Commission on Women

Linda Larson Commission on Women Awards

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 the greater Duluth community. Their contributions to women have long-lasting impact for favorable climate change.

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 volunteering her time and serving 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.

In 2011, the Commission broadened the Linda Larson Award to honor women in three distinct categories: faculty, staff, and student. 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, or female student, for one of the following:

*Linda Larson Commission on Women Faculty Woman of the Year Award
*Linda Larson Commission on Women Staff Woman of the Year Award
*Linda Larson Commission on Women Student 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. The award category;
3. A description of the activities of this woman that shows outstanding contribution to the continuing improvement of women's experiences at UMD specifically, as well as in the community at large; and
4. The name and contact information for the person(s) nominating this individual.

Beginning in 2008, all nominees from the previous year will be considered as contenders for the current year's Woman of the Year awards. Please submit your nominations to Linda Klint, Commission Chair.

We invite you to join the Commission on Women as together we build upon the legacy of Linda Larson by encouraging and celebrating the contributions women are making on campus to improve the climate for women.

Linda Larson Commission on Women Woman of the Year Award Past Recipients:

2012 Elizabeth Bartlett (Faculty Award)
         Diane Skomars (Staff Award)

2011 LeAne Rutherford (Faculty Award)
         Elaine Hansen (Staff Award)

2010 Deborah Petersen-Perlman

2009 Colleen Belk

2008 Bilin Tsai

2007 Sabra Anderson

2006 Jane Maddy

2005 Joy Michalicek

2004 Susana Pelayo Woodward

2003 Virginia Katz

2002 Linda Larson