Women’s Center’s 15 Year Celebration

On January 15, 2008, the Women’s Center celebrated 15 years of serving Wright State University and the community.  Since 1993, the Center has been a beacon of hope and change for the thousands of constituents it has served.

Packing the Nutter Center’s Berry Room, the 200 guests included students, faculty, staff, and administrators from WSU; local elected officials; community supporters; alumni; and women’s center colleagues from across southwest Ohio.

In a part of the program titled “From the Periphery to the (Women’s) Center: Feminism at Wright State,” Women’s Studies Professor-in-Residence Dr. Judith Ezekiel shared a brief history of WSU women in the 1970s.  Women’s Studies Director Dr. Kelli Zaytoun and Women’s Center Director Amber Vlasnik completed the three-part history by discussing the history of the Women’s Studies program and the impact of the work of the 1991-1993 Task Force on the Status of Women in the Academy, respectively.

WSU President David Hopkins assisted the Women’s Center and the Women’s Studies Program as they recognized the Task Force on the Status of Women in the Academy.  Dr. Mary Beth Pringle, Professor of English, served as chair of the Task Force.

The Task Force (pictured here) first gathered in September 1991 to consider two questions: “What is the status of women faculty at Wright State?” and “Should the university develop a women’s studies program?” After extensive surveys, interviews, and other forms of data collection, the Task Force submitted a report in June 1992 that outlined their strong recommendation for establishing a women’s studies program and a women’s center. 

The breakfast offered an opportunity for the staff of the Women’s Center over its 15 years to have a reunion.
Back row (l-r): Dr. Colleen Finegan (Interim Director, 2005); Cindy Vanzant (Coordinator, 1994-present); and Shaunté Russell (Program Assistant, 2006-07). 
Front row (l-r): Dr. Kelli Zaytoun (Director, 1995-2004); Amber Vlasnik (Director, 2005-present); Dr. Paulette Olson (Director, 1993-94); and Dr. Mary Beth Pringle (Interim Director, 1993).