The Chancellor’s Committee on the Status of Women presented the eighth annual Tribute to MU Women on Thursday, which recognized seven MU students, staff and faculty members.
Ellen McLain, MU Chancellor’s Committee on the Status of Women co-chairwoman, said the award winners go above and beyond their job responsibilities to help create a safe and fair environment for women on campus, demonstrate respect for women’s experiences and help promote the advancement of women.
“We feel that it is important not only to create a means for the campus to recognize women who have performed outstanding service to other women on campus, but to let those selected know how much they are appreciated,” McLain said.
Every recipient must be nominated by two different people to be considered for the award and the Committee receives about 20 to 25 nominations each year, said Wendy Sims, Tribute to Women Committee Chairwoman.
The seven recipients were Rebecca Calvin, June DeWeese, Jill Ford, Stephanie Mathieu, Peggy Placier, Stephanie Smarr and Vicky Riback Wilson.
Award winners were introduced by a member of the MU campus who had nominated them.
Calvin, a member of the Chancellor’s Diversity Initiative, was introduced by Noel English.
“Anybody who knows Rebecca knows that she is passionate,” English said. “Passionate about her work and passionate about her family.”
McLain introduced DeWeese, a faculty member in Library Science and a member of the Task Force on Violence Against Women.
Colin Daly introduced Ford, who developed a female engineering freshman interest group.
“Her contributions have been outstanding to all students in the college of engineering,” Daly said.
Rebecca Wolfson introduced Mathieu, a School of Journalism graduate student who founded the non-profit organization Workforce of Women and often works with the Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention Center.
Jeffrey Brooks introduced Placier, a faculty member in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis who serves as a member on the Chancellor’s Standing Committee on the Status of Women.
Paula Carter introduced Smarr, a Public Health graduate student who serves as an advocate for females with autism spectrum disorders and established a local support group for females on the autism spectrum.
Jim Spain introduced Wilson, who serves as an advocate for Sue Shear Institute for Women in Public Life.
Sims said this event recognizes women who work on women’s issues on a voluntary and regular basis.
“We feel that it is important to recognize those who make the campus a better place for women in the many roles that we occupy at Mizzou,” McLain said.