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.

The Status of Women in the States: 2015

The Status of Women in the States: 2015 provides critical data to identify areas of progress for women in states across the nation and pinpoint where additional improvements are still needed. It presents hundreds of data points for each state across seven areas that affect women’s lives: political participation, employment and earnings, work and family, poverty and opportunity, reproductive rights, health and well-being, and violence and safety.

By Cynthia Hess, Ph.D., Jessica Milli, Ariane Hegewisch, Stephanie Román, Julie Anderson and Justine Augeri|2020-08-26T23:23:39-05:00May 20, 2015|Report, Status of Women|Comments Off on The Status of Women in the States: 2015

The Status of Women in Washington: Forging Pathways to Leadership and Economic Opportunity

This report provides critical data and analyzes areas of progress for women in Washington, as well as places where progress has slowed or stalled.

By Cynthia Hess, Ph.D. and Jessica Milli|2021-01-23T01:55:14-05:00March 3, 2015|IWPR|Comments Off on The Status of Women in Washington: Forging Pathways to Leadership and Economic Opportunity

Securing a Better Future: A Portrait of Female Students in Mississippi’s Community Colleges

This report presents findings from a survey of female community college students in Mississippi conducted by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) and commissioned by the Women’s Foundation of Mississippi.

The Status of Women in Robeson County, North Carolina

Women in Robeson County, North Carolina, and in North Carolina as a whole, have made significant progress during the last few decades, but more remains to be done to elevate women’s status.

By Cynthia Hess, Ph.D. and Claudia Williams|2021-01-05T02:39:49-05:00August 2, 2013|IWPR|Comments Off on The Status of Women in Robeson County, North Carolina

Increasing Pathways to Legal Status for Immigrant In-Home Care Workers

This paper explores options for reforming the U.S. visa system to increase the pathways to legal status for undocumented immigrant women interested in providing long-term care for the elderly and for individuals with disabilities and chronic illnesses.

By Cynthia Hess, Ph.D. and Jane Henrici|2021-05-07T14:28:59-05:00February 11, 2013|Briefing Paper, IWPR, Publications|Comments Off on Increasing Pathways to Legal Status for Immigrant In-Home Care Workers