DURHAM, N.H. - The University of New Hampshire was selected as one of 50 campus sites across the United States and Jamaica to host Elect Her—Campus Women Win this fall. UNH's training was extended and will include a second session for the surrounding community as well as training for students to run effective student government and future office campaigns Nov. 6-7, 2015.

The NH Feminist Leadership Community Summit will be held Friday, Nov. 6, from 5-8 p.m. Local women and feminist leaders at all levels from New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Maine will join with community members, faculty, staff, and students to discuss the future of feminist leadership over dinner and workshops. RSVPs are required and should be sent to Faina.Bukher@unh.edu.

The second part, Elect Her Training, will be held Saturday, Nov. 7, from 10:30 a.m to 3:30 p.m. A collaboration between American Association of University Women (AAUW) and Running Start, Elect Her addresses the need to expand the pipeline of women candidates and to diminish the longstanding gender gap in political leadership. Student requests for applications should be sent to Faina.Bukher@unh.edu.

For more information: http://cola.unh.edu/womens-studies/nh-feminist-leadership-community-summit-feminist-leadership-premiere-event-and-elect

"Elect Her is such an excellent program because it is the only program that prepares women to run for student government and public elected office," said Marla Brettschneider, professor of women's studies and political science at UNH. "That is so important because there remains a tremendous gender gap at both levels, even starting at the student level."

"We want women to see themselves as political leaders on campus, because that makes them more likely to continue on in public office after college," said Kate Farrar, director of AAUW Campus Leadership Programs. "Our nation needs women leaders because they help change the conversation, whether it's in student government, City Hall, or Congress. The problems facing our country are tremendous, and we can't just be satisfied with the status quo. Having a diversity of perspectives is crucial to addressing our biggest challenges."

AAUW empowers women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research. The nonpartisan, nonprofit organization has more than 170,000 members and supporters across the United States, as well as 1,000 local branches and more than 800 college and university partners. Since AAUW's founding in 1881, members have examined and taken positions on the fundamental issues of the day—educational, social, economic, and political. Learn more at www.aauw.org.

Running Start is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that brings young women to politics so that they are knowledgeable about the process, invested in the outcome, and interested in participating as elected leaders. Our programs educate young women and girls about the importance of politics and imbue them with the skills they need to be leaders so that they can get the "running start" they need to achieve greater political power. With an earlier start in politics, women will climb higher on the leadership ladder, allowing more women to share in the decision-making power of this country. Find out more at www.runningstartonline.org.

The University of New Hampshire, founded in 1866, is a world-class public research university with the feel of a New England liberal arts college. A land, sea, and space-grant university, UNH is the state's flagship public institution, enrolling 13,000 undergraduate and 2,500 graduate students.