Jodi Wetzel, who recently stepped down as institute director, will be honored at the May 5 Outstanding Women Awards Ceremony.

This year’s Outstanding Women Awards ceremony, sponsored by the Institute for Women’s Studies and Services, is a particularly significant one as it includes the celebration of the institute’s 20^th anniversary; the honoring of former director Jodi Wetzel, scheduled to retire this semester; the recognition of new and returning faculty and staff to the institute; and the presentation of several scholarships.

The 19^th annual ceremony, to be held from 5:30 to 7:30 on May 3 in St. Cajetan’s, “is always well-attended, but we expect an exceptionally large crowd this year,” said AnnJanette Alejano-Steele, director of the Institute since January and associate professor of psychology and women’s studies. “It’s usually held off campus, but this year we decided to have it here in the one place big enough to hold everyone.”

The awards reception honors, promotes and recognizes individuals who support women throughout the college campus. Awards are presented to students, alumnae, faculty, staff and administrators for their leadership and contributions to enhancing women's education, academic excellence or prominence in a particular field.

Jodi Wetzel, “foremother of the institute”
The Institute for Women’s Studies was established in 1985, in the midst of financial problems at Metro State. The administration was going to close the relatively small Women’s Studies Program and the Women’s Center, but a group of active women put together a proposal to combine the two and create the institute. Sandra Doe was nominated to be interim director while the College conducted a national search. Jodi Wetzel, professor of history and women’s studies, was hired in 1986. She became the institute’s director in its second year and remained at the helm until December.

“She really is the foremother of the institute,” says Alejano-Steele. “She developed the model, including the curriculum and the joint appointments for faculty. The institute itself is rare in that it offers both the academic program and the women’s services.”

Tara Tull, who has been interim assistant dean of the School of Arts Letters and Sciences for the past four years, was hired to direct the women’s services in 1990. “It was a great time to be with the institute, developing the programs with Jodi,” she says. “She was a fantastic support, supervisor and mentor, and she worked tirelessly to support women in education. It really has been her mission.”

Tull will return to the institute in July as its associate director. “I’m very excited to return,” she says. “It’s a wonderful time of renewal at the institute, with a new director at the helm and some new faculty.”

Alejano-Steele concludes: “Jodi really is a feminist scholar. She’s been a fixture, a mentor and role model to many on the campus, and to me in particular.

“She’s leaving humongous shoes to fill.”

The dual purpose of the institute
Academically, the institute offers a women’s studies minor, women’s studies major (available as an individualized degree), and many women’s studies courses covering the intellectual traditions of feminist scholarship and action. The women’s services program provides individualized assistance to women transitioning from work and/or home to school and coordinates a variety of services including scholarship assistance, advocacy services, college entry assistance, resource and referral, and cultural and educational programs.

The structure of the institute, combining academics with services, has been suggested by the recent Equity Scorecard Taskforce, co-chaired by Alejano-Steele, as a model for the African American Studies and Chicana/o Studies Departments as well. .

Scholarships awarded, graduates honored
In addition to honoring Wetzel and presenting this year’s Outstanding Women awards, the May 5th ceremony will also celebrate women graduating from the women’s studies program in fall 2005 and May 2006.

Scholarships for the next academic year will also be awarded, including the Meredith Wetzel Memorial Scholarship, given to a woman facing a long-term disability or illness; the American Association for University Women Scholarship; and the Pamela McIntyre-Marcum Scholarship, among others.

Finally, the institute will honor its staff and celebrate many of its founding foremothers.

Event logistics
Tickets for the event, $5 for students and $15 for others, are available at the institute (1033 Ninth Street Park) and will be sold at the event. All proceeds will benefit the Pamela McIntire-Marcum Scholarship. McIntyre-Marcum was a Metro State marketing professor who was killed by her husband in 1987. For more information contact the Institute for Women’s Studies and Services at 303-556-8441.