The Wayne State University chapter of the Michigan ACE Network and the President's Commission on the Status of Women (COSW) recently honored two Wayne State University administrators for their long and impressive work to support, promote and develop leadership abilities of their female colleagues.
The organizations presented the first-ever Outstanding Achievement Award to former Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Margaret E. Winters, in recognition of her support of women in higher education as both a campus leader and mentor during her 14-year career at Wayne State.
“I am honored to receive the COSW/Wayne State ACE chapter Outstanding Achievement Award,” Winters said. “It means a great deal to me, precisely because it was awarded by the great group of women I have been working with during my years at Wayne State. I am grateful to them for it”.
Winters, a Grosse Pointe resident, was nominated by Associate General Counsel Linda M. Galante. “I have seen her repeatedly promote and demonstrate inclusiveness in all aspects of academia at Wayne State, both with regard to women and minorities,” Galante said. “The fact that Wayne State currently has — under Margaret’s tenure — six highly qualified female academics as deans, three of whom also are minorities, is a true testament to her passion for supporting females and minorities in academia.”
Gloria Kuhn, professor and vice chair for academics in Wayne State’s Department of Emergency Medicine in the School of Medicine, was awarded the 2016 MI-ACE Network Women of Distinction Award. She was selected based on her exemplary accomplishments as a physician, educator and researcher, and for her positive impact on women in emergency medicine, particularly junior female faculty.
“I was thrilled to be nominated for this award — actually winning it was the frosting on my cake,” said Kuhn, a resident of Farmington Hills. “It is particularly gratifying to me to support women in medicine and science because they have so much potential and dedication. For a number of reasons, this potential is often not reached, and even when it is, may not be recognized and rewarded. Much has been done to rectify these problems, but more remains.”
In nominating Kuhn, Brian J. O’Neil, Dayanandan Endowed Chair and Edward S. Thomas Endowed Professor in the WSU School of Medicine Department of Emergency Medicine, wrote: “She has been a major force for recognition and resolution of the specific challenges women face in emergency medicine and medicine in general. Dr. Kuhn’s philosophy is that for women to make an impact in medicine, it requires them to be intimately involved at all levels — research, leadership and education. She has been a mentor to countless women and has used her large professional network to connect junior faculty to regional and national service.”
The awards were presented at a luncheon on June 3 at the McGregor Memorial Conference Center on Wayne State’s campus. The COSW/MI-ACE Network Outstanding Achievement Award is in its inaugural year, and recognizes a woman who has shown exceptional leadership in regard to women’s issues. “The COSW is pleased that this award went to someone as deserving as Provost Winters. Her work with the COSW and pay gap issues at Wayne State is extraordinary,” stated Kim Morgan, chair of the COSW.
The MI-ACE Wayne State chapter Women of Distinction award is awarded annually to a Wayne State employee who has demonstrated a sustained commitment to women and issues of diversity. “Commitment” is defined broadly to encompass all areas of university life and levels of employment, from administrative positions of leadership through service as faculty or staff on campus and in the community.
About MI ACE Network
In conjunction with the Office of Women in Higher Education (OWHE) of the American Council on Education, the Michigan ACE Network is committed to identifying, developing the leadership of, advancing and supporting the retention of women in higher education.
About the President’s Commission on the Status of Women (COSW)
The Wayne State University President's Commission on the Status of Women was founded in 1971 by the president of Wayne State. The COSW advises Wayne State University’s Office of the President and the larger campus community on issues facing women students, staff, faculty, and alumni including gender equity and equality, social justice, and intersectionality. The Commission advocates for women through programming, university service, outreach, research, and policy recommendations.