VOL II, No 7

March 1996

COORDINATOR'S CORNER

The March profile features Dr. Kathy Edwards, who has been involved with Women's Studies in many capacities. We all thank Kathy for her valuable contributions.

March is Women's History Month with the first week designated as Women's Emphasis Week. There are many activities planned to celebrate women's contributions to society; a significant number are related to the Utah Centennial being commemorated this year. Specific activities sponsored by Services for Women Students include a March 4th Open House in SSC 154; a March 6th presentation by Ruth Stoneman, composer of a song cycle featuring Utah Women's Poetry; the March 7th (Annual) Writing Showcase and International (Cuisine) Day in the Gallery on March 8th. The March 6th presentation previews a June concert in Salt Lake City, the proceeds of which will benefit breast cancer patients. Call 626-6090 (SWS) or our office (626-7632) for more information.

Under the "oops!" category, here's a correction. The statewide meeting of Utah women's programs will be held at Utah State on 30 March. The theme of the conference is "Building Bridges" and it will feature Jodi Wetzel (Metropolitan State College-Denver) and Janice Monk (SIROW- Univ. of Arizona) as guest presenters. I encourage students, faculty and staff to attend; call the office for more information.

FACULTY PROFILE:

Dr. Kathy Edwards, Associate Professor in Weber's Communication Department, has been on the faculty since 1989. She has BA and MA degrees in Communication from the University of Oklahoma. She earned her PhD in 1991 from the University of Utah, with an emphasis in organizational communication. During both phases of her graduate training, she served as a teaching assistant.

Prior to coming to Weber, she worked as an admissions counselor at Westminster College, as a retail store manager for Stout Cycles in Salt Lake City, and as a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Montana. At Weber, she teaches Interpersonal Communication, Organizational Communication, Public Relations and Senior Seminar. She will teach, for the first time this spring, Gender and Communication, which is cross-listed with Women's Studies. In addition, she is a veteran in WS205, Introduction to Women's Studies, having team-taught with both Priti Kumar and Kathryn MacKay.

Kathy maintains an active interest in researching gender and communication issues (especially in interpersonal relationships and organizations), communication and technology (especially the department's home office project) and pedagogy in communication courses.

Kathy's service to the campus and community includes her membership in the WSU Facilitation Cadre, with which she does facilitating for organizations and community groups through Continuing Education. She has also been a member (and chair) of the Women's Studies Executive Council. This year finds her facing the educational challenges available as University Curriculum Committee chair.

A self-defined "aeroboholic," she loves road- and mountain-biking, cross-country skiing, skate skiing, and running, as well as non-aerobic (in Kathy's words!) downhill skiing and rock-climbing. She joins WSU colleague Jock Glidden as a member of the Beehive Beemers motorcycle club from which she received last year's "Dedicated Rider" award as a result of her completing a Motorcycle Safety Foundation Course during a terrible rainstorm. This feat was accomplished "sans" rainsuit, which had been lost in the mail by UPS. Kathy can be seen enjoying her outdoor adventures with her "roommate" - a yellow labrador retriever named Sunny.

THANKS!

-to all of you who participated in the various aspects of the Regents' Review process on the 7th and 8th of February, when our dedicated and tireless review team members gathered information about the program from Weber State faculty, staff and students and from community members. We expect that the team's response will be available soon; I then have the responsibility of commenting on their observations and contemplating how their suggestions might impact the program in the future.

-to Sally Bishop Shigley for presenting "Mad Women in the Academy" at the 22 February open meeting. Despite the confusion created by the cancellation of morning classes, those attending that afternoon enjoyed hearing Sally's paper and participating in the discussion that followed.

- to those of you who joined us for the "Women in Science" video series. For those who could not, the videos are in the library and can be used for class or other presentations.

OFF TO KENYA...

The study-abroad program to East Africa, led by Wangar wa Nyatet -Waigwa, has been planned for this summer. A pre-departure course will be offered on the WSU campus from 8 - 30 July; participants will travel 1 August - 2 September. While in Kenya, the "home site" will be the Guest House at the CPK Institute of Language and Orientation in Nairobi, where participants will take weekday classes. Weekend excursions will round-out the opportunities for an in-depth experience of East African language, culture and natural environment. The program cost is $2,856; for more information, call (801) 626-7448.

HONORING LEE McKENZIE -

The Women's Studies Student Alliance will sponsor their annual poetry contest and reading in April this year. Look for further information in the next newsletter and in "The Signpost" or call 626-7632.

CALENDAR

4 MARCH - Open House, SWS, 11:30 AM -1 PM,SSC 154

5 MARCH - Executive Council Meeting, 3:30 PM, SS137.

6 MARCH - "The Passage of Sun: A Women's View of Utah" by Ruth Gibbons Stoneman; 12:30 PM, Union Building, Little Theatre.

Brad Roghaar's WSU English class will present their poetry final, open to the public, 7 PM, Thought Continuum.

7 MARCH - Student, Faculty/Staff Writing Showcase, 10:30 AM, UB 338.

8 MARCH - "International Day" UB Gallery, 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM. Various dishes will be available for purchase.

15 - 24 MARCH - Quarter Break

17 MARCH - Book Club discussion group, Stories of Eva Luna, Thought Continuum, 1- 4 PM.

20 MARCH - Reading by Steven Trimble, environmentalist, 7 PM, Thought Continuum.

30 MARCH - Statewide Meeting of Utah Women's Programs, U.S.U.