2008 Women of Achievement

In this 35 th anniversary year of the Women's Center, we are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2008 Women of Achievement Awards. A public reception will be held at the Loge Level of Reser Stadium on Friday, April 25 from 3:30-5:00pm to honor these outstanding women.

The recipients of the Women of Achievement Awards 2008 are as follows:

Virginia Weis is a Professor of Zoology who has done extraordinary work in supporting and encouraging women in science. She has created an international reputation as a research scientist with an outstanding publication record. But it is her encouragement for women in a male-dominated professional environment that moved three doctoral students and one post-doc researcher to nominate Dr. Weis. As a faculty member who understands the sometimes precarious balance between work and family, Dr. Weis has been supportive of her female graduate students/researchers and their roles as mothers. Moreover, Weis has dealt with personal challenges in her own life as a courageous role model to her students.

Four OSU graduates and one current student came together across over 7000 miles to nominate Robin Ryan as a Woman of Achievement. Ms. Ryan serves as Coordinator with Student Leadership and Involvement at OSU and has worked tirelessly with international students; lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender students; and student organization leaders. Her students describe her impact as follows: “Her dedication to furthering the equality of all students—inclusive of gender, sexuality, international status, race, ethnicity, ability and class is legendary,” and “I thoroughly experienced Robin's strong, passionate support for women's leadership.”

Debbie Bird McCubbin has served as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Center Against Rape and Domestic Violence for the past 4 years. Prior to her term as Chair, McCubbin volunteered on the CARDV Mother's Day Run/Walk for Safe Families for two years. Debbie has also recently become a volunteer with Girls on the Run, Inc., a non-profit that encourages girls from eight to thirteen to develop self-respect and healthy lifestyles through running. Recently retired from OSU where she has worked most recently as an academic advisor in the College of Forestry .

Cait O'Brien is the first undergraduate student to be named a Women of Achievement in the 23 year history of the awards. Aside from her paid employment with University Housing & Dining Services, O'Brien has completed the 40-hour CARDV volunteer training, has been a member of Every1 (sexual assault peer education team), has acted in the Vagina Monologues, has worked as a Team Liberation facilitator, has helped to plan Sexual Assault Awareness Week, served on the Student Conduct Committee, the President's Commission on the Status of Women, the Women's Leadership Initiative, and last year was selected OSU Student Employee of the Year and was among the 25 Most Influential Undergraduates at OSU.

Melissa Cheyney's dedication to women's equality begins with her area of specialization: maternal infant and reproductive health. As an Assistant Professor of Anthropology, Dr. Cheyney believes in bridging the gap between research and outreach work in an effort to truly affect change. As a Certified Professional Midwife, her current research interests understandably include out-of-hospital births. As Director of the Reproductive Health Lab at OSU, Dr. Cheyney reaches young women through outreach and educational events in our campus community. Through her work with a non-profit organization, Midwives on Missions of Service (MOMS), Dr. Cheyney supports collaborations that improve maternal/child health and maternity outcomes in low-income nations through education and service.

The OSU Women's Center invites members of the OSU and Corvallis communities to join in honoring these Women of Achievement on Friday, April 25 th at 3:30.

Women of Achievement Committee

Tiffany Fritz
Jennifer Almquist
Myra Long
Mary Zelinka
Donna Champeau


Award Criteria:

For the following award criteria, please provide specific examples of the actions and accomplishments of the nominee that meet the following criteria.

1. Commitment to equality and dedication to furthering the status of Oregon women.

2. Work that has a wide impact (e.g., pay equity, displaced homemaker programs, women’s history education, violence against women, etc.), and has potential for creating real change.

3. Work that is not widely recognized and rewarded. (This award is given to encourage women in their work and to let them know it does not go unnoticed.)

4. Been an important role model in the lives of girls or women.

5. Been active in feminist causes and/or organizations.

6. Done trail breaking work to improve women’s well-being.

PAST WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENTS


1985: Jeanne Dost; JoAnne Trow

1986: Margaret Hallock; Christy Joaccim; Hilda Thompson

1987: Margaret Carter; Margie Hendrickson; Patty Layman; Nancy Vanderpool

1988: Sally Hacker; Margaret Lumpkin

1989: Kay Bower; Ann Brodie; Judy Juntunen

1990: Carol Whipple; Gladys McCoy; Norma Paulus; Miriam W. OrzechM

1991: Cynthia G. Lindner; Ilsa Kaattari; Margarita Donnelly; Kathleen G. Saadat

1992: Ataa A. Akyeampong; Helen Berg; Dawn Marges

1993: Janet Lee; Darryla Green-McGrath; Cheryl McLean

1994: Norma Neilson; Mary Demarest; Prudence Miles; Becky Warner

1995: Sherry Clark; Susan A. Goblirsh; Jo-Ann Leong; Sara Malueg; Marina Santos

1996: Stephanie Sanford; Lani Roberts; Jude Hanzo; Viette Helme

1997: Judy Fortmiller; GayLynn Pack; Susan Stafford; Marianne Vydra; Beth Rietveld

1998: Caroline Wilkins; Phyllis Lee; JoAnn Miller

1999: Alexis Walker; Karyle Butcher; Mina McDaniel; Elizabeth Newhall; Sylvia Moore

2000: Susan Shaw; Marlis Miller; Karen Higgins; Mary Anne Deagan

2001: Flaxen Conway; Erlinda Gonzales-Berry; Karel Murphy

2002: Leslie Burns; Betty Busch; Carole Anne Crateau; Rebecca Johnson

2003: Anne Gilles; Linda Klinge; Judith Li; Makiko Matsumoto; Annie Popkin

2004: Rebecca Concepcion; Moira Dempsey; Kathleen Heath; Mary Zelinka; Anisa Zvonkovic

2005: Michelle Bothwell, Joanne Apter, Nancy O’Mara, Marie Harvey, Mehra Shirazi

2006: Donna Champeau, Lisa Ede, Diane Crocker, Barb Gartner Lachenbruch, Paula Krane

2007: Linda Anderson, Zel Brook, Laura Rice