The University Record, January 29, 2001

WCTF announces awards for 2000

The Women of Color Task Force (WCTF) presented its awards for 2000 on Dec. 7 at Rackham Assembly Hall. Recipients were as follows:

  • Paula Allen-Meares, dean of the School of Social Work and the Norma Radin Collegiate Professor of Social Work, received the Woman of the Year in Leadership award. Nominators called Allen-Meares “a fearless and forceful advocate for the School of Social Work, the social work profession and the University of Michigan.” They cited as an example her address in March 2000 to the board of the Council on Social Work Education regarding the lawsuits against the University’s affirmative action policies. Her remarks resulted in the filing of an amicus brief on the University’s behalf by the National Association of Social Workers, the Council on Social Work Education and the National Association of Deans/Directors of Schools of Social Work, nominators said.

  • Jayshri Gandhi, systems analyst, Office for Student Services and Enrollment Management, U-M-Flint, was the Woman of the Year in Human Relations. Nominator Virginia R. Allen, Flint vice chancellor for student services and enrollment management, said Gandhi is “a forceful advocate for cross-cultural understanding and cooperation.” As a member of the Professional Development Committee for Student Services and Enrollment Management, Gandhi has lobbied for programs “that sought to tear down barriers of intolerance,” Allen said. Gandhi also has represented minority concerns on several search committees, according to Allen.

  • Lynne E. Dumas, program representative, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies, received the Rebecca A. Vaughn Distinguished Service Award. Dumas was recognized for her many contributions to the WCTF. She helped formulate the WCTF’s mission statement and continues to present workshops at its Career Conference. She started the Diversity Resource Forum in 1991 and also helped develop ties between the WCTF and a number of women’s groups, including the Academic Women’s Caucus, the Commission for Women and the Center for the Education of Women’s Women of Color in the Academy project.