UW System Outstanding
Women of Color In Education Awards
Award Recipients for 2003
Deborah B. Cureton, UW Colleges
Rachel Jo Lockett, UW- Eau Claire
Ileana Rodriguez, UW-Extension
Cristina Ortiz, UW-Green Bay
Hazel Symonette, UW-Madison
Joyce F. Kirk, UW-Milwaukee
Manjari Chatterji, UW-Oshkosh
Amy Hernandez Maack, UW-Parkside
LaTisha Snelling, UW-Platteville
Carolyn Brady, UW-River Falls
Beverley David, UW-Stevens Point
Maltee McMahon, UW-Stout
Mary Lee Vance, UW-Superior
Dora Herrera-Mier, UW System Administration
Geneva Cobb Moore, UW-Whitewater
Past Award Recipients by Campus or by Year
 Deborah B. Cureton,
UW Colleges
Deborah B. Cureton is the Dean and Chief Executive Officer of the
University of Wisconsin-Richland. She earned her Bachelors and Masters
degrees from the University of South Carolina, and her Ph.D in Curriculum
and Instruction from UW-Madison. Relatively new to the UW System,
Dean Cureton has, nonetheless, been quite active in efforts to diversify
the campus. Upon arrival, she guided a team effort to develop and
submit a proposal to the United States Department of Education for
a Talent Search Grant, a Trio program targeting minority and disadvantaged
precollege youth to encourage and support preparation for college.
She is also actively involved in the UW-Richland / Grand Avenue Precollege
Program that has operated for several years in an effort to address
the "pipeline issue" towards a goal of greater campus
diversity. As a member of the Wisconsin Women in Higher Education
Leadership Board of Directors, Deborah participates in the design
of leadership and professional development opportunities for women
from across the state. As a campus leader in a challenging budget
period, she locates support for both faculty and staff women to
participate in such activities. Dean Cureton also gives of herself
as she mentors students of color.
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 Rachel
Jo Lockett,
UW-Eau Claire
Rachel Jo Lockett is a senior majoring in Economics and Spanish.
She was the 2003 recipient of the George T. & Clayton T. Piercy
Scholarship, which is awarded annually by the UW-Eau Claire Foundation
to a student who demonstrates excellence in scholastic and co-curricular
achievement. Lockett has received the Diversity Scholars Award with
a cumulative grade point average of 3.85 and is a member of the
Golden Key and Phi Kappa Phi honors societies. Lockett is very involved
on campus. She serves as treasurer of the Black/Latino Student Association,
Vice President of the Student Economic Association, a campus ambassador,
and played a key role on the Planning Committee for the 2002 Multicultural
Student Leadership Conference that was held at UW-Eau Claire and
attended by students from colleges and universities throughout the
region. Volunteering is important for Rachel Lockett, she volunteers
for Habitat for Humanity and the Salvation Army. Mentoring and acting
as resource person for prospective UW-Eau Claire students at numerous
recruitment events is another important activity for Lockett.
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 Ileana
Rodriguez,
UW-Extension
Ileana Rodríguez has cultivated the community-based partnerships
critical to successful efforts to better inform women of color and
expand their educational opportunities and options, particularly
Hispanic/Latina women. Through her work with Centro Hispano, the
Boys and Girls Club of Madison, and other community-based programs,
Ileana has positively influenced the lives of many Hispanic and
Latina women and families. Her professional development workshops
and other training programs have strengthened the operations and
programs of Centro Hispano and other organizations that serve the
Hispanic/Latino populations of Dane County. She focuses on those
students who traditionally are not engaged with or who do not envision
themselves as university students; especially women of color.
As an outreach specialist, Rodríguez’s classroom is the
community. Ileana Rodríguez has received several grants that
enabled her to design programs to reach out to women of color in
the Madison Community. Her first project, the Professional Enrichment
and Leadership Development Program focused exclusively on the immediate
needs of the staff of Centro Hispano. Rodríguez demonstrates
a clear understanding of the interplay of family and community andculture
in the lives of women of color. Her colleagues attribute her success
to her skill in working with rather than for persons of color. Ileana
Rodríguez is a marvelous role model.
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Cristina
Ortiz, UW-Green Bay
Cristina Ortiz joined UW-Green Bay as a faculty of Humanistic Studies
in 1993. She has a PhD in Literature, with specialization in contemporary
Latin American and Peninsular Literatures. She has published several
articles, book chapters and reviews, and has presented her work
at different regional, national, and international conferences.
As the coordinator of the Spanish program at UW-Green Bay, Ortiz
has linked her students and the curriculum to the needs of the Spanish
speaking community of Green Bay. In that regard she has established
internships for her students with schools and organizations in the
community. Ortiz is a member of several committees on campus, but
is particularly proud to serve on the Chancellor’s Advisory
Council for Diversity. Christina has worked with several local agencies
and schools to assist in strengthening the university-community
pipeline to ensure progressions towards accessibility to higher
education for Latino/Hispanic children. In that regard, she has
collaborated in the pre-college program “Stars of the Future,”
assisted the Admissions Office in the translation of documents into
Spanish, has advised and mentored Latino-Latina students. Ortiz
is also a member of the Green Bay Film Society, and is on the Editorial
Board of Raven Trees Press, a bilingual press that publishes children’s
books in Spanish/English and Hmong/English.
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 Hazel
Symonette,
UW-Madison
Hazel Symonette's contributions extend well beyond the university.
Sheis recognized locally, nationally and internationally through
her work with community organizations and participation on national
and international committees. Hazel Symonette is a person of great
vision,creativity, tenacity and strength. She has repeatedly demonstrated
her commitment to improving the lives of others, particularly women
of color. Hazel is an exceptional campus leader and creator of systematic
change. Her work has led to greater diversity and improved campus
climate, especially for women of color. Hazel is committed to creating
authentically inclusive and vibrantly responsive teaching, learning
and working communities that are conducive to success for all.
Hazel's work draws on social justice and systematic change research to create
meaningful and life-changing interactions with faculty, staff and
students. She not only provides the forum for these interactions
but also develops vehicles for extending learning by engaging others
in the facilitation process. Further, Hazel strives to provide a
myriad of personal, professional and leadership development opportunities
for the campus community, including women of color. She has been
instrumental in developing several initiatives such as the UW-Madison
Leadership Institute, the Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity
(S.E.E.D) program, and the Seeking Education Equity and Diversity
by Experienced Doers (S.E.E.D.E.D) program and has founded UW-Madison's
Excellence through Diversity Institute. For the past 3 years Hazel
Symonette has served as co-chair of the American Evaluation Association's
Building Diversity Initiative and of the Minority Issues in Evaluation
Topical Interest Group. She has just recently been elected to a
3-year term on the national Board of Directors of the American Evaluation
Association. Hazel advocates assessment as a participant - centered
self-diagnostic resource for continuous improvement and strategic
image management. She moves this agenda forward through a variety
of strategies- most notably through cultivating capacities to use
assessment and evaluation tools to advance a diversity-grounded
personal transformation, organizational development and social justice
change agenda.
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 Joyce
F. Kirk, UW-Milwaukee
Joyce F. Kirk is an Associate Professor of Africology at UW- Milwaukee
and the Executive Director of the UW System Institute on Race and
Ethnicity. Joyce has been a leading advocate for women of color
and has distinguished herself as a scholar interested in issues
of gender, race and ethnicity. In 1994 she assumed the leadership
role in a USIA-sponsored, multi-year project to build student
and administrative staff capacity skills among South Africans from
selected universities. This effort was a prelude to the engagement
of these students, once they graduated, and administrative staff
in the governing of Apartheid - free South Africa.
Joyce's current research
includes examining rites of passage among African American girls
in the United States, and an analysis of the training process that
African "traditional" doctors experience in South Africa,
as well as the role of African doctors in the treatment of sexually
transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV/AIDS prevention in South Africa.
Relatedly, she is also organizing with scholars in the United States
and South Africa, a comparative research project on African and
African American women, HIV-Aids and prevention in South Africa
and the United States. As a supporter of offerings that expose students
to the situations of women globally, she has been integral in moving
the Women's Studies major forward and voicing her support as they
plan for the new arrivals this fall. As a member of the Chancellor's
Task Force on the status of Women, Joyce was a forceful spokesperson
for the position that special efforts had to be made to ensure that
the voices of all women on campus were heard, whether they were
faculty members or food workers.
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Manjari
Chatterji, UW-Oshkosh
Manjari Chatterji is a lecturer in the Department of English. Manjari
has made outstanding contributions to students, to her colleagues
and to the community. Having grown up in two cultures Manjari brings
unique experiences and perspectives to her teaching and uses these
as a means for stretching her students' world view. She expresses
hope as a teacher in the following words: "I hope I have in
a small measure complicated my students' more unitary view of the
world, and open to other ways of knowing." As a woman from
India, Manjari has a first hand understanding of the agencies of
women in India and the U.S.A and constantly works to bridge the
two spheres. Recently Manjari received a grant from the Institute
on Race and Ethnicity to coordinate a campus based reading group,
the theme was "Literature of India: Changing Images of Women."
In addition she arranged a visit from author and Anthropologist,
Kirin Narayan. Manjari has been involved with the Outagami PALS
program as a mentor since 1979. One of her mentees is a now a successful
member of society, married, and a mother.
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 Amy
Hernandez Maack,
UW-Parkside
Amy Hernandez Maack (Hispanic/Mestizo) has distinguished herself
both on campus and off. As a non-traditional student and a wife
and mother of two young children, Amy knows first hand what it is
like to balance the demands of school, home, and career. Amy is
an exceptional young woman chairing Sacred Circle: American Indian
and Indigenous Peoples Student Organization at the UW-Parkside both last year and currently. Through
her leadership, dedication, and perseverance she has brought nationwide-renowned Native singers, dancers, and film stars, as well as respected
elders to campus. Amy has been active on campus as a member and
treasurer of the Music Club and as a tutor in the Writing Center
where she makes time to mentor other students. This year she was
inducted into two honors societies: Kappa Delta Pi and Phi Eta Sigma.
Additionally, Amy has been on the Dean’s List numerous times
and has received the Lillian James Music Scholarship each year she
has auditioned for it - 2001, 2002, and 2003.
Amy has not only been recognized by the campus as a woman of distinction, but also by
the community. Amy has been featured in the Racine Journal Times
newspaper as one of thirty Hispanic Heroes, and has also received
a Hispanic Unsung Hero award from the city of Racine for being an
outstanding role model. She has been a featured soloist with the
Kenosha Pops summer concert series and was recently asked to represent
the city of Racine by performing the National Anthem at a Milwaukee
Brewers game. Other activities include volunteering as the music
director for a small, rural congregation for the past two years,
leading her daughter’s Girl Scout Troop for the past five
years, and working in a variety of children’s church activities
for the past eleven years. Amy will be graduating with a Music Major
in May 2004 and will complete the Student Teaching requirements
for General Music (K-12) and Choral Music (6-12) licensure in December
2004.
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 LaTisha
Snelling,
UW-Platteville
La Tisha Snelling has been very actively involved on campus since
coming to UW-Platteville. She has been an active member of the Black
Student Union for three years and held office of Treasurer and is
currently the Co-Vice President. She is now a Diversity Advocate
for student housing, helping to bring diversity to students, faculty
and staff through different programming. La Tisha also serves as
the Diversity Director for the Student Senate on her campus. In
this role she is responsible for keeping the Student Senate abreast
of changing trends related to diversity in higher education. She
also volunteers for the Multicultural Educational Resource Center
Peer Mentor program as a mentor for new students of color to UWP.
La Tisha has embraced the UW-Platteville campus and made it a home
for herself over the last three years. LaTisha is a junior from
Green Bay, and is majoring in Business Administration-Human Resource
Management with a minor in Psychology.
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 Carolyn
Brady,
UW-River Falls
Carolyn Brady has contributed significantly to UW-River Falls' increase
in multicultural enrollment. Admissions Director Alan Tuchtenhagen
notes, "Under her guidance, UW-River Falls has distinguished
itself as having one of the highest percentages of new students
of color in the University of Wisconsin System. At the same time,
she has been able to ensure that the academic qualifications of
those students have been one of the best in the System. It is important
to note that Bardy's recruitment efforts are very family and community
focused. Carolyn has been an active and committed advisor for the
Asian American Student Association (AASA) since 1997. In that capacity
she has developed programs and events that are both individually
empowering and institutionally enhancing, and have resulted in increased
enrollment and retention of Asian students at the University of
Wisconsin-River Falls. Carolyn has developed a number of collaborative
programs with public school districts and community organizations
in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Her most recent projects include the
creation of post secondary access outreach programs among African
refugee communities in the Upper Midwest, and the Life Sciences
Academy and the Environmental Studies Collaborative for students
from Vincent High School in Milwaukee funded with support from the
Milwaukee Private Industry Council and the Wisconsin Department
of Public Instruction. Perhaps the best summary of Brady's impact
comes from a department chair's nomination: "Carolyn is both
a visionary and a doer. She clearly walks the talk. Her dedication
to UW-River Falls and to the possibilities for all women and people
of color in education is outstanding. She has long deserved recognition
for her efforts and accomplishments.
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Beverley David, UW-Stevens Point
Beverley David, a senior lecturer in the UW-Stevens Point Department
of Foreign Languages, is an exemplary instructor with a record of
excellence in teaching, professional growth and service that would
match the accomplishments of most tenure-track faculty. Her research
interests include the francophone world and females of the African
Diaspora. These efforts have led to several presentations, the co-authoring
of a published article and a recently published chapter in a text
on francophone studies. In the area of Women's Studies, Beverley's
most recent contribution at UW-Stevens Point has been her work in
initiating efforts to bring an exhibit of women artists to the UW-Stevens
Point campus. She has functioned as a dedicated and highly active
member of the UWSP Department of Foreign Languages and university
community for the past 12 years. David has an outstanding record
of campus service. When there is a need for a member of the department
to advise transfer of prospective students, David is the first to
volunteer. She has served on numerous department and university
committees, including International Affairs and Equity and Affirmative
Action. Beverley David is an inspiring role model for diverse students
on the campus. She is noted for her warm personality, contagious
good humor, and genuine concern for their well-being. She is a co-advisor
to the Spanish Club and the Student Association for Latino Studies
and Advancement. (SALSA).
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 Maltee
McMahon, UW-Stout
Maltee McMahon is the Nonprofit Resource Specialist at the Bremer
Bank in Menomonie. McMahon has worked on women's issues and in her
capacity has endeavored to further the cause of women of all races
and ethnicities. Maltee worked closely with the International Relations
Office at UW-Stout to provide leadership to promote cultural diversity
and education. As Director of the Family Resource Center and the
First Call for Help in Menomonie, Maltee has organized Parenting
Classes, Infant Massage Instruction, and Playgroups for the Hmong
population. These were presented by a Hmong Parent Educator. Maltee
has also facilitated
workshops at annual conferences and organized Back-to-School Clothing
Giveaways that included women of all races and ethnicities. Maltee
has participated in Diversity Education Week at Elementary School
in the area. Currently, Maltee works with nonprofits in Northern
Wisconsin to bring awareness and decrease discrimination to a variety
of populations. Maltee also volunteers locally for the Food Pantry,
Menomonie Free Clinic and Caregiver's program that serve a variety
of population. She is a Dale Carnegie Instructor and belongs to
the Chippewa Valley Women's Network,
Professional Women's Network and Women Connect Group (co-organizer).
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 Mary
Lee Vance,
UW-Superior
Mary Lee (said together) Vance joined UW-Superior January 2002 as
the Director of the Undergraduate Academic Advisement Office, which
has since been changed to the Center for Academic and Career Advisement,
and Disability Support Services. Mary Lee has done much to improve
campus life, especially in the areas of multicultural, women's gender,
and disability issues. She has been Chair of the Academic Staff
Senate of UW-Superior since spring of 2002, member of the advisory
board of the new Asian Pacific American Student Organization at
UW-Superior, member of the Advisory General Planning Committee for
the 2002 "State of Feminism: Twin Ports Conference," founding
advisor for the student group ABILITIES and instrumental in creating
the UW-Superior Faculty and Staff of Color Association.
Mary Lee has been selected to be an editor for the National Academic Advising
Association Journal (NACADA) for two terms and has published numerous
articles in several professional books, journals and anthologies.
She has also published over 36 book reviews in the NACADA Journal,
the Journal of Organizational Change Management, and the Korean
Quarterly. Due to her love of books, Mary Lee has for the last three
years successfully coordinated and written the System sponsored
Campus Based Reading grants for UW Superior, thus insuring that
writings by and about women of color are included in the campus
discussions. Mary Lee works tirelessly to improve the status and
climate for women, particularly women of color, as she brings women's
issues and diversity issues to all her work on campus and in the
community. She is a firm believer in Universal Design and strives
to make sure women, gender, diversity, and disability issues are
raised, and that diverse voices are heard, and that access and accommodation
are priorities.
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 Dora
Herrera-Mier,
UW System Administration
Dora Herrera-Mier currently serves as the Community Outreach Specialist
for the UW System Multicultural Center for Educational Excellence
where she supervises over 30 community-based outreach consultants,
strives to strengthen the outreach programs, working closely with
students, their parents /caregivers, and teachers. Dora is an individual
who not only talks the talk but also walks the walk. Her involvement
with the UW System is one of longevity, tenacity, and passion. As
an undergraduate at UW-Whitewater, Dora has worked to develop avenues
that foster opportunities for other students to become more involved
with the institution, academically, socially, and politically. At
UW-Whitewater, Dora was instrumental in activating organizations
such as MECHA that highlights the educational importance of the
Latino culture, the Latino dance troop founder and the Spanish radio
program “Radio Ambiente.” After completing her undergraduate
studies, Dora served as Assistant Director of the Educational Talent
Search Program at UW-Whitewater. She returned to her home community,
Milwaukee and served as an advisor in the Roberto Hernandez Center
at UW-Milwaukee. Dora has not limited her work to campuses and higher
education. She served on the board of the Latino Health Organization.
She has also been appointed by the archbishop to the Archdiocesan
Pastoral Council within the Catholic Church.
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 Geneva Cobb Moore,
UW-Whitewater
Geneva Moores outstanding contributions to women of color, diversity,
and Women's Studies both on campus and in the UW- System make her
an excellent candidate for this award. In the area of Women's Studies
scholarship and activism, Geneva's contributions nationally have
helped shape our understanding of women's writing and of African-American
women's writing in particular. Her book-length manuscript, Literature
of Emancipation: African American Women writers from Phillis Weatley
to Toni Morrison contribute to the ongoing critical discussion of
seminal women writers. Her work on Caribbean writers of color is
part of the critical effort to enlarge the body of literature on
women of color to include contemporary writers outside the mainstream.
Geneva's authoritative accounts of diarist Charlotte Forten and
African American journal writing in The Oxford Companion to African
American Literature, (1997) demonstrate authority writing by women
of color. Geneva has published articles in journals and books on
Charlotte Forten, Zora Neale Hurston, and Alice Walker.
During 1997-98 Dr. Moore was a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Ghana, Legon,
and West Africa, where she advocated for women of color on literature.
While teaching in West Africa, Geneva arranged for Akua Oduro of
Ghana, to come to UW-Whitewater on full scholarship and opened her
home to her each summer. Akua Oduro is now a Ph.D. student in medicine
at UW-Madison. Geneva was a member of the committee for the study
of the Status of Women in the UW System, who's Report on the Status
of Women 2000, emphasized increasing attention to diversity at the
university level. In her community in Madison, Moore is actively
involved in her church and civic cultural activities. Asa member
of the First Baptist Church, she teaches adult Sunday School and
sings in the Gospel Choir; she is also a member of the church's
Board of Education.
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