The Gail Bierenbaum Women’s Leadership Council (GBWLC) is a Rider community of diverse, accomplished women who champion advancing leadership, mentoring, and philanthropy. Since Rider opened its doors in 1865, women were welcomed into the classroom. In 1866, Rider created the Ladies Department because women could “comprehend the full bearing of a business transaction…quite as readily as men” and graduated the institution’s first female student, Marian Ashton, in 1867. Today, women comprise over 50% of our students and alumni.