The Clayman Institute for Gender Research

Katherine Spillar is the Executive Vice President of the Feminist Majority Foundation (FMF) and Feminist Majority. One of the founders, Spillar has been a driving force in executing the Feminist Majority Foundation’s diverse programs that work to secure women’s rights, including the Campaign to Stop Gender Apartheid in Afghanistan, the National Clinic Access Project, the National Center for Women & Policing, and the Never Go Back Campaign. She speaks to diverse audiences on a broad range of feminist topics and has led the Feminist Majority’s west coast efforts to inspire more feminist women to run for political office and the organization’s Gender Balance Campaign. Prior to her tenure with the Feminist Majority and Feminist Majority Foundation, Spillar served four terms as President of the Los Angeles Chapter of the National Organization for Women, the largest chapter of NOW at the time.  Spillar is an expert on anti-abortion terrorism. She played an instrumental role in the FMF’s landmark 1994 Supreme Court case upholding the use of buffer zones to protect clinics, Madsen v. Women’s Health Center, and continues to oversee the Foundation’s litigation efforts to stop violent extremists. In 2005, Spillar was named Executive Editor of Ms. magazine and under her oversight, Ms. increased its investigative reporting.

She is a magna cum laude graduate of Texas Christian University and holds a Master of Science interdisciplinary degree in Economics and Urban Studies from Trinity University. Before becoming active in women’s rights, Spillar was Director of Public Policy Research and Economics for a statewide trade association.  Spillar speaks to diverse audiences nationwide on a broad range of domestic and international feminist topics and appears frequently on television and radio.