Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE - Patricia Foster, director of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Patricia A. Doyle Women's Center, will receive the campus Woman of Color award for 2006. Each year, the University of Wisconsin System recognizes 16 women from around the state for their extensive contributions to their campus and community. The event is organized and supported by the UW System Women's Studies Consortium and Office of Diversity and Development, and they are joined in co-sponsorship this year by the UW-Eau Claire Women's Studies Program.

Foster has been the director of the women's center since 2002 and during that time she has presented a number of papers and workshops and developed numerous programs on women's issues. In collaboration with other campus organizations, she has played a critical role in bringing to UWP such guests as world famous poet Nikki Giovanni, educator Jane Elliot, noted speaker Sarah Weddington, and the first Hmong senator from Minnesota, Mee Moua. She has also been a member of the Chancellor's Cabinet and has provided diversity training for several academic programs, including engineering and humanities.

Michael Viney, assistant chancellor for Student Affairs, said Foster has worked hard to bring meaningful programming to campus. "A significant contribution Pat has made to campus is the diversity of programming, particularly programming focusing on the contributions of women. She has utilized her significant network of colleagues and contacts from across the country to bring speakers to campus who have both inspired and challenged the members of our community," Viney said.

Prior to her becoming the director of the women's center, Foster served as the director of Multicultural Services and was the Plan 2008 campus representative. She also implemented the Lawton Grant program for underprivileged and minority students, served on the student of color retention committee, coordinated five pre-college camps and worked in an advisory capacity with several student organizations. She has also served as the human rights commissioner for the City of Dubuque. Carmen Faymonville, chair of the Humanities Department and former director of the Women's Studies program (2001-04), said that Foster has been tireless in her advocacy for women's issues. "I have worked with Pat and found her to be a dedicated and infallible supporter of women's issues. Like no other woman on campus, she has advocated for women of color and all women here on campus. She has consistently demonstrated her ability to rally diverse voices and forces together to advance the agenda of women, particularly women of color," said Faymonville. For Foster, advancing the interests of women means that all voices must be part of the dialogue. "Women's issues are everyone's issues. After all, men have mothers, sisters, wives, daughters - they certainly have an interest in working for conditions which foster education and economic well-being. And when we talk about 'diversity,' we're talking about what I call 'feed the family' issues. How can we assure that every student we educate can thrive in society, work with people of diverse backgrounds and are accustomed to hearing from people who are different? These are very practical educational issues and that's how I try to approach them," she said.

Foster and the recipients from other UW System campuses will be honored at a luncheon and award ceremony on March 4 at the UW-Eau Claire campus. Anyone interested in attending the event may visit www.uwsa.edu/acadaff/womens/events/woc/woc.htm for details

Contact: Michael Viney, vice chancellor, Division of Student Affairs, (608) 342-1854, vineym@uwplatt.edu

Prepared By: Evelyn Martens, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194,martense@uwplatt.edu