The Consortium was organized in Spring 1979 by Dr. Bette Soldwedel, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, Florida. A steering committee consisted of women representatives (faculty, administrators, and students) from four area colleges: Edward Waters College, Florida Junior (later Community) College, Jacksonville University and UNF. The Consortium's purpose was to develop innovative programs for political education and to encourage women's political and public leadership. The Consortium sponsored or collaborated in forums directed at increasing women's leadership skills in academic and civic settings. An inaugural seminar was held in May 1980, featuring a keynote address by the 1977 Nobel Prize winner Mairead Corrigan.
In November 1991, the Consortium changed it's name to Women in Higher Education in Jacksonville. It's new statement of purpose was, in part, to provide a forum for Jacksonville women in higher education to exchange ideas on subjects of current interest and concern. It held regular programs focusing on issues affecting the female faculty, students, and staff of local institutions of higher learning. The organization ceased to exist in 1995.
From the guide to the Women's Public Leadership Consortium (Jacksonville, Fla.) Papers, 1979-1994, (Thomas G. Carpenter Library, University of North Florida)
