The Women’s Center

The Duke Divinity School Women’s Center serves as both a healing place for women-identifying people and as an educational space for everyone in the Divinity School community. We believe both of these commitments—healing and educating—are tools of empowerment. We see our work as deeply core to the mission of the Jesus Christ, who in birth and resurrection appeared first to women and values all of us as made in God’s own image.

Three female students pose smiling, (far left) in green floral shirt, (middle) in black shirt and colorful scarf, (far right) white shirt

Creating a Healing Place

Duke Divinity Women’s Center is a healing place. Our prayer is that our room at 021 Gray will become a place of sanctuary and sisterhood for women-identifying people at Duke Divinity School.

We aim to create a space where women-identifying people can come to study, pray, read, chat, stretch, cry, nap, breast-feed, and draw. We provide tea, coffee, eating utensils, pads, tampons, art supplies, and assorted health items in the center. Guests are invited to borrow a book, post art, store their lunch in the fridge, or make a pot of coffee.

We also provide a breast-feeding room for nursing mothers equipped with a refrigerator and changing table.

We ask our Christian brothers to recognize the ways in which women-identifying people experience marginalization, disempowerment, and harassment inside and outside of the Divinity School. We hope our male colleagues and friends will honor our desire for a small room of our own to retreat to periodically for the sake of healing.

Since 1974, The Women’s Center serves as a clearinghouse for information on a variety of issues affecting women and provides opportunities for interaction, networking, challenge and growth, as well as a sacred space for those in the community who experience struggles in their lives or ministries. Our current education work engages the vast spectrum of women-centric theologies ranging from womanism, queer, mujerista, and feminism through conversations with people of all genders.

Certificate in Gender, Sexuality, Theology, and Ministry

AN INTELLECTUAL AND COLLABORATIVE SPACE

This program enables students to make the study of gender, sexuality, theology, and ministry a core component of their theological education. It fosters a collaborative environment for teaching, research, service learning, and dialogue.

Learn More

Two female students with glasses pose with red crosses in front of stained glass window, (far left) in striped shirt and (far right) in jean jacket and white and blue plain shirt

How You Can Help

The Women’s Center and the Gender, Sexuality, Theology, and Ministry Certificate Program are raising money for an endowment that would provide long-term support to enhancing our programs with the expansion of training for clergy in response to domestic violence, additional lecture series, scholarships for divinity students who earn the certificate, and more.

Contributions may be made to Duke Divinity School (memo line: GTM Program Code 399-2818), and may be sent to:

Office of External Relations
Duke Divinity School
Box 90966
Durham, NC 27708-0966

Get Informed

Get Help at Duke

The Women’s Center of Duke University, located in the Bryan Center, serves as an inclusive and safe space on campus for women and allies. It provides students with resources and education on intersectionality and gender equity as well as a positive, supporting environment.

Duke University Women’s Center
Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Phone: (919) 684-3897
Email: WCHelp@duke.edu

Walk-ins are always welcome, no appointment is necessary
After hours, weekends, and holidays: page (919) 970-2108 or email WCHelp@duke.edu

If this is an emergency situation and you feel you are in danger, call 911 or Duke Police at (919) 684-2444.

Locally

Durham Crisis Hotline
(919) 403-6562

Nationally

National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
1-800-787-3224 (TTY)

Additional Programs and Resources

Jill Raitt Lecture Series

A distinguished speaker is invited to speak at the Divinity School in a formal lecture, in honor of Jill Raitt, the first tenured female faculty.

Panel Discussions

Each semester, the Women’s Center organizes a panel discussion on a wide range of topics such as “Faith and Bodies,” “Theology of Feminism,” “The Church and Homosexuality,” “Ethics, Theology, and Civil Engagement,” as well as many others.

Women's Week

Each year, the Women’s Center sponsors a women’s week with activities that celebrate women. The week includes a Women’s Center-led chapel service in Goodson, in which a female student is invited to preach. Other events concerning women's issues are scheduled throughout the week.

Ministry Mentors Program

Women seminary students who seek mentors can be paired with a woman serving in various denominations and ministries in the wider Durham/Triangle community. If you would like to be paired with a mentor, please contact the Women’s Center.

Celebrating the Women's Center

The Women's Center celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2024 with worship, panels, and more.

Faculty advisors for the Women's Center pose in a photobooth

Current and former faculty advisors for the Women's Center.

Jung Choi and Alma Ruiz speak during worship service

Rev. Dr. Mindy Makant speaks during worship

The featured preacher for the 50th anniversary event was Rev. Dr. Mindy Makant, associate professor of religious studies at Lenoir–Rhyne University and Duke Divinity alumna, Th.D.

Speaker during Women's Center 50th event