Newswise — WASHINGTON (March 7, 2012) — Today, Margaret C. Dunkle, Lead Research Scientist at the GW School of Public Health’s Department of Health Policy, will be inducted into the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame for being an author, activist, and unsung heroine of Title IX, the 1972 landmark legislation that prohibits sex discrimination in schools and colleges receiving federal funding.
Dunkle, along with five other women, will be honored at a ceremony at the Miller Senate Office Building in Annapolis for making unique and lasting contributions to the economic, political, cultural and social life of the state of Maryland. The women honored provide visible models of achievement for tomorrow’s female leaders.
Not only was Ms. Dunkle successful in helping women in sports, but she has also been an advocate on behalf of pregnant and parenting students and, more recently, children with developmental delays and disabilities. Legislatively, she conceived a 1986 federal provision that enabled low-income women to receive student financial aid without losing welfare or health insurance, and a 2007 Head Start requirement for developmental screenings of all enrolled children. As President of the Federation of Organization for Professional Women, she helped shape the 1980 Science and Technology Equal Opportunities Act, which increased opportunities for women and minorities.
“We are very proud of Margaret’s accomplishments. She is a strong and dedicated advocate for women and for the promotion of equality in economic, social and political achievement. Her work has had tremendous impact, including the development of important legislation in Maryland. We are lucky to have her as a role model in our academic community,” said Paula Lantz, PhD, Professor and Chair of the GW Department of Health Policy.
The ceremony is an annual event held by The Maryland Commission for Women, with support from the Maryland Department of Human Resources, Women Legislators of Maryland, and the Friends of the Maryland Commission for Women.
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About the GW School of Public Health and Health Services:Established in July 1997, the School of Public Health and Health Services brought together three longstanding university programs in the schools of medicine, business, and education that we have since expanded substantially. Today, more than 1,100 students from nearly every U.S. state and more than 40 nations pursue undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral-level degrees in public health. Our student body is one of the most ethnically diverse among the nation's private schools of public health. http://sphhs.gwumc.edu/
About the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame:Established in 1985 by the Maryland Commission for Women and the Women Legislators of Maryland, the Maryland Women's Hall of Fame seeks to honor Maryland women who have made unique and lasting contributions to the economic, political, cultural, and social life of the state and to provide visible models of achievement for tomorrow's female leaders. Each year, an independent committee reviews nominations and selects a small number of women for induction into the Hall of Fame. These women are honored in an induction ceremony held during March, Women's History Month. A plaque listing the names of the inductees is on display at the State Law Library in Annapolis. A biography and image of each inductee can be viewed at the website of the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame: http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/educ/exhibits/womenshall/html/whflist.html.
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