VOL. VII, NO. 7 APRIL 200

We are coming to the end of my first year as Women’s Studies Coordinator. It has been an exciting but challenging year for me. In addition to the normal stresses of learning a new job, I had to help select and train not one but two new secretaries. However, Gracia was worth the wait. I hope you have all had an opportunity to get to know her. Her enthusiasm for and knowledge about so many topics related to Women’ s Studies is amazing. There are a number of other people who contribute to our efforts. Gloria Wurst is so professional as she continues to edit our newsletter month in and month out. Diane Krantz faithfully forwards email messages to everyone and volunteers behind the scenes whenever needed. The list is long of those who have taught classes, presented research at senior seminar, led discussions for the video series, served on the Phoenix scholarship committee, the October Picnic committee and so on. I am particularly grateful to Heather Harris and Cassi Meyerhoffer for their effective leadership with the FUN group. It has been a pleasure working with them.

I hope that you will all feel welcome to join us for the closing social for Women’s Studies, which will be held Thursday, April 19 at 2:30 in SS 115. It will be an Open House, so drop by whenever you can between about 2:30 and 4:00, even if you can only spend a few minutes. Invite any colleagues, students or community folks that are interested in Women’s Studies doings. We will honor our graduating seniors and share light refreshments.

Be looking forward to the Birthday Celebration for Women’s Studies, which will be held the week of October 1. The committee has been hard at work planning speakers, panels, videos and other activities to celebrate our accomplishments and to let the campus and local communities know that we are here and we are actively changing the landscape.

Thanks to everyone for all you do. I hope you have a successful summer. We’ll see you in the fall ready to shake things up a little, I hope.

It is our pleasure this month to introduce a familiar WSU face who is joining the Women’s Studies faculty with the (newly) cross-listed (Social Work/Gerontology) "Older Women in America." Roy Van Orman has taught at Weber State since 1977, focusing on and developing courses in Gerontology. His education includes a B.S. from WSU, an M.S.W. (University of Utah), an M.P.A. and certificate in Social Work (University of Southern California), and an Ed.D. from BYU. He has also taught at Boise State and served as faculty member and/or consultant for numerous workshops at local, regional and national levels. In addition, he is a Certified Social Worker in Utah and Idaho.

Roy belongs to several national and regional social work/gerontology societies, having served as president of the American Society on Aging. He is also the current president of the Weber State Alumni Association and a member of the WSU Board of Trustees and a Board Member for the Utah Gerontological Society. A sports fan with a particular fancy for ice hockey, Roy is the faculty advisor for the WSU club – recent runner-up in the Division II National Championships. As advisor for the WSU Gerontology club, he has watched a growing membership and supervised their community service projects. He serves as advisor for the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education as well.

Roy has a long history of professional publications and presentations, most recently delivering addresses to the Gerontological Society of America, the American Society on Aging, the National Council on Aging and the Golden Key National Honor Society. He has worked on the Utah Steering Committee for the White House Council on Aging as well, and he is a recipient of the "Pioneer Award" from the Utah Gerontological Society. Service to his discipline includes reviewing books and manuscripts, as well as screening abstracts for meeting presentation.

A native of Canada, Roy is the eldest of 10 children, and, after the untimely death of his father, he helped raise his 3 brothers and 6 sisters. His mother’s dedication to her family and her struggles as a single parent have helped to shape Roy’s commitment to furthering the concerns and recognizing the accomplishments of women. His first 9 years of school in Alberta, Canada, and subsequent education in the most culturally mixed Salt Lake schools added to his awareness and appreciation of diversity in general. In addition, his experience was deepened further by mission work with Hong Kong women who were widowed as a result of the Japanese occupation.

Roy is married to Kathleen Dayton and they have raised four children – Lauri, Layne, Lyle, and Linsey – all of whom are, or soon will be, Weber State graduates. Lauri and Layne have added four grandchildren to the family. When he’s not teaching or doing service activities, Roy enjoys several hobbies, including coin collecting and restoring antique automobiles (e.g., a 1930 Model A Roadster, a 1926 Speedster, and 1928, ’29 and ‘30 Tudors.)

We welcome Roy to the Women’s Studies faculty and look forward to his contributions in, as well as out of, the classroom.

* * *

HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS to former Executive Council member Carla Koons Trentelman, who received a fellowship to support her upcoming Utah State graduate training in Sociology. CONGRATULATIONS also to Professor Emerita Jean White who will serve on the Weber State Board of Trustees and to Associate Provost Kathleen Lukken who was chosen to receive the H. Aldous Dixon Award. And, last, but not least, a belated WELCOME to the newest member of the Marsteller-Kowalewski family - William Clark - who arrived on 30 Dec. 2000.

For/from the students: If you are looking for something to do with that tax refund money, may we suggest that you donate to the Traditional Women's Scholarship Fund, which can always make good use of additional resources. Also, FUN member Heather Harris wants to reactivate the Women's Realities series. She asks, "Will it be better to locate it at the YCC again, or here at WSU somewhere?" If anyone knows of a good speaker or topic, please forward those ideas to her.

3 – 4 Apr. – "Hate: The Roots of Atrocity"; WSU Holocaust Commemoration; SUB and Browning Center.

5 Apr. – "Women.future MainEvent 2001" telecast; call 626-6090 for info.

- Sally Bishop Shigley discusses "Surfacing" with Brigham City Library Book Group, 7 PM; call 723-5850 for info.

19 Apr. – Executive Council Meeting and Open House/Social, SS115, 2:30 – 4:00 PM

26 Apr. – Take Our Daughters to Work Day

27 Apr. – Spring Semester Classes End. GOOD LUCK WITH FINALS!