Suzanne Bergeron, John Vandermeer and Carol Hollenshead will receive the 2008 Sarah Goddard Power Awards, presented by the Academic Women’s Caucus selection committee.
The three will be honored at the 24th annual awards ceremony at 4 p.m. Feb. 13 in the Hussey Room of the Michigan League. A reception will follow the presentation.
• Bergeron is associate professor of women’s studies, and associate professor of social sciences at the College of Arts, Sciences and Letters, U-M-Dearborn. Vandermeer is the Arthur F. Thurnau Professor, Margaret Davis Collegiate Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, acting chair and professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, LSA, and professor of natural resources and environment. Hollenshead is director of the Center for the Education of Women (CEW).
As an educator, Bergeron developed the Women in Learning and Leadership Program, which provides students with courses in women’s studies and leadership, co-curricular activities related to women’s issues, and community outreach opportunities. She founded the Women’s & Gender Studies major on the Dearborn campus and now directs that program. Bergeron helped to create a Women’s Resource Center on the campus and is active in the Women SOAR program, which provides low-income women with mentoring, scholarships, advising and financial aid. She also has received numerous awards, including the Susan B. Anthony Award from U-M-Dearborn in 2002.
• Vandermeer, who teaches field ecology, biodiversity, agricultural ecosystems and related subjects, has worked extensively with the STRIDE (Strategies and Tactics for Recruiting to Improve Diversity and Excellence) committee of the ADVANCE program, whose goal is to improve the academic culture for women at the University. In 2006 he co-taught an “Issues on Women in Science” course. Colleagues say he is passionate about social justice, which includes mentoring women by supporting their research and helping them create satisfying professional lives and careers. For many years, he has worked to advance the status of women, especially in the natural sciences.
• Hollenshead will receive the Sarah Goddard Power Distinguished Service Award for her ongoing role in the advancement of women. In her work at CEW, Hollenshead has participated in educational and research programs for women of all ages and in all facets of life. Her publications address such topics as gender equity, work-family policy issues, affirmative action, statistical studies, climate issues and demographics. She has received national awards for her work. She also has worked tirelessly to raise funds for women, most notably by expanding the CEW Scholarship program, which has provided financial support to more than 1,000 women who would otherwise have been unable to further their education.
The nomination materials for all three awardees will become part of the collections in the Bentley Historical Library.
The award was established by the Academic Women’s caucus in memory of Sarah Goddard Power, a former regent who was a strong advocate for women within the University. Its goal is to honor faculty members (including instructors, lecturers, primary researchers, librarians and curators) and senior administrative staff who have made significant contributions to the betterment of women at U-M and globally through distinguished leadership, scholarship or other activities related to their professions.
