Organizational History

Professor Shirley Randell

Professor Shirley Randell AO, PhD, Hon. DLitt was the Founding Director of the Centre for Gender, Culture, and Development (CGCD) at the Kigali Institute of Education (KIE) in Kigali, Rwanda from 2010 to 2012.  It is now the Centre for Gender Studies in the College of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Rwanda. 

At the end of Dr. Randell’s three years of service leading the CGCD, she had overseen the enrollment for three cohorts of students enrolled in the new Master of Gender and Development degree and produced 80 graduates. 

Establishing the Shirley Randell Scholarship

Professor Gertrude Fester, one of the senior faculty of CGCD in 2011-12, recommended the establishment of a Shirley Randell Gender Studies Scholarship to commemorate her work and to honor scholars in the program.  Prior to the establishment of Empowering Women, Inc., the scholarship was supported by friends of Dr. Randell, participants in educational tours arranged by Dr. Randell, and the sale of Rwandan earrings and baskets.  Two Shirley Randell scholars, both of whom provided significant voluntary service during the establishment of the CGCD, were supported. 

Founding Empowering Women in Education, Inc. to Ensure the Future

In 2020 the foundation Empowering Women, Inc. was organized to ensure that the scholarship program would continue and the University of Rwanda. We work in partnership with other organizations that promote women’s education and global gender equity to raise awareness about the need to ensure access to key programs in gender, women, and development.  We raise money through speaker fees and individual donations.  For scholarships made in Rwanda, the University of Rwanda Solidarity and Development Foundation selects recipients (in consultation with our board) and disburses the funds.