Yale-based Campaign School Graduate Kirsten Gillibrand Appointed to the United States Senate

Kirsten Gillibrand, the new U.S. Senator from New York, occupying the seat vacated by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, is a graduate of the Women’s Campaign School at Yale University (WCSY).

Gillibrand, a Democrat who had been reelected in November to her second term representing New York’s 20th Congressional District, is a 2005 graduate of the annual WCSY Summer Session.

“Kirsten Gillibrand’s deep commitment to government and the political process was evident throughout her time at the Women’s Campaign School, and that is why no one who met her then was surprised when she launched and won a seemingly insurmountable congressional campaign less than a year after graduation,” said Deb Sofield, president of the Women’s Campaign School at Yale. “Her tenacity and work ethic are emblematic of the type of leadership our program seeks to nurture. On behalf of the Women’s Campaign School’s Board, alumnae and especially her former classmates, we congratulate Kirsten and wish her the best of luck as she continues to break barriers.”

The faculty sponsor of WCSY, Professor Kate Stith of Yale Law School, added: “While Women’s Campaign School students hail from all walks of life, the school has had many students who, like Kirsten, have law degrees and have previously practiced law before deciding to meet the challenge of a new career in public office.” Gillibrand graduated from Dartmouth College and U.C.L.A. School of Law and then practiced law in New York City before attending WCSY.

The Women’s Campaign School at Yale is a non-partisan, issue-neutral political campaign-training program. Its mission is to provide the best training in the world for women who want to run for office or who want to move up to higher elective office. The program prepares women to run political campaigns and to pursue careers in elective public service.