Chancellor's Commission on Women Confirms New Slate of Membership, and Sets Priorities

The Chancellor's Commission on Women is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. The new and continuing members of the commission recently met to elect officers and determine a plan for the 2019-20 academic year. Members are nominated by the campus and appointed by the chancellor and provost and serve on staggered three-year appointments. Commission members are working diligently to create two meaningful events for the campus this year.

Anna Zajicek, professor and chair in the Department of Sociology and Criminology and the interim associate dean in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, was elected chair of the commission for a second term. April Taylor, manager of compliance for Global Campus was elected vice chair; and Angela Mosley Monts, assistant vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion, was elected secretary.

"The commission has made significant contributions to the great work being done on our campus in the area of work/family balance, mentoring, leadership, and other issues and discussions are of importance to the women on our campus," Zajicek said. "An important task for this year will be to augment the impact of the commission even further by creating lasting collaborations and linkages with other diversity and inclusion efforts underway on our campus. Such collaborations will enhance campus climate, increase opportunities to share information, and recognize extraordinary women and women advocates."

The commission this year will set themes to inform both a fall student-led event as well as a spring keynote event. These two campuswide events will be open to everyone. Details about both events will be announced as plans are confirmed. Commission members are actively seeking campus partner organizations with similar objectives to partner with on upcoming events.  

"I'm delighted to support the Commission on Women," said Chancellor Joe Steinmetz. "This group is an important resource to help the campus identify not only issues but opportunities for women on campus. Networking, leadership development, academic enrichment, collaboration and professional development are just a few of the ways this group can impact the campus. This event is a great way to initiate such conversations and share information."

Roster of Members for 2019-2020  

Members are selected by the chair (and approved by the chancellor and provost) to replace members whose terms have expired. 

Officers

• Chair: Anna Zajicek, professor and chair of the Department of Sociology and Criminology, and interim associate dean of Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences
• Vice Chair: April Taylor, manager of compliance, Global Campus
• Secretary: Angela Mosley Monts, assistant vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion

Faculty members

• Anna Zajicek (2020)
• Lauren Greenlee, assistant professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engeering (2021)
• Alishia Ferguson, director of School of Social Work, Fulbright College (2022)

Non-Classified Staff Members

• Erica Nelson, director of student-athlete development, Department of Intercollegiate Athletics (1st term, 2020)
• April Taylor (2021)
• Theresa Parrish, academic counselor, Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design (2022)

Classified Staff Members

• Tracy Deffebaugh, career services assistant, School of Law (2020)
• Katie Doughty, administrative specialist II, Division of Student Affairs (2022)  

Undergraduate Student Members

• Samia Ismail, biomedical engineering major (2020)
• Maria Calderon, political science and international studies major (2020)

Graduate Student Members

• Jennifer Oramous, doctoral student in curriculum and instruction education with a focus on science education (2020)

Ex-Officio Members (Non-Voting) – From Faculty Senate, Staff Senate, Chancellor's Office, Provost's Office and Associated Student Government:

• Sadie Bryant, ASG vice president, Associate Student Government representative
• Fran Hagstrom, Faculty Senate/Campus Faculty representative, assistant dean for health professions
• Laura Jacobs, associate vice chancellor and chief of staff, Office of the Chancellor representative
• Cindy Morley, vice chair, Staff Senate representative, departmental administrative manager
• Yvette Murphy-Erby, vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion, Office of the Provost representative
• Angela Mosley Monts

About the Chancellor's Commission on Women: Founded in 2010, the Chancellor's Commission on Women is an advisory group charged with reviewing and monitoring policies, programs and issues to ensure that all women of the university are given the best possible opportunities for success within the institution and in their professional and college careers. Membership comprises both graduate and undergraduate students, faculty and staff who serve on staggered three-year appointments to ensure there's a fresh and diverse points of view represented. The group collectively decides what issues to tackle each year, and relies on input from colleagues, students, and occasional surveys to gain a sense of the campus' interests and needs.