Four Female College Presidents to Discuss Their Work
At UAlbany Initiatives for Women Awards Dinner
"A Celebration of Four Women Presidents," a conversation among New York Capital Region's groundbreaking female higher educational leaders, will highlight the Sixth Annual Initiative For Women Awards Dinner on Tuesday, Oct, 26, beginning at 5:30 p.m., in the atrium of UAlbany's new library. Tickets for this fundraiser are $65 for individuals, or tables for $1,000.
Karen R. Hitchcock, president of UAlbany; Shirley Ann Jackson, president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Jamienne Studley, president of Skidmore College; and Jeanne Neff, president of The Sage Colleges will discuss their careers, current work and philosophies of leadershp at a fundraising event for Initiatives For Women, a University at Albany program that seeks to enhance educational and career opportunities for women. A champagne reception at 5:30 p.m. in the Helderberg Room of the new library will precede the 6:30 p.m. dinner.
Hitchcock is the first female president in the 152-year history of the University. One of the nation's leading scholars in the field of pulmonary cell biology and development, she came to UAlbany as vice president for Academic Affairs in 1991. Hitchcock gained a national reputation for her research on Respiratory Distress Syndrome. She earned her Ph.D. in anatomy from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry.
Jackson became the 18th president of RPI on July 1, 1999. A theoretical physicist, she is the first female African American president of a national research university. She was also the first African American woman to receive a doctorate from M.I.T. in any subject and is one of the first two African American women to receive a doctorate in physics in the U.S. Prior to coming to Rensselaer, Jackson was chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Studley is the first female president of Skidmore College. Before her appointment in June 1999, she was general council and a senior officer of the U.S. Department of Education and a former associate dean of Yale Law School. She was a key advisor to Secretary Richard Riley on all aspects of education including civil rights and legislation. Studley earned her law degree from Harvard Law School.
Neff became the eighth president of The Sage Colleges in July 1995. In recent years, she has helped to launch a national initiative to enhance the visibility and stature of independent colleges. Her background includes leadership in several national higher education groups, including membership on the Board of Directors of the Association of American Colleges and Universities. Neff earned her Doctor of Arts from Carnegie-Mellon University.
Initiatives for Women supports endowed scholarships, fellowships, excellence awards for students, internships and training programs, career planning and advisement, research on women and women's issues, academic and career advancement for women of color, and educational and professional initiatives for physically challenged women and others in particular need.
Award winners this year include a Ph.D. student who wanted to attend the third International Women's Studies workshops at the University of Havana for her study of gender and education in Cuba, a secretary in the Department of Public Administration and Policy who is returning to school to earn a masters degree, and a Ph.D. student in anthropology for a course in Guatemala on the K'iche Maya language in preparation for her dissertation work (see attached for complete list of this year's winners).
Tables at the fundraising event for corporations and groups are also available. The price of the ticket, which includes the tax deductible contribution, will help provide funds for the next round of awards. For more information or for an invitation, please call (518) 442-5415.
"In times of tight resources, an award from Initiatives for Women can make a dream a reality for the woman researcher, the student who is a single parent, the artist who needs support to present her thesis exhibit," said Gloria DeSole, Senior Advisor to the President for Affirmative Action and Employment Planning and Chair of the Initiatives for Women Steering Committee. "The opportunity to make a significant difference in the lives of women whose dreams need support is a privilege. And the chance to hear from these four extraordinary women who are the leaders in education in this area will be a delight as well."
For more University at Albany information, visit our World Wide Web site at http://www.Albany.Edu.
*****************************
October 1, 1999
RSS