Martha Burk is a political psychologist and internationally recognized expert on women’s issues
who is co-founder of the Center for Advancement of Public Policy in Washington, D.C.
From 2000-2005 she served as Chair of the National Council of Women's Organizations
(NCWO), a network of over 200 national women's groups collectively representing ten million
women. Dr. Burk led the NCWO effort to open the Augusta National Golf Club to women, and
remains at the forefront of the debate on women’s progress in Corporate America.
She is currently the Money Editor for Ms. Magazine, a syndicated newspaper columnist,
and a political columnist for The Huffington Post. Her latest book, Your Money and
Your Life: The High Stakes for Women Voters in ‘08 and Beyond won the New Mexico book
award for best political book of 2008.
Dr. Burk speaks nationally and internationally on politics and issues of importance to women.
Dr. Martha's Profile
Dr. Burk has been a regular guest on the PBS public affairs program "Debates, Debates,"
and a contributor to major newspapers and print outlets on public policy, including USA Today,
The Nation, Knight-Ridder wire services, Scripps Howard news services, Louisville Courier
Journal, Los Angeles Daily News, Working Woman, Business Woman, Executive Female, The
Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and Atlanta Journal Constitution.
She has appeared before many professional organizations and college audiences,
including those at Harvard University, the University of Michigan, Stanford, Vanderbilt, the
University of Hawaii, the University of California, and others. She has also spoken at the
National Press Club, Commonwealth Club, the National League of Cities, Ford Hall Forum, and
international venues such as the All China Women’s Federation, Vital Voices in Iceland, and
Search for Common Ground in Macedonia.
Print coverage of her work has been extensive, with multiple articles in every major and
many minor newspapers and magazines, including extensive coverage in The New York Times.
Profiles, some with front page coverage, have appeared in People Magazine, The Washington
Post, USA Today, The Dallas Morning News, The Atlanta Journal Constitution, the Chicago
Tribune, the Baltimore Sun, Sports Illustrated, The New Yorker, More Magazine and a number
of others. Martha Burk was named a Woman of the Year by Ms. Magazine in 2003.
She has appeared on a great number of news shows, including The Today Show, ABC World
News Tonight, CBS Evening News, NBC Nightly News, Newsnight with Aaron Brown, Lou Dobbs
Moneyline, CNN Financial, Bloomberg News, Wolf Blitzer Reports, CBS This Morning, Brian
Williams Show, American Morning with Paula Zahn, UpClose, Crossfire, Fox Morning News, News
Hour with Jim Lehrer, News with Connie Chung, Hardball, and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
She has also been featured on hundreds of talk radio programs.
In addition to extensive work on domestic policy, Dr. Burk has conducted training
workshops with women's NGOs internationally in Macedonia and Kuwait, under the sponsorship
of USAID, and has conducted training in the U.S. for delegations from Russia, Botswana,
Korea, Romania, Bulgaria, and the Middle East. She has recently been a member of official
U.S. Delegations to international conferences in Iceland, Lithuania, Estonia, and China.
Dr. Burk has long been active in public debate and political analysis. She holds a Ph.D. in
psychology from the University of Texas at Arlington. Her background includes experience as a
university research director, management professor, and advisor to political campaigns and
organizations. She has provided briefing papers for presidential candidates, including Bill
Bradley, Wesley Clark, and Howard Dean, and has worked closely with members of the United
States Congress on issues of importance to women. She now serves as Senior Advisor for
Women’s Issues to Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico.
Dr. Burk's previous book, Cult of Power: Sex Discrimination in Corporate America and What
Can Be Done About It, is published by Scribner.
Topic Categories
Feminist Perspectives
Women-specific
Social, Political
Presentation Titles
Political Challenges in the Next Four Years
There has been a "regime change" in Washington, but what does that mean for women and
their families? With the U.S. in an economic slump at the same time we are facing challenges
on health care, foreign engagement, social security, education and child care, can we expect
real change? Learn how and why progress is possible.
The Politics of Social Change
What Women Want -- and How to Get It
Women have had the vote since 1920, and are now the majority. But we still lag behind in
pay, lack child care and other support systems to get ahead. Learn the history of change for
women, what has worked and what has not, and how we move forward to the next level of
political influence to make positive change.
The Entrepreneurial Spirit: Making Political, Social, and Economic Change (For Women, Men
and Children)
Women have been the driving force behind much innovation around the world -- even though
they don't always get credit for it. Entrepreneurs everywhere know the secrets of success, and
they can be applied to progress for women -- in the family and society, in politics, and in our
economic lives.
Women in Corporate America -- Where We Stand and How to Move Ahead
Women have been a major part of the workforce for a generation, yet we still lag in
recognition, pay and promotion. What are the systemic barriers to women's progress in
corporate America, and what can be done to move to the next level?
Audience Testimonials
“Martha Burk was one of the top speakers during my tenure as Chair of the
Speaker's Committee at the National Press Club. She not only held the
attention of the large audience, she connected with them in the Q&A
afterward in a most engaging way.” - Dr. Barbara A. Reynolds, National Press Club
“The NM Commission on the Status of Women contracted with Dr. Martha Burke to be a
featured speaker for our 2008 Annual National Association of Commissions for Woman (NACW)
national conference in July 2008. As a woman who is recognized as extraordinary both
nationally and internationally, the over 200+ women leaders and Commissions/Executive
Directors were very interested in what Dr. Burk had to say.
Given the positive feedback from conference participants, the NM Commission on the Status of
Women looks forward to engaging with Dr. Burk in future events.” - Mary Molina Mescall, NM Commission on the Status of Women
“Martha Burk provided an engaging evening, not only through her remarks but dialogue
afterward. She immediately connected with the audience and held their interest throughout the
presentation. One of the best speakers I engaged at the Center for Public Leadership at the
Kennedy School.” - Robin Leeds, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
In Her Own Words
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