Linda Larson Woman of the Year Award
University of Minnesota Duluth

The Linda Larson Commission on Women Woman of the Year Award was created in 2002 to honor women at UMD who exemplify going above and beyond to benefit women at UMD. Following in the legacy of Linda Larson, recipients of this award are making a difference in the lives of women at UMD and in our community. Their contributions to women have long-lasting impact of favorable climate change. Our three past recipients are Linda Larson, who received the award named in her honor in 2002, Virginia Katz, who received the award in 2003, and Susana Pelayo-Woodward, who received the award in 2004.

Linda Larson worked at UMD for over 25 years. Throughout her career she worked to expand women's athletics on campus and was integral to the university's compliance with Title IX when it was adopted. She worked diligently to improve the position of the Women's Resource and Action Center on campus. She has also done extensive work for women outside the university by volunteer work and sitting on the boards for the Northern Pine Girl Scout Council and the Duluth YWCA. Her efforts have made UMD's women's athletics what they are today. It is this type of legacy for women that this award is meant to honor.

We would like to invite all members of the UMD community (men and women, students, faculty, staff and alumni) to nominate any current or former UMD faculty or staff woman for the Linda Larson-Commission on Women Woman of the Year Award. The nomination should be in the form of a letter that includes the following: 1. The name of the woman being nominated including contact information for her; 2. A description of the activities of this woman that show outstanding contribution to the continuing improvement of women?s experiences at UMD and in Duluth at large; and 3. The name and contact information for the person(s) nominating this individual.

We encourage all UMD community members to make a nomination for this award.
Let's build upon the legacy of Linda Larson through the encouragement of other women on campus to continue improving the climate for women.

 

Past recipients:

2007 Sabra Anderson

Sabra arrived at UMD in the fall of 1969 and began teaching Mathematics, one of a few female faculty pioneers in the Division of Science and Math. She enjoyed a reputation among students as an enthusiastic and caring teacher  . Her leadership capabilities were recognized and she served as Associate Dean of the College of Science and Letters from 1977-1980; Department Head of Mathematical Sciences from 1981-1984, and Associate Dean of the College of Science and Engineering from 1987-1990. In the fall of 1990 she was named Dean of the College of Science and Engineering at UMD. At that time, Sabra was one of only two female Deans of Engineering in the nation. In her faculty and administrative roles Sabra provided a wonderful role model for other women faculty and women students on this campus. She developed a reputation as being tough, but fair. She worked in many ways to increase the opportunities for women and other under-represented groups in the College of Science and Engineering, and nationally in STEM Disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics).

--Tim Holst  ( Associate Dean, CSE 2007)

2006 Jane Maddy

2005 Joy Michalicek

2004 Susana Pelayo Woodward

2003 Virginia Katz

2002 Linda Larson