Athena Center for Leadership

Don't have time to take on a specific project, or to explore a specific method of changemaking — or don't feel ready to do that yet? That's okay! SPARK, our event series, and the Athena Film Festival will inspire you and ignite your thinking about what's possible and what you might do. They're open to everyone and you can take part in whatever way works for you.

This year, our theme for SPARK is transition. Be sure to tell us what you'd like to see in this series! And save the date for the 2026 Athena Film Festival, which will take place March 5 - 8, 2026.

Communities of practice are where we roll up our sleeves and get to work here at Athena. Our communities of practice provide (1) meaningful connections with students who share your interests, (2) mentorship and guidance from experts and experienced changemakers, (3) an ungraded space to try something new, take a risk, get it wrong, and try again, and (4) funding or help accessing funding from external sources so you can dedicate the time and attention. 

Read about how these work and find information about eligibility and application deadlines. 

Not sure what community of practice is right for you? Or if you even want to join one? Or maybe you do want to join one, but the timing isn't working for you right now? Maybe you want to join one, but aren't seeing it on the list?

Whatever your reason, we'd love to get to know you so that we can identify ways to help you with your individual needs.

Our team members hold office hours and we welcome drop-ins too. Our space is open from 10-5 pm every weekday, and if the CoLab isn't in use, you're welcome to use it to collaborate with others.

Join Annelise Eileraas '25 and Karina Eileraas Karakus P'25, co-authors of Chasing Spirits, for an intimate conversation about creating through trauma and leading out of profound loss, on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, from 4-5:30 PM in Milstein LL001. Copies of Chasing Spirits will be provided to the first 10 attendees, and will also be available for purchase. 

Hosted by the Athena Center for Leadership and the Francine A. LeFrak Foundation Center for Well-Being, as part of SPARK, Athena's series about change and how it happens. The theme for SPARK in 2024-2025 is transition. 

Join the Athena Center in welcoming Dr. Ruth Braunstein for a book launch! My Tax Dollars tells the stories of Americans who view taxpaying as more than a mundane chore: antigovernment tax defiers who challenge the legitimacy of the tax system, antiwar activists who resist the use of their taxes to fund war, antiabortion activists against “taxpayer funded abortions,” and a diverse group of people who promote taxpaying as a sacred rite of citizenship.

Are you feeling overwhelmed by what’s going on around campus? Have you found yourself wondering "Who would I turn to if..." or "How do I prepare for..."

Inspired by Mia Mingus' work with the Bay Area Transformative Justice Collective (BATJC), this workshop will teach students about podmapping: a tool for self- and community care that can be used to navigate crises or conflict. Together, we'll learn how to create and sustain support networks, plus strategize how to put them into action in our everyday lives.

Follow Wynne's project through multiple Athena Center's programs, from inception to how to transition through her graduation in May 2024.  

The fourth annual Startup Summit featured seven experts leading five modules and was followed by a networking reception with Barnard alums and entrepreneurs. Read Athena Intern Lilly Montelle's '27 reflection on helping plan and run this perennial event. 

Meet three of Barnard’s most recent graduates—Grace Schleck ‘24, Ana Eveleigh ‘24, and Silvana Navia ‘24—as they reflect on their Laidlaw experiences and how the program launched them as researchers.

Athena alum Reni Calister '11 shares her Lessons From Leading, from starting her career to mentorship. Read about her insights and how to get connected! 

Check out the Field Notes Archive

Learn about the Social Change Ecosystem framework and how Athena students discovered how to best use their skills to create change.