Women's Commission Honors SLU's Outstanding Female Leaders
04/26/2018
Riding high on a toast that quoted poet Maya Angelou’s “Phenomenal Woman,” the Saint Louis University community celebrated the achievements of its women leaders, from students to faculty and staff members, at the Women’s Commission’s annual “Women of the Year” awards and luncheon on Wednesday, April 25.
Five outstanding women from across the University received the commission’s highest honors and two won a new grant aimed at expanding professional development options for SLU women, as the commission’s founder, Mary Bruemmer, University President Fred P. Pestello, Ph.D., and University leaders joined their colleagues in applauding their work.
In her toast to help kick off the occasion, Provost Nancy Brickhouse invoked Angelou’s call to recognize women’s greatness and called on audience members to name their heroes. Calls of “Mom,” “Rosalind Franklin,” “Michelle Obama,” and the names of the honorees filled SLU’s Wool Ballroom.
Women’s Commission President Annie Ruse Neidel, Ph.D., welcomed those attending and Frances Pestello, Ph.D., offered the day’s invocation.
This year’s awards presentation included not only the traditional Women of the Year Award but also honors for those selected to receive grants under the commission’s Sister Shirley Kolmer Memorial Grant program.
The Woman of the Year Award honors SLU women’s scholarly, service, volunteer and professional contributions to the SLU and wider St. Louis communities.
The Kolmer Grant supports SLU women by providing professional development support for faculty, staff and students.
Following the awards presentation, the luncheon concluded with the traditional passing of the president’s pin.
2018 Women of the Year
- Michelle Lewis, director, Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX
- Debra Lohe, Ph.D., director, Reinert Center for Transformative Teaching and Learning
- Kate McCollum, senior, College of Arts and Sciences, majoring in women’s and gender studies with minors in political science and foreign service
- Terri Murray, Ph.D., dean of the School of Nursing
- Janet Oberle, senior associate director of athletics and senior woman administrator
2018 Sister Shirley Kolmer Memorial Grant Recipients
- Colleen Fitzpatrick, M.D., associate professor of surgery
- Jintong Tang, Ph.D., assistant professor of management
Established in 1973 as The President's Advisory Commission on the Status of Women, its initial primary focus was affirmative action and equal opportunity. To meet the changing needs of University women, the Commission was restructured twice before its present bylaws were adopted in 1986. An Executive Board, widely representative of the women at the University, sponsors programs, provides a forum for women's concerns and serves as a vehicle for communication about issues and opportunities for women in higher education. The Women's Commission has sponsored special workshops and seminars and, since 1978, has recognized the contributions of women to the University by honoring the "Woman of the Year" at an annual luncheon. Programs are open to all members of the University community.