Kristy Trautmann Set to Center Disability Rights at the Barbara Stone Hollander '60 Lecture
From its inception in 1997, The Barbara Stone Hollander ‘60 Lecture Series has brought women who are forerunners in their fields to campus to inspire future leaders of the student body. Hosted through the Women’s Institute and in memory of Barbara Stone Hollander ‘60, a leader in women’s rights activism, this semester’s lecture will be given by Kristy Trautmann, executive director of the FISA Foundation.
Kristy Trautmann, Executive Director, FISA Foundation
(she/her)
At the FISA Foundation, a charitable organization focused on improving the lives of women, girls and people with disabilities, Trautmann has led a number of regional initiatives that have furthered the impact of the organization. She has headed the formation of the Girls Coalition of Southwestern PA and Standing Firm, an initiative that works with companies to address partner violence when one of the partners is an employee. She has also worked on a number of initiatives that improve accessibility among arts and cultural organizations and access to health care for people with disabilities. She also serves on the board of 21 and Able (a United Way initiative focused on improving the transition to adulthood and employment for young adults with disabilities), UPMC’s Disability Resource Center, and the Finance Committee for Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania. Her lecture will focus on addressing ableism in our everyday lives and incorporating the topic of disability into the global conversation surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion.
“Each semester this lecture brings in a woman leader to talk about not only women’s leadership, but also her own journey, her own work and her observations about the status of women and leadership. I can think of nobody better to do all of those things than Kristy Trautmann whose own work has been focused on women and girls and people with disabilities,” says Dr. Jessie Ramey, Director of the Chatham University Women’s Institute and associate professor of women's and gender studies. “I think that the topic of her lecture is so important because that is something we just don’t hear enough about on our campus and more broadly. We can expect to hear about some of the other facets of her work as well, but I’m really excited to hear about the disability work that she is doing.”
Trautmann will also be attending the Women’s Leadership in the 21 Century class, a part of Chatham’s Women’s and Gender Studies program, the morning of her lecture to meet with students and talk further about her work.
“We have not yet heard from a leader of a foundation in the philanthropy community, and one of the things that is so unique about Kristy’s work is that it is so intersectional. Her lecture gives us space in the classroom to understand these intersections, that the Women’s Institute, the Women’s and Gender Studies program and Chatham itself are interested in,” says Ramey.
The lecture will be held virtually on Thursday, March 17 from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm. It is free and open to the public, but registration is required to attend. More information and contact information can be found by visiting our events webpage.
The Barbara Stone Hollander ’60 Women’s Leadership Fund also sponsors a student scholarship each year to support the growth of Chatham women’s leadership. To learn more about the opportunity and application procedure, go here.