Leymah Gbowee, the Liberian social worker, women’s rights advocate, and co-winner of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize, has been chosen to deliver the address at the 148th Commencement of Vassar College on May 20.
Vassar has announced that in recognition of Gbowee’s work to increase educational opportunities for young African women, the college will provide funds for two women from West Africa to study at Vassar. The scholarships will cover full tuition and other expenses for the two women for four years of undergraduate study. Gbowee will work with the college to identify promising candidates for the scholarships.
In 2011, Gbowee publisher her memoir, Mighty Be Our Powers: How Sisterhood, Prayer, and Sex Changed a Nation at War (Beast Books).