Two Colorado State University Women Honored for Contributions

Karen Wedge, director of Women’s Programs and Studies, and Carol Mitchell, associate professor of English, were named honorees by Colorado State’s Academic Faculty and Administrative-Professional Women’s Caucus.

Wedge and Mitchell were awarded $1,000 each and will be recognized at a reception from 4-6 p.m. March 26 in the Longs Peak Room of the Lory Student Center. The reception, which includes wine and hors d’oeuvres, is free and open to the public.

Sue Pendell, co-chairwoman of the Women’s Caucus and professor of speech communication, said that Wedge and Mitchell were chosen for their long-term efforts to improve women’s status, the universitywide scope of their activities and their dynamic contributions as role models to faculty, administrators and students.

Wedge, the director of Women’s Programs for 25 years, also has directed Women’s Studies since 1981. She has served as associate director of Student Relations and director of group advocacy programs. She was praised by colleagues for sustained advocacy of women, tireless leadership and development of programs to benefit women and men across campus.

"Karen’s degree of influence not only crosses but also transcends countless boundaries, whether those boundaries are institutional or cultural," said Keith Miser, vice president for student affairs.

Mitchell, faculty member since 1970, was recognized for her scholarly contribution to understanding of women, her efforts beginning in the 1970s to bring influential women and young female scholars to campus and her early leadership on the Commission on the Status of Women.

Her broader influence was in curriculum development that exposed Colorado State students to women’s and minority issues in the classroom, said Kate Kiefer, English professor.

"Carol guaranteed that large numbers of Colorado State students would be exposed to women’s studies," Kiefer said.

In addition, Mitchell, an early advocate of women’s advancement, chaired the first Salary Study Committee for Women and Minorities at Colorado State. She currently teaches folklore, mythology and cross-cultural studies of women’s roles.

For more details on the reception, call Christine Jones at (970) 491-1700.