The Young Women Leaders Program (YWLP) was founded in 1997 by Edith "Winx" Lawrence and Kim Roberts who recognized that adolescence is a hard time for girls - and their families! The founders believed that, with the support of experienced faculty, college women and middle school girls could support and encourage each other in meaningful and memorable ways. YWLP is a joint program of the School of Education and Human Development and the Maxine Platzer Lynn Women's Center.
"Some of my deepest friendships at UVA were built through YWLP. I'm also still in touch with my little sister years later!"
Katherine McGehee (CLAS 2012)
Since it's founding, YWLP has served hundreds of young women Central Virginia and beyond. Seeing program participants continue to thrive long after their time in YWLP motivates us to keep working to make this experience the best it can be. We've been proud to see middle school girls who have participated in YWLP go on to college years later at schools such as:
- Eastern Mennonite University
- George Mason University
- Indiana University
- James Madison University
- Liberty University
- Lynchburg College
- University of Michigan
- Ohio University
- Piedmont Virginia Community College
- Ringling College of Art and Design
- University of California-Irvine
- University of Virginia
- Virginia Commonwealth University
- Virginia State University
- Virginia Wesleyan University