March 30, 2006
Elaine Jennerich to chair President’s Advisory Committee on Women
Elaine Z. Jennerich, UW Libraries director of organization development and training, has been appointed by President Mark Emmert to chair the President’s Advisory Committee on Women. The committee is charged with identifying, collecting information on, and making recommendations to the president regarding issues of concern to women faculty, staff, and students.
“I’m honored to take on this responsibility,” Jennerich said, “and to continue the committee’s mission of collaboration with the president to improve the state of and environment for all UW women.” Jennerich will be supported in her new position by Vice Chair Marcia Killien, professor in the Department of Family & Child Nursing.
According to Jennerich, two major goals for the coming year are to raise the visibility of the work of the committee and to begin issuing an annual report to acknowledge women’s concerns. The report will highlight initiatives and people who are creating a more positive climate for women and will celebrate the many roles women play at the UW.
Over the last decade, the President’s Advisory Committee on Women has played an instrumental role in advocating for many of the UW policies and programs in place today. The committee has investigated the concerns of undergraduate women; researched the impact of part-time employment on women faculty and lecturers; partnered with ADVANCE Center for Institutional Change on policies concerning tenure and departmental cultural change; participated in the UW Faculty Campus Climate Study; played an active role in the search for the UW president and other top administrators; ensured diversity initiatives remained intact as labor union agreements changed across campus; pursued childcare expansion and funding; advocated to preserve diversity gains in climates of fiscal crisis; and played a key role in numerous other initiatives, events, and policy developments touching all aspects of campus life.
The President’s Advisory Committee on Women was established in 1996 by former UW President Richard McCormick. The committee was previously chaired by Denice Denton, former dean of the College of Engineering, and Susan Jeffords, vice provost for global affairs. Committee members are appointed by the president at the chair’s behest and include students, faculty, and staff committed to improving the status of women at the University. Many members are appointed by virtue of the office they hold, but the committee also has members at large who join because they are interested in making a difference.
To learn more about the committee, please visit the Web site at http://depts.washington.edu/pacw. Individuals interested in joining committee or one of its subcommittees can contact the Committee’s research assistant, Jessica Knaster, at jknaster@u.washington.edu.
