Athena Center for Leadership

Welcome to the Athena Center for Leadership!

At the Athena Center for Leadership, we see leaders as, at their core, problem-solvers — and our role as providing Barnard students a wide range of ways to practice solving problems at all scales, all experience-based and available to students from day one.

Athena is home to Barnard students who see opportunities in challenges and seize them to build a better world — because these are the leaders we need now.

Learn more about our approach and our programs.

11th Annual Athena Film Festival!

Passes for the 2021 Virtual Athena Film Festival are now on sale and can be purchased here.

ThirdSpace@

ThirdSpace@ is a two part virtual co-curricular program that brings together members of the Barnard community who long to make change. Through SPARK (part 1 of ThirdSpace@), we welcome all Barnard community members to become ignited by ideas - visit barnard.edu/spark to hear from visionaries and changemakers who are sharing their ideas and resources about how to take action.

In BUILD circles running from October to April (part 2 of ThirdSpace@), Barnard students will hone the skills to make change where they are, growing, healing, and building, supported by the people around them.

Learn more about ThirdSpace@.

Keep an eye on our SPARK website throughout the year, as we will continue to add resources and videas.

Athena in Action

January 27 - Civic Engagement Conversation with Farai Chideya

Women of color played a prominent role in the 2020 elections and have become a major force in shaping the political landscape. Join us for a conversation with award-winning journalist and host of the podcast Our Body Politic, Farai Chideya to discuss how women of color have impacted the political events of today and how they are shaping where it is headed. Click above to reserve your spot today! This event is open to all members of the Barnard community.

Virtual Spring Events Calendar

Our team is building a robust calendar of events and programs to engage Barnard students from all disciplines and backgrounds. This spring, we're focusing on civic engagement, entrepreneurship, financial fluency, and skillbuilders for changemakers. We welcome all Barnard students to join us. Click the title above to view our virtual calendar.

Financial Fluency Workshops

Understanding money and how it works is a crucial skill for any leader. We have a variety of programs for all levels of knowledge that will give you tools, tips and guidance you can use to start building a stronger financial foundation for the future today. Click above to learn more about events this semester and to register.

Student Spotlights

“My favorite Athena program is the Athena Challenges. I participated in the design challenge that focused on hunger and food insecurity within college campuses, presenting a solution that my team and I came up with for on-campus hunger in two days to food experts including Chef Tom Colicchio.”

Dipashreya Sur '23, Architecture

“The Athena Center empowered me to stand up for myself: whether in an interview, on the job, or in my daily interactions, the Athena Center has empowered me to feel capable, intelligent, and deserving of success.”

Lea Herzfeld '22, Economics

“The Athena Center has empowered me to take on challenges. To ask for opportunities/platforms to better myself, help the community, and to be candid about vulnerabilities in personal experiences.”

Peyton Yen '21, Economics

Stay in the know.

We do a lot around here! If you're a Barnard student, be sure to sign up for our email newsletter to hear about upcoming opportunities. For our off-campus fans, we have a quarterly newsletter. And our Instagram is a great way to catch a glimpse of life at Athena.

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