Who We Are

Las Vegas Branch, Inc., of AAUW includes members from the surrounding communities around the greater Las Vegas area in northern New Mexico. It was founded in 1955. Out of the 28 branches established in New Mexico since 1923, our branch, along with ten others, has operated continuously. It was incorporated in 2005.

We are fortunate to live in a community which is served by Luna Community College, New Mexico Highlands University and the United World College. Members supported the Corrine Wolfe International Fellowship, Legal Advocacy Fund, Education Foundation and work tirelessly to present public policy issues at community forums.

We are a diverse group of professional career women, community activists, teachers, parents, musicians and artists. We are seasoned, single, married, single again, employed and retired.

The Legal Advocacy Fund (#3999)

The Legal Advocacy Fund supports the protection of the legal rights of those who are facing discrimination. Some of LAF’s programs include

  • Legal Case Support, which protects LAF plaintiffs by supporting workplace sex discrimination cases.
  • LAF Case Support Travel Grants, which protect AAUW members through educational programs about legal rights delivered by LAF plaintiffs and lawyers.
  • Campus Outreach Projects, which protect college students from discrimination, harassment, and assault through on-campus program grants.

The Educational Opportunities Fund (#4336)

The Educational Opportunities Fund supports educational and lifelong learning opportunities that give women a chance for a lifetime of success. Some of our programs include

  • Fellowships and Grants: There are hundreds of endowed fund numbers, each for a specific fellowship, career development grant, community action grant, or selected professions award. Continue to reference the same fund numbers you have always used.
  • The Fellows Alumnae Initiative, which inspires women by providing access to the network of past and current AAUW fellows and grantees.
  • AAUW Tech Trek, which educates and inspires eighth grade girls across the country in science, technology, engineering, and math through weeklong camps.

The Public Policy Fund (#4337)

The Public Policy Fund supports advocacy for public policies and laws that are fair to women. Public policy programs include

  • Government Relations: AAUW advocates on Capitol Hill and in the White House, ensuring that our voices are heard in the halls of Congress and at the tables of power when decisions that affect women and girls are made.
  • Civic Engagement, which helps women act as their own advocates by providing members with the information and tools to build robust woman-to-woman voter registration and turnout drives in their communities.
  • Field Organizing, which engages individuals and branches in public policy advocacy through Impact Grants, Action Network, the Two-Minute Activist program, and Washington Update.

The Eleanor Roosevelt Fund (#9170)

The Eleanor Roosevelt Fund supports AAUW research to provide analysis, data, and accurate information about issues that are important to women and girls. Past reports include Why So Few? Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (2010), Crossing the Line: Sexual Harassment at School (2011), The Simple Truth about the Gender Pay Gap (2012), and Graduating to a Pay Gap: The Earnings of Women and Men One Year after College Gradation (2012).

The Leadership Programs Fund (#4339)

The Leadership Programs Fund (#4339) supports programs that develop women’s potential to lead in their schools, communities, and country. Leadership programs include

  • The National Conference for College Women Student Leaders: Attendees develop their leadership skills, networks, and ambition at this acclaimed, intensive three-day conference held annually in Washington, D.C.
  • Campus Action Projects: AAUW awards grants to campus leaders to deliver programs guided by the findings and recommendations of AAUW research to address a gender-based issue in their community. Replicable or ongoing projects are selected to provide continued leadership training and support for women leaders.
  • Elect Her, which teaches leaders the skills they need to run for student government. This program successfully increases the number of women who are involved in making decisions that affect all students on campus. These student leaders are also introduced to a national network of women who are running for and holding public offices.

The Corrine Wolfe International Fellowship

The Corrine Wolfe International Fellowship was established by AAUW-New Mexico to honor one who championed the disadvantaged in our state for more than 25 years. She once taught at Highlands University in the Department of Social Work and was greatly admired by her colleagues here and elsewhere. Together, we funded this fellowship to a level of $100,000.

The Virginia Gildersleeve International Fund

The Virginia Gildersleeve International Fund provides grants worldwide to improve the lives of women and children by funding projects for education, leadership training, community development, and the advancement of understanding and cooperation among woman. In principal and in practice, AAUW values and seeks a diverse membership. There shall be no barriers to full participation in this organization on the basis of gender, race, creed, age, sexual orientation, natural origin, disability or class.