Marie C. Wilson

Marie C. Wilson
Born Marie Collins
Alma mater Vanderbilt University, University of Delaware, Drake University
Notable work Closing the Leadership Gap: Why Women Can and Must Help Run the World
Spouse(s) Nancy A. Lee
Children 5

Marie C. Wilson is a feminist, author, political organizer and entrepreneur; founder and president emerita of the White House Project and the Ms. Foundation for Women; and creator of Take our Daughters to Work Day.[1][2] She has written Closing the Leadership Gap: Why Women Can and Must Help Run the World[3] and Getting Big: Reimagining the Women's Movement.[4]

Early life and education

Wilson was born and raised in Georgia,[5] the daughter of a typesetter and a dental hygienist. She was high school homecoming queen and a cheerleader. .[6]

Wilson studied philosophy at Vanderbilt University,[6] where she and now-Sen. Lamar Alexander voted against the expulsion of James Lawson for his participation in staging sit-ins at Nashville's lunch counters.[7] She graduated from the University of Delaware and received a Master of Science in higher education from Drake University.[8]

Early career

Wilson married a man who became a minister of music, and followed him to churches in Delaware, Pennsylvania and Iowa, where she developed women's programs at Drake University and became the first woman elected to the Des Moines City Council as a member-at-large in 1983.[1] Later, she served as human resources director for the Iowa Bankers Association.[1]

Ms. Foundation and Take Our Daughters to Work Day

In 1984, Wilson left Iowa, divorcing her husband[6] and leaving the Des Moines City Council to run the New York-based Ms. Foundation for Women.[2] At the foundation, Wilson focused on developing partnerships with large foundations to explore best practices in micro-enterprise through collaborative funding.[2]

In 1993, Wilson created Take Our Daughters to Work Day to help girls connect what they were learning in the classroom to the world of work.[9]

In honor of her work, the Ms. Foundation created The Marie C. Wilson Leadership Fund.[10]

The White House Project

In 1998, while still at the Ms. Foundation, Wilson created the White House Project a national, nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization that aimed to advance women’s leadership in all communities and sectors, up to the U.S. presidency[1][11] through training programs for women candidates and activists.[12]

In 2004, Wilson and the White House Project collaborated with Mattel and Toys "R" Us to create the Barbie for President doll to encourage girls to become leaders.[5][13]

Wilson gave up the presidency of the White House project in 2011.[14] The organization closed in 2013, citing financial reasons.[12]

Personal life

Wilson married Nancy Ann Lee in 2009.[8] She has five children and four grandchildren. She resides in New York City.[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Marie Wilson". Women's Media Center. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Marie's Bio". MarieCWilson.tumblr.com. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  3. ↑ Wilson, Marie C. (2006). Closing the Leadership Gap: Why Women Can and Must Help Run the World. Penguin. ISBN 0143034782.
  4. ↑ Wilson, Marie C. (2014). Getting Big: Reimagining the Women's Movement. PublicAffairs. ISBN 1610393244.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Stone, Judith. "Phenomenal Woman: Coming To A White House Near You". Oprah.com. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Richardson, Lynda (17 February 2004). "PUBLIC LIVES; The Oval Office? Gender Is Her Agenda". New York Times. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  7. ↑ Euchner, Charles (Spring 2007). "The Unsinkable Marie Collins Wilson". Vanderbilt Magazine. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Nancy Lee, Marie Wilson". New York Times. 20 September 2009. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  9. ↑ "Celebrating 20 Years of Take Our Daughters to Work Day". Ms. Foundation for Women. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  10. ↑ "Marie Wilson". Huffington Post. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  11. ↑ "The White House Project". National Council of Women's Organizations. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Flock, Elizabeth (1 February 2013). "Plan to Get Female Leadership in 21st Century Politics". US News and World Report. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  13. ↑ "Barbie Announces a Surprise Bid for the 2004 Presidency; Barbie To Represent Popular ``Party of Girls". BusinessWire. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  14. ↑ Franke-Ruta, Garance (28 January 2013). "The White House Project Shutters Its Doors". The Atlantic. Retrieved 11 April 2014.