Chancellor's Commission on Women Confirms New Slate of Membership, Sets Priorities for 2018-19 Academic Year

The new and continuing members of the Chancellor's Commission on Women met to elect officers and to determine a plan for the 2018-19 academic year. Members are nominated by the campus and appointed by the chancellor and provost and serve on staggered three-year appointments.

Anna Zajicek, professor and chair in the Department of Sociology and Criminology, was elected chair of the commission. April Taylor, manager of compliance for Global Campus was elected vice chair. And Amber Duncan, non-resident taxation analyst in Human Resources was elected secretary.

Membership comprises both graduate and undergraduate students, faculty and staff who serve on staggered three-year appointments to ensure there's a fresh and diverse points of view represented. The group collectively decides what issues to tackle each year, and relies on input from colleagues, students, and occasional surveys to gain a sense of the campus' interests and needs.

The commission this year will take up the topic of women's empowerment and will work to set two campuswide events this year open to everyone - one in the fall and one in the spring. Details about both events will be announced as plans are confirmed. Commission members are actively seeking campus partner organizations with similar objectives to partner with on upcoming events.

"The commission has made significant contributions to the great work being done on our campus in the area of work/family balance, mentoring, leadership, and other issues that are of importance to women. An important task for this year will be to augment the impact of the commission even farther by creating lasting collaborations and linkages with other diversity and inclusion efforts underway on our campus. Such collaborations will enhance opportunities to share information and foster holistic inclusion of broader knowledge"  Zajicek said.

The commission also recognized and thanked Kim Needy, dean of the Graduate School and International Education, for her service as chair this past academic year.

The full roster includes:

Faculty Members (3):

• Anna Zajicek, professor and chair, Department of Sociology and Criminology, Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences (2020)
• Mary Savin, professor of microbial ecology, Crop, Soil and Environmental Science, Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food & Life Sciences (2019)
• Lauren Greenlee, assistant professor of chemical engineering, College of Engineering (2021)

Non-Classified Staff Members (3):

• Angela Mosley Monts, director of alumni constituent relations, Arkansas Alumni Association (2019)
• Erica Nelson, director of student-athlete development, Department of Intercollegiate Athletics (2020)
• April Taylor, manager of compliance, Global Campus (2021)

Classified Staff Members (3):

• Tracy Deffebaugh, career services assistant, School of Law (2020)
• Amber Duncan, non-resident taxation analyst, Human Resources, (2019) 
• Theresa Parrish, administrative support supervisor, Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design (2021)

Undergraduate Student Members

• Erin Farmer, Bachelor of Sciences in Math and Physics, and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics (2019)
• Amarachi Onyebueke, Human Environmental Sciences (2019)

Graduate Student Members

• Jennifer Oramous, doctoral student in curriculum and instruction education with a focus on science education (2019)

Ex-Officio Members (non-voting to include representation from Faculty Senate, Staff Senate, Chancellor's Office, Provost's Office and Associated Student Government)

• Abigail Walker, ASG vice president, Associate Student Government
• Fran Hagstrom, Faculty Senate/Campus Faculty representative, assistant dean for Health Professions
• Laura Jacobs, associate vice chancellor and chief of staff, Office of the Chancellor
• Trish Watkins, Staff Senate representative, assistant director of rrants and finance, World Trade Center Arkansas
• Yvette Murphy-Erby, vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion, Office of the Provost

About the Chancellor's Commission on Women: Founded in 2010, the Chancellor's Commission on Women is an advisory group charged with reviewing and monitoring policies, programs and issues to ensure that all women of the university are given the best possible opportunities for success within the institution and in their professional and college careers. Membership comprises both graduate and undergraduate students, faculty and staff who serve on staggered three-year appointments to ensure there's a fresh and diverse points of view represented. The group collectively decides what issues to tackle each year, and relies on input from colleagues, students, and occasional surveys to gain a sense of the campus' interests and needs.