Gloria DeSole
"It's absolutely wonderful to have a program that empowers women to overcome financial difficulties and to come back to school," observed Anastatia Polson, born in Panama, who is working on a master's degree in Social Welfare.
Polson was among the winners of an award from Initiatives for Women, a fund-raising effort that seeks to enhance women's educational and career opportunities at the University. She and the nine other awardees in IFW's first competition were recognized at a dinner hosted by President H. Patrick Swygert and Mrs. Sonya E. Swygert at their home on September 17.
Recipients ranged from undergraduate student Barbara Altrock, who also works as a secretary at the University, to clinical psychology doctoral student Catherine Forneris, who studies stress in female rape survivors. All ten winners found the awards an important affirmation of their personal and educational efforts.
Initiatives for Women, founded nearly two years ago, is part of the Campaign for Albany and seeks to raise $1,000,000 by 1999 to support the educational and professional advancement of women students, faculty, and staff. Chaired by IROW Associate Gloria DeSole, it has drawn on the efforts of a diverse and committed Steering Committee, including many IROW Associates, and on the experience of Judy Genshaft, Dean of the Graduate School of Education, who was involved with a similar project at Ohio State University.
Future awards will be made not only for scholarships and graduate fellowships, but also for internships and training programs, career planning and advisement, endowed chairs, and research on women and women's issues. Recipients may come from both current and prospective members of the University community. Women of color, women who are making an educational or career move at a nontraditional age, and women with disabilities will receive particular attention.
President Swygert first introduced Initiatives for Women to the University community at a reception in the University Art Museum in the spring of 1993. Since then, the Committee has raised over $16,000, including a $10,000 gift from Ms. Susan Van Horn Shipherd, `64, designated to provide financial assistance to science majors.
The other winners in the first round of awards include Joan Koppel, Joeanna Hurston Brown, Donna E. Aitoro, Carrie Kuehl, Teresa Noverr-Duncan, Suesanne Oxenberg, and Maggie Ziomek. Dr. Judith Mysliborski and Mr. George Hearst II co-chaired the Honorary Committee that hosted the award dinner.
Depending on the success of the current fund-raising effort, the Steering Committee anticipates at least one additional round of awards this year. Persons wishing to make a contribution, to learn more about the project, or to join the Steering Committee may call Gloria DeSole at 442-5415 or Candace Groudine at 442-5161.