Release

UAlbany President Kermit L. Hall Honors Initiatives for Women
12th annual IFW Awards ceremony will be held July 21

Contact: Catherine Herman (518) 437-4980

ALBANY, N.Y. (July 19, 2005) -- Paupers in colonial Albany, pregnant women suffering from sickle cell anemia, and changes in counterterrorism policy since 9/11 are three research topics among many that will be funded in part by University at Albany Initiatives For Women (IFW) awards to be given out Thursday, July 21, at 1 p.m. at the Empire Commons Community Building on the uptown campus.

President Kermit L. Hall will present 42 awards to female undergraduates, master's students, doctoral students, and faculty and staff at the 12th annual Initiatives For Women Summer Celebration.

"The University is immensely proud of these exceptional women, and honored to recognize their creativity, dedication, and tenacity," said President Hall. "In supporting their achievements, we underscore the commitment of the University to academic excellence and success."

"In granting these awards, the University at Albany community is supporting the educational and career dreams of women from across the campus seeking to advance their professional and educational goals," said Sue Faerman, dean of Undergraduate Studies and spokeswoman for IFW. Faerman chairs the IFW Leadership Council.

This year, IFW is giving a total of $32,465 in summer award grants, according to Diane Cardone, financial manager. Prior to this round of awards, the volunteer organization has given out more than $237,000 in awards to 330 undergraduate and graduate students, and faculty and staff, since it first began granting awards in 1994.

The essence of the awards is illustrated by the story of Diane Gusa, 56, a doctoral student who lived out of her van several nights a week while commuting to UAlbany from Lisbon, N.Y. for her program in educational theory and practice. "I became known as the girl who lives in her car," said Gusa, who called her experience "a blessing." When word got around about her circumstances and persistence, she was offered a graduate assistantship, which gave her enough income to take an apartment locally. Gusa will be at the ceremony on Thursday to accept her IFW award, which she will use to purchase software and equipment for research.