Kavita N. Ramdas, the former president and chief executive officer of the Global Fund for Women, will co-teach a spring course titled “Education, Gender, and Development” (EDUC 197) with Associate Professor (Teaching) Christine Min Wotipka at Stanford University School of Education.

Known widely as an innovative thinker and social justice activist, Ramdas led the Global Fund for Women from 1996 to 2010. The Global Fund for Women is the largest grantmaking organization in the world focused exclusively on supporting international women’s human rights.

“Kavita is an inspiration to millions around the world who fight for gender equality and social justice. Having her in the classroom to share her experiences and insights with our students is an amazing opportunity for our students,” says Wotipka.

Ramdas is currently a visiting fellow and scholar at the Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, and a visiting practitioner at the Stanford University Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society. She serves on several boards and advisory panels related to women’s human rights, social justice, philanthropy, and international development, and is a  recipient of numerous awards for her work in these fields.

She has given several talks at Stanford University, including one last month to Stanford undergraduates at the Education and Society Theme House. In February, Ramdas also spoke on KQED’s Forum with Michael Krasny. The full Forum interview can be heard at http://www.kqed.org/a/forum/R201102181000.