Dr. Gloria Somolekae: an Autobiographical Essay
In celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8, 2023 the Women in Leadership Initiative brought Gloria Somolekae G’94, H’22 back to campus for an in-person keynote talk titled “DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality: Challenges and Prospects.” This presentation provided a global focus on technology and education, with an emphasis on how women and girls across the globe can be empowered in the digital age.
In celebration of this visit, Dr. Somolekae wrote an autobiographical essay of her career path since earning a Ph.D. in public administration from the Maxwell School. As a barrier-breaking academic in her home country of Botswana and a dedicated public servant, Somolekae has been a leader in women’s rights, democracy and development throughout southern Africa. Somolekae was the first citizen of Botswana to earn a Ph.D. in public administration, and the first woman in the Department of Political and Administrative Studies at the University of Botswana. In 2022, Somolekae was recognized with an Honorary Degree from Syracuse University.
