a concentration in Africana studies from Villanova University and her master’s degree in Communication (Media & Cultural Studies) from Villanova.

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Jasmine Greene, J.D.
Jasmine Greene, J.D. (she/her)
Associate Director

As Associate Director of PWC, Jasmine leads various programming and student engagement initiatives, while also advising organizations supported by PWC. She has held various roles in K-12 and higher education settings, which include working in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging offices, along with serving as an adjunct professor of legal research and writing. 

With a passion for gender justice, Jasmine has served in a series of women’s organizations and centers where she led teams to develop programming and outreach efforts focused on feminism advocacy and education, as well as women’s professional and educational ascension. In all her roles, she has worked to confront the educational inequities and opportunity gap faced by historically marginalized groups. 

Jasmine earned her Bachelor of Arts in English and Spanish from Florida State University, a Master of Science in Education from Penn’s Graduate School of Education, and a Juris Doctor from Temple University’s Beasley School of Law. Jasmine believes deeply in the necessity to create positive and meaningful student educational experiences, which fuels her passion for inclusivity and equity for diverse student populations. 

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Catharine Sciolla
Catharine Sciolla (she/her)
Associate Director

As Associate Director of PWC, Catharine’s main responsibility is providing confidential support and resources for students on campus as well as supporting student-led initiatives, such as Take Back the Night. Catharine has previously worked at non-profit organizations supporting students and women who have experienced trauma. Catharine is passionate about gender equity and focuses particularly on trauma-informed care and trauma prevention.

Catharine earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and English from University of Richmond. As a student, Catharine worked with many organizations on University of Richmond’s campus to educate, prevent, and respond to sexual misconduct. Catharine is a proud advocate for all survivors and believes in holistic, compassionate care and systemic interventions that center survivors and those most vulnerable. Catharine received her Master of Social Work from Columbia University.

In her spare time, Catharine likes to play with her two dogs, cook pasta dishes, and watch the same TV shows over and over again with her family (primarily: The Office, Parks and Rec, Brooklyn 99, Schitt’s Creek, and New Girl!). Catharine is always available to talk with you about whatever is on your mind – she is a confidential and supportive resource for all of Penn’s community!

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Lucy Chamberlain (she/her)
Lucy Chamberlain (she/her) Student Program Assistant
Full Bio for Lucy Chamberlain

Lucy Chamberlain is a junior at the University of Pennsylvania, double majoring in Urban Studies and East Asian Languages and Civilizations with a focus on Chinese. Originally from Washington, D.C., she enjoys biking through neighborhoods as a way to explore and connect with her surroundings. This summer, Lucy serves as a program assistant at the Penn Women’s Center and is also interning with Asian Americans United, where she collaborates with community members to reimagine Market East as a vibrant and livable district. On campus, she is actively involved with the Urban Studies Undergraduate Advisory Board, the Penn Association for Gender Equity, Community School Student Partnerships, and the Penn Meditation & Buddhism Club. In her free time, Lucy enjoys cooking and taking long walks while listening to music. 

Tricia Tchamabo (she/her)
Tricia Tchamabo (she/her) Student Program Assistant
Full Bio for Tricia Tchamabo

Tricia Tchamabo is a junior at the University of Pennsylvania majoring in Health and Societies with a concentration in Race, Gender, and Health. She serves as a first-year coordinator for the Penn Association for Gender Equity’s (PAGE) Gender Equity Pre-Orientation Program and is actively involved with affiliated organizations including the Shea Collective and PALS. Tricia’s work, research, and advocacy focus on reproductive justice, Black maternal health, and domestic violence, with a commitment to addressing systemic health disparities and advancing gender equity for marginalized communities. Through intersectional leadership, campus programming, and community-based advocacy, she strives to promote health justice and create inclusive spaces that center the voices and experiences of women and other marginalized groups at Penn and beyond. 

Amy Liao (she/her)
Amy Liao (she/her) Student Program Assistant
Full Bio for Amy Liao

Amy Liao is a sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania intending to major in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, with minors in Consumer Psychology and Cinema and Media Studies. Originally from Northeast Philadelphia, Amy serves as a Program Assistant at the Penn Women’s Center, where she supports a variety of initiatives and events that promote equity and inclusion on campus. She joined the PWC community to help foster a stronger sense of belonging at Penn. Beyond her role at PWC, Amy is involved with The Daily Pennsylvanian, the Asian Pacific Student Coalition, and The WALK Magazine, among other activities. In her free time, she enjoys exploring new restaurants and watching Avatar: The Last Airbender. Looking ahead, Amy hopes to travel the world and is considering attending law school. 

 

Luke Godsey (Use my name "Luke" as my pronoun)
Luke Godsey (Use my name "Luke" as my pronoun) Student Program Assistant
Full Bio for Luke Godsey
Kaison Wills (they/them)
Kaison Wills (they/them) Student Program Assistant
Full Bio for Kaison Wills

Kaison is a freshman with an intent to major in English with a concentration in Gender and Sexuality. They are originally from Johnstown, PA (Flood City!). Kaison is a member of the Penn Band, twirling in the majorettes. They spend most of their free time watching anime and visiting their boyfriend and family back at home. At Penn Women’s Center, Kaison develops and manages marketing and social media as well as supports other students’ program planning development. They are looking forward to their next four years at Penn!

Ashley Kim (she/her)
Ashley Kim (she/her) Student Program Assistant
Full Bio for Ashley Kim

Ashley Kim is a sophomore majoring in Health and Societies with a concentration in Health Law and Policy. Originally from Montana, she enjoys hiking, camping, and spending time outdoors. At the Penn Women’s Center, Ashley supports marketing and design efforts across social media, the newsletter, and various programming initiatives, including study breaks and tabling events. Outside of PWC, she is actively involved with Penn Mock Trial, Penn Leads the Vote, and Penn Reproductive Justice. Ashley is deeply passionate about the intersections of gender equity, healthcare, and immigrant rights. She aspires to attend law school and work alongside policymakers to expand access to essential healthcare services for all. In her free time, she enjoys listening to music, reading, and taking walks in nature.

What We Do

Sponsored Programs

We are affiliated with a number of centers and programs on campus, with the goal of centralizing women, gender, and sexuality focused resources. We encourage you to look at our support services and affiliated groups for further information. We offer programs related to: Career Development, Stress Management, Parenting, Sexual Violence Prevention, and Health and Wellness.

Events

We sponsor a number of events throughout the year that highlight issues of gender justice and promote women and gender equity writers, activists, artists, and political and professional leaders. These events include conferences, trainings, and workshops, with topics ranging from restorative justice, to healthy relationships, to men and masculinities. Major sponsored events, co-produced with student groups, include Gender Equity Week, OWN IT Women’s Leadership Summit, Penn Gender Equity Pre-Orientation Program, Reproductive Justice Conference, and Take Back the Night. 

Advocacy

We play an advocacy role regarding issues of gender equity, health, childcare, workplace discrimination, domestic and sexual violence, and mental health.  

Trainings on Gender Equity and Wellness

The Penn Women’s Center offers a variety of interactive trainings designed to promote gender equity, wellness, and supportive practices within our community. Our current menu of training topics includes:

  • How to Talk to a Friend About Mental Health
  • Body Neutrality
  • Dealing with Failure
  • Trauma-Informed Care (Faculty and Staff)
  • Trauma-Informed Care (Students)

If you’re interested in scheduling a training for your group, department, or organization, please email us at vpul-pwc@pobox.upenn.edu. We look forward to working with you to foster a more inclusive and equitable campus!

Our Space

Located in the heart of campus, at 3643 Locust Walk, the Penn Women’s Center offers the perfect space for women, female-identified persons and feminists of all genders to study, relax, host meetings, and workshops or team up for civic engagement projects.

More than just a building, we are also home to a fully equipped nursing room, complete with a Medela Symphony breast pump, that provides a cozy private space for breastfeeding and/or pumping. We also have an eco-kitchen (PEEK) that can be used for cooking, events or hanging out, a film and book library, a TV lounge, wireless internet access and assorted meeting rooms.

Available Spaces
Sponsorship Form
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