Unless you're one of the lucky alumnae who's had the opportunity to attend this incredible institution or you're part of the P.E.O. Sisterhood (238,000 members and counting), chances are you've never heard of Cottey College.
While this liberal arts college for women may be small in size, this approach is intentional. It's a huge advantage for them to be collaborative, integrated and focused. With a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio, it's no wonder that Cottey breeds success. And as you'll find, their legacy, mission, financial backing, accomplished alumnae and continual efforts to foster women leaders are nothing short of a BIG deal. If this is your first introduction, it's my pleasure to give you the download.
Cottey is the ONLY nonsectarian college in the U.S. that's owned and supported by women, for women, and they're kicking off their first-ever "Going Places" Tour this month. Their first stop? DENVER! Full details on their visit are below, but first, here's the scoop:
COTTEY IN NUMBERS
While this liberal arts college for women may be small in size, this approach is intentional. It's a huge advantage for them to be collaborative, integrated and focused. With a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio, it's no wonder that Cottey breeds success. And as you'll find, their legacy, mission, financial backing, accomplished alumnae and continual efforts to foster women leaders are nothing short of a BIG deal. If this is your first introduction, it's my pleasure to give you the download.
Cottey is the ONLY nonsectarian college in the U.S. that's owned and supported by women, for women, and they're kicking off their first-ever "Going Places" Tour this month. Their first stop? DENVER! Full details on their visit are below, but first, here's the scoop:
COTTEY IN NUMBERS
- Since 1884, more than 8,900 women have graduated from this leading liberal arts college. Virginia Alice Cottey founded the college with the firm belief that women deserved the same quality of education as men.
- Since 2009, the college has been developing a curriculum to meet the needs of women in the 21st Century, allowing new faculty the flexibility to create their ideal curriculum.
- 350: Cottey's residential student population of women that typically represents 40 states and 27 countries.
- Over $40 million: the amount raised in a recent campaign that allowed them to break ground on a new Fine Arts Instructional Building.
- $1 million: the largest single cash gift in the history of Cottey from Thelma Serenbetz, which has allowed the formation of the Serenbetz Institute for Women's Leadership, Social Responsibility and Global Awareness.
“The Serenbetz Institute will become a premier women’s leadership program through focused research, innovative instruction, tailored internships, faculty-led travel, and life-long mentorships that equip its graduates to make a responsible difference globally,” - Dr. Carol Clyde, director of the institute
If I could do it all over again, I wish I would have known this college existed. In 2000, Cottey started sending their ENTIRE sophomore class to study in a European city during spring break. And the best part? Students don't pay for these trips through their tuition and fees. They're paid for out of the college's operational reserves. Past visits have included London, Paris, Rome, Florence, Madrid and Barcelona. Cool, right?!
WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP: THE STATS
According to a press release from Cottey College, the inequality of women in the workplace and the need to empower women through leadership development are increasingly evident. Note Michelle Obama’s White House initiative for equality for women; Sheryl Sandberg’s book, Lean In, her TED talks about how, “women aren’t making it to the top of any profession anywhere in the world;” and the United Nation’s International Day of the Girl designed to raise awareness of gender inequality.
According to a press release from Cottey College, the inequality of women in the workplace and the need to empower women through leadership development are increasingly evident. Note Michelle Obama’s White House initiative for equality for women; Sheryl Sandberg’s book, Lean In, her TED talks about how, “women aren’t making it to the top of any profession anywhere in the world;” and the United Nation’s International Day of the Girl designed to raise awareness of gender inequality.
Ensuring that women reach key leadership positions within companies is good for the business community and for our economy overall. A variety of studies show that companies with larger percentages of women in leadership roles significantly outperform companies with reverse gender ratios in leadership.
- Harvard Business Review reported a 2012 study of leaders in a range of successful businesses showed that men are more often placed in leadership roles, but that women at every level were rated as better overall leaders than their male counterparts.
- Forbes reported a DDI/Conference Board study that found, in companies that have the top 20% of financial performance, 27% of leaders are women. Among the bottom 20% of financial performers, only 19% are women.
- A recent Catalyst study showed that companies with the highest percentages of women board directors outperformed those with the lowest by 53% for return on equity, and by 66% for return on invested capital.
- Forbes also reported from the Center for American Progress that just 14.6% of executive officers in the 500 highest-grossing American companies are women. Only 4.6% of CEOs in those companies are female.
- A Catalyst study, headlined, “Still No Progress After Years of No Progress,” reports that women held only 16.9% of corporate board seats in 2012, and no significant gain for the 8th straight year.
- From a political empowerment standpoint, the US currently ranks 60th out of 136 countries in the World Economic Forum’s 2013 Global Gender Gap Index.
- According to Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook, out of 190 heads of state, nine are women.
- 57% of men entering a new position negotiate for salary compared to 7% of women.
- Women have outnumbered men on college campuses since 1988.
- Women outnumber men in earning undergraduate business degrees since 2002.
- Women as equity law partners, medical school deans and corporate executive officers remains at a mere 10 – 20%.
- Women’s “share of voice” – the average proportion of their representation on op-ed pages, as television pundits, on corporate boards and in Congress is just 15%.
- From 1990 to 2010, the U.S. fell from having the sixth highest rate of female labor force (among 22 countries) to 17th on the list.

THE ALUMNAE
From scientists and astronauts to journalists and entrepreneurs, Cottey's alumnae represent almost any industry.
View Cottey's Bachelor Degrees.
View Cottey's Associate Degrees.
Below are just SOME of the notable alumnae. Ahem, notice the first three? They're doing great things in Denver...
From scientists and astronauts to journalists and entrepreneurs, Cottey's alumnae represent almost any industry.
View Cottey's Bachelor Degrees.
View Cottey's Associate Degrees.
Below are just SOME of the notable alumnae. Ahem, notice the first three? They're doing great things in Denver...
- Nicole Vap, Executive Producer at 9News in Denver, Colorado and winner of Alfred I DuPont-Columbia Journalism Silver Baton for excellence in broadcast journalism
- Jennifer Brown Koenig, Education, Legislative and Health care reporter at The Denver Post
- Lynn Bartels, Political Reporter, The Denver Post, Featured writer covering the Oklahoma bombing trials
- Dr. Carol Belt, Meteorologist, completed astronaut training as a Major in U.S. Air Force
- Miriam Stephens Kindred, First woman manager and stockbroker at E.F. Hutton
- Stacy Kerr Wooters, Former special assistant to Nancy Pelosi, now assistant vice president at Georgetown University
- Maggie White Brooks, Founder of Maggie B Natural body products for adults and babies
- Erica Rounsefell, American diplomat posted as Education Officer
- Jen Mele, Product designer for Michael’s Stores, Inc.
- Katie Miller, Production Associate, CBS This Morning at CBS News
- Julie Hunsaker Grandi, Career at Jet Propulsion Laboratories
- Julie Wilson, Wells Fargo Bank, managing clients with sales of $20 million to $200 million
- Nicole Facciuto, Designer on hit shows “Restaurant Impossible” and “Fix This Kitchen"
- Jamie Gray, Assistant professor at the Kansas City Art Institute
- Christine Fuller Scheuneman, Litigation partner at one of the nation’s leading law firms
- Kim Krause Haddow, Head women’s golf coach, University of Arizona, member Golf Coach Hall of Fame
- Carol Littleton, Oscar-nominated film editor for E.T. Other credits include The Big Chill, Places in the Heart, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Accidental Tourist, Benny & Joon (and many more)
- Kelley Smith Tunney, First general manager of the Associated Press and current vice president
- Jamie Eslinger, Former Director of Marketing for Baskin-Robbins and Bertucci’s, author and creator of The Promise 365
- Francine Irving Neff, Former United States Treasurer, signed the 1976 $2 bill
- Marijana Kolak, Former advisor to the Serbian Minister of Energy and Mining
- Morgan Shaw, Senior manager – North American Communications at Nike
- Darya Zhuk, Film producer/Media Analyst at HBO
- Heather Coffin Gerban, Opera singer in New York City
- Robin McClellan, Former U.S. Diplomat, currently Director of Minerals Research Initiatives for Curtin University in Perth, Australia
- Yuliya Smyk, Crude oil trader, British Petroleum
- Jo Anne Youtz McFarland, College President
- Joseryl Beckley, Professional Singer and principal of the Ballanta Academy of Music, Freetown, Sierra Leone
THE "GOING PLACES" TOUR
While in Denver, Cottey College will announce its new, interdisciplinary baccalaureate degrees that are supported by the Serenbetz Institute for Women’s Leadership, Social Responsibility and Global Awareness – degrees designed to help women become more confident, prepared leaders in a global society. Cottey's President, Dr. Judy Rogers, will be speaking at many of these events and in attendance at all of them. If you're interested in meeting with or interviewing Dr. Rogers, please email brit@britstuevenpr.com ASAP.
THE SCHEDULE
President’s Wine and Cheese Reception
Thursday, September 25th 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Location: Sage Room, Oxford Hotel, 1600 17th St., Denver, CO 80202
Hosts: Dr. Judy, Dr. Glenn Rogers and Nicole Vap
Title: Leadership Training for Women: From the Classroom to the Real World
Audience: Donors, PEOs, Alums, Women of Influence, Women’s Organizations
Speaker: Dr. Judy Rogers
>>> If you're interested in attending the President's Reception, please email brit@britstuevenpr.com ASAP for more info. Space is limited!
Denver Area Cottey Club Brunch
Date: September 26th 9 a.m.
Location: Pinehurst Country Club, 6255 W. Quincy Ave. Denver, CO 80235
Audience: PEOs, Alumnae
The President’s Student/Parent Brunch
Date: September 27th, 10 a.m.
Location: The View House, 2015 Market St., Denver CO 80205
Audience: Prospective students, parents, high school counselors, PEO Scholarship committee members
Speaker: Dr. Rogers
Cottey College Alumnae Event
Date: September 27th, 2 p.m.
The Tavern
Audience: Cottey Alumnae
While in Denver, Cottey College will announce its new, interdisciplinary baccalaureate degrees that are supported by the Serenbetz Institute for Women’s Leadership, Social Responsibility and Global Awareness – degrees designed to help women become more confident, prepared leaders in a global society. Cottey's President, Dr. Judy Rogers, will be speaking at many of these events and in attendance at all of them. If you're interested in meeting with or interviewing Dr. Rogers, please email brit@britstuevenpr.com ASAP.
THE SCHEDULE
President’s Wine and Cheese Reception
Thursday, September 25th 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Location: Sage Room, Oxford Hotel, 1600 17th St., Denver, CO 80202
Hosts: Dr. Judy, Dr. Glenn Rogers and Nicole Vap
Title: Leadership Training for Women: From the Classroom to the Real World
Audience: Donors, PEOs, Alums, Women of Influence, Women’s Organizations
Speaker: Dr. Judy Rogers
>>> If you're interested in attending the President's Reception, please email brit@britstuevenpr.com ASAP for more info. Space is limited!
Denver Area Cottey Club Brunch
Date: September 26th 9 a.m.
Location: Pinehurst Country Club, 6255 W. Quincy Ave. Denver, CO 80235
Audience: PEOs, Alumnae
The President’s Student/Parent Brunch
Date: September 27th, 10 a.m.
Location: The View House, 2015 Market St., Denver CO 80205
Audience: Prospective students, parents, high school counselors, PEO Scholarship committee members
Speaker: Dr. Rogers
Cottey College Alumnae Event
Date: September 27th, 2 p.m.
The Tavern
Audience: Cottey Alumnae