Rutgers SPAA is honored to co-sponsor and welcome, with the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP), U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester as the 2025 Honorary Senator Wynona Lipman Chair in Women's Political Leadership at Rutgers University. Senator Blunt Rochester made history in 2024 as Delaware’s first woman and first Black person elected to the U.S. Senate. 

Senator Blunt Rochester will speak in this year’s event titled, “Citizen to Changemaker: Making Your Voice Matter.” The discussion will explore the power of civic engagement, the impact of representation, the role race and gender play in U.S. politics, and how individuals can drive meaningful change.

The Senator Wynona Lipman Chair in Women’s Political Leadership was created to honor the legacy of the late state Senator Wynona Lipman, the first Black woman to serve in the New Jersey State Senate. The Lipman Chair is intended to celebrate Senator Lipman, remind people of her achievements, and encourage others to follow in the footsteps of this path-breaking Black woman leader. CAWP is grateful to the governor and the state legislature for their commitment to honoring Senator Lipman's memory and advancing women's leadership.