University News
Ebert Wallace Honored by Campus WOW Organization
April 19, 2013
MACOMB, IL – Each year, the Western Organization for Women (WOW) honors an individual who has made contributions to the advancement of women at Western. This year's recipient was Associate Professor Lora Ebert Wallace, from Western's Department of Sociology and Anthropology.
Ebert Wallace was presented with her award during the annual spring luncheon, held Tuesday, April 16 in Stipes Hall 501.
Ebert Wallace was nominated for the honor for the contributions she has made to the advancement of women. According to her nominator, Women's Center Director Janine Cavicchia, since coming to WIU in 2004, Ebert Wallace has served as WOW's secretary and co-president, and has played a vital role on several of the organization's work groups, including those involving child care, elder care and lactation programs.
"Lora was instrumental in the creation of lactation rooms in a number of buildings across campus," Cavicchia said. "She wrote and teaches a sociology course about women's health; she previously served on the Women's Center Advisory Board; and she is a member of the Macomb Feminist Network."
During the April 16 luncheon, state breastfeeding Coordinator Brenda Snyder Matthews, of the Illinois Department of Human Services, presented WIU with the Silver Breastfeeding is Smart Business Award, for which Ebert Wallace had nominated the University. The award was accepted by WIU President Jack Thomas, Provost Ken Hawkinson, and Director of Equal Opportunity and Access Andrea Henderson.
"Although WIU's receipt of (the Breastfeeding is Smart Business) award is the result of the collective efforts of numerous individuals and groups over the course of many years," Cavicchia said, "Much of the credit goes to the instigation and persistence of one very determined researcher, educator, activist, leader and mother, Lora Ebert Wallace, for her tireless efforts on behalf of women at Western and her desire to create a more supportive environment with family-friendly policies and practices."
WOW has been presenting an achievement award on campus since 1979, and the organization was established on campus in 1971. Its mission is to act upon common interests and issues relating to women by promoting equal opportunity and collaborating with other campus, local, state and national women's organizations to assist in improving the status of women in society.
The keynote address for this year's luncheon, "Connectedness: A History of Our Women's Clubs," was given by Western Illinois Museum Curator Sue Scott.
For more information about WOW, visit wiu.edu/WOW.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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