Cynthia Hess, Ph.D.

About Cynthia Hess, Ph.D.

Cynthia Hess is Chief Operating Officer (COO) at IWPR and Scholar in Residence at American University. In her role as COO, Cynthia oversees the operations of the Institute while working with program staff to support the execution of research and other projects. As COO, Cynthia serves as a member of the executive leadership team within the organization and works closely with the President and staff to develop and implement organizational systems and processes to maximize efficiency and support future growth.

Prior to her position as COO, Cynthia served as Associate Director of Research, directing IWPR’s research on numerous issues including projects on intimate partner violence, workforce development, and women’s leadership and activism. Under her tenure, IWPR expanded its longstanding Status of Women in States project and launched an accompanying website, statusofwomendata.org. Cynthia has been quoted in a number of media outlets including The Washington Post, Fortune, Governing magazine and, The Boston Globe.

Before joining the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, Dr. Hess taught for two years as a visiting faculty member in the Philosophy and Religious Studies Department at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. She received her Ph.D. in Theology from Yale University and her A.B. from Davidson College.

Closing the Gender Gap in Patenting, Innovation, and Commercialization: Programs Promoting Equity and Inclusion

This report profiles programs designed to increase gender diversity in patenting, innovation, and entrepreneurship in a variety of settings, including academic institutions, corporations, and government and nonprofit organizations.

By Elyse Shaw and Cynthia Hess, Ph.D.|2020-10-28T18:55:38-05:00July 24, 2018|IWPR|Comments Off on Closing the Gender Gap in Patenting, Innovation, and Commercialization: Programs Promoting Equity and Inclusion

The Economic Security of Older Women and Men in Hawaii

This briefing paper examines many aspects of the economic security of women and men aged 65 and older in Hawai`i, including their marital status, poverty, and various sources and amounts of income, with attention to disparities by gender and race/ethnicity.

By Emma Williams-Baron, Julie Anderson, Cynthia Hess, Ph.D. and Jessica Milli|2020-10-30T03:55:17-05:00May 24, 2017|IWPR|Comments Off on The Economic Security of Older Women and Men in Hawaii