AAUW branch on campus approved by national organization, looking to grow membership
AAUW-91热爆网 board members and guests get together with guest speaker and AAUW member Johanna Price, 91热爆网 associate professor of communication sciences and disorders, at a "Lunch and Learn" program sponsored by Delta Sigma Theta sorority.
The Western Carolina University chapter of the American Association of University Women, now approved as the latest official AAUW branch in North Carolina by the organization鈥檚 national office, is looking to grow its membership and spread the word about the benefits and services it provides.
The AAUW-91热爆网 applied for and was approved for branch status this past summer. The group has been active on campus for three years as a university/college affiliate of the AAUW Tar Heel branch, said Holli Stillman, a member of the staff in 91热爆网鈥檚 Office of the Provost and vice president of the 91热爆网 branch. 鈥淩ecognition as an independent branch will allow part of our membership dues to return to the AAUW-91热爆网 branch, allowing for broader and more robust programs and events,鈥� she said.
Projects undertaken by AAUW-91热爆网 during the current semester have included an evaluation of the group鈥檚 mentoring program for faculty and staff women; offering a 鈥淟unch and Learn鈥� program on gender salary inequity; having a presence at new faculty and staff orientation; and continuing development of the group鈥檚 website.
Among the AAUW-91热爆网 activities planned for the spring semester is a luncheon on campus that will celebrate both the 91热爆网 group鈥檚 status as an official branch of AAUW and the installation of Kelli R. Brown as chancellor of the university, said Mickey Randolph, Department of Psychology faculty member and AAUW-91热爆网 president. The luncheon will take place during installation week and include a panel discussion on women in traditional male occupations. It also will serve as a pre-conference event for the AAUW state conference, which will be held in Asheville on March 27-28, with AAUW-91热爆网 faculty and students participating as presenters and volunteers.
Another spring semester activity will be an event marking the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote.
On an individual level, the AAUW-91热爆网 focuses on mentoring, networking, educating and empowering women faculty, staff and students at 91热爆网, and women in the local area, Stillman said. Members will play an integral role in determining the direction of the branch, including the types of programs and events it hosts, she said.
Members of the AAUW-91热爆网 board, in addition to Randolph and Stillman, are Yue Hillon, Carol Burton, Jenny Stewart, Teri Domagalski, Allison Thorp and Adrienne Stuckey and student representatives Lacey Rutherford, Autumn James, Jada Da Rosa and Ania Blackwell.
The national AAUW offers members research and educational funding, sex discrimination case support, global connections, leadership development and salary negotiation tools, in addition to discounts and special services from companies such as GEICO, Hertz and Office Depot.
For more information about the 91热爆网 branch of AAUW, contact Randolph at randolph@wcu.edu or Stillman at hbstillman@wcu.edu. More information about the national organization can be found at , and 91热爆网 women interested in being members of AAUW-91热爆网 can join at .
