Janice Dauber

As a part of our ongoing mission to improve the Commission for Women, appointed members were surveyed in order to determine some of the motivating factors for members' involvement, as well as the factors contributing to persistence in the CFW. Here are Janice Dauber’s responses.

What motivated you to join the CFW?
I was interested in learning about the issues facing women at Penn State and wanted to find a way to contribute beyond my job. I was also interested in meeting other women on campus whom I wouldn't normally have had an opportunity to meet.

What do you enjoy most about the CFW?
What I enjoy most about the CFW are the full commission meetings with invited guests, and participating in the Mentoring Committee. It's very satisfying when mentoring pairings are successful and you have helped make a connection between 2 people that was unlikely to happen without the program.

Which of the CFW’s goals are you most passionate about and would like to take a more active role in?
I am passionate about mentoring and goals related to the advancement and retention of staff.

Janice Dauber is MAUTC Coordinator for The Thomas D. Larson Pennsylvania Transportation Institute and Co-Chair of the CFW's Mentoring Committee.

Rose Baker

As a part of our ongoing mission to improve the Commission for Women, appointed members were surveyed in order to determine some of the motivating factors for members' involvement, as well as the factors contributing to persistence in the CFW. Here are Rose Baker’s responses.

What motivated you to join the CFW?

Years ago, one of our Rosemary Schraer Mentoring Award winners told me that I would really enjoy the camaraderie of the women involved with CFW. She was right! I have always had a passion for equity for women and being part of CFW allows my voice to join with other voices to be heard and create solutions for gender equity.

What do you enjoy most about the CFW?
I enjoy catching the ear of administrators and others in power that can actually make the changes that we have advocated for. As a group of volunteers, we do not have control over change. We do have power to create change by having administrators listen, consider, and act on our recommendations.

Which of the CFW’s goals are you most passionate about and would like to take a more active role in?
I started as a volunteer on a committee as an affiliate member. The chair of the committee suggested that members should step up to the next level of commitment to the Commission. We need to communicate the power we have as volunteers and understand the level of change we can affect through our combined voice.

Rose Baker is Research Associate in Education Outreach in the Office of the Associate Dean for Research, Outreach, and Technology, Assistant Professor of Education associated with the Workforce Education and Development program, and a Professional Associate of Penn State Academic Outreach

Vicki Hoffman

As a part of our ongoing mission to improve the Commission for Women, appointed members were surveyed in order to determine some of the motivating factors for members' involvement, as well as the factors contributing to persistence in the CFW. Here are Vicki Hoffman's responses.

What motivated you to join the CFW?
To be a change agent for women at the university, whether they are faculty, staff, tech workers or students.

What do you enjoy most about the CFW?
Seeing our efforts for change come to fruition (programs, policies, etc.).

Which of the CFW’s goals are you most passionate about and would like to take a more active role in?
Assessment.

Vicki Hoffman is a Senior Support and Training Analyst Administrative Information Services and an appointed member of the CFW.

Ashley Conner

As a part of our ongoing mission to improve the Commission for Women, appointed members were surveyed in order to determine some of the motivating factors for members' involvement, as well as the factors contributing to persistence in the CFW. Here are Ashley Conner's responses.


What motivated you to join the CFW?
I wanted to work with other women to make women's voices heard across campus, specifically in regards to sexual assault and harassment.

What do you enjoy most about the CFW?
There haven't been many activities since I joined, but I enjoy the lunchtime meetings when I can see the faculty that I haven't seen in a while.

Which of the CFW’s goals are you most passionate about and would like to take a more active role in?
Improving women's safety on and off campus.

Additional Thoughts?
I feel like the Commission doesn't host enough student-centered events. There are not many ways student members can participate and not much interaction between committees.

Ashley Conner is an undergraduate student at The Pennsylvania State University and a member of the CFW.

Catherine Dufour

As a part of our ongoing mission to improve the Commission for Women, appointed members were surveyed in order to determine some of the motivating factors for members' involvement, as well as the factorscontributing to persistence in the CFW. Here are Catherine Dufour's responses.

What motivated you to join the CFW?
I attended my first Commission meetings in 2007 and was struck by the people involved and by the issues that the group was trying to address. I not only wanted to be a part of that work, but realized the opportunity to work alongside of and learn from many talented women and men here at Penn State.

What do you enjoy most about the CFW?
I most enjoy the people with whom I get to work - their commitment to advancing the status of women at Penn State is phenomenal. They are talented, intelligent, passionate people who contribute greatly to the University.

Which of the CFW’s goals are you most passionate about and would like to take a more active role in?
Some of the CFW’s goals that I am interested in are workplace and classroom climate; recruitment, advancement, and retention; professional development and recognition; and salary equity.

Catherine Dufour is the Associate Director, Corporate & Foundation Relations at Penn State University and a former Wage Equity Co-chair person for the CFW.

Jenn Stewart

As a part of our ongoing mission to improve the Commission for Women, appointed members were surveyed in order to determine some of the motivating factors for members' involvement, as well as the factors contributing to persistence in the CFW. Here are Jenn Stewart’s responses



What motivated you to join the CFW?
I joined the CFW because I enjoy supporting new and existing opportunities which are available for women.

What do you enjoy most about the CFW?
What I enjoy most about the Commission for Women is great networking. Great networking opportunity can contribute towards making Penn State an even better place for women in the workforce and can personally grow and learn from other leaders within the commission.

Which of the CFW’s goals are you most passionate about and would like to take a more active role in?
Currently serve on the Advancement Committee. Am very passionate about this particular topic and working on new initiatives to further expand opportunities for staff and faculty to grow and succeed within. I am also interested in providing a medium for staff and faculty to explore new/different career opportunities and/or interests in a particular education track.

Additional Thoughts?
I am honored to serve on the committee and participate in such a well deserved and acknowledged initiative. Great group of committee members and affiliates!

Jenn Stewart is the Privacy Coordinator at The Pennsylvania State University. She is also actively involved with the Commission for Women Committee at Penn State where she serves as an Executive Committee Member-at-Large.

David Passmore

As a part of our ongoing mission to improve the Commission for Women, appointed members were surveyed in order to determine some of the motivating factors for members' involvement, as well as the factors contributing to persistence in the CFW. Here are David Passmore's responses

What motivated you to join the CFW?
Rose Baker, next year's co-chair with Cathy Dufour, got me interested and involved in the work of the Commission's Assessment Committee. I came to understand the role that the Commission has in improving the status of Penn State women and how these improvements make life better for all Penn State employees. I applied to become an affiliated member of the Commission, and, then, I became a member of the Commission’s Assessment Committee (which I currently co–chair with Lysa Holland) as well as the Wage Equity Committee. I am happy that I have an opportunity to continue that work as an appointed member of the Commission

What do you enjoy most about the CFW?
The Commission is effective. It draws together people from diverse backgrounds and jobs at the University to accomplish projects and to produce events. I admire the Commission's work on family leave and on focusing attention on improving breastfeeding/breastpumping opportunities for women at Penn State. These policies and activities strongly affect the well-being of women at Penn State and their family units. In addition, paying attention to these policies and opportunities ends up improving the diversity and quality of the workforce supplied to Penn State. More than most University committees, The Penn State Commission for Women gets things done.

Which of the CFW’s goals are you most passionate about and would like to take a more active role in?
Helping the Penn State community and communities that surround each of its campuses to become more aware of the status of women at Penn State.

David Passmore is a Professor of Education in the Workforce Education and Development academic program, Department of Learning and Performance Systems, College of Education. He is also the Director of the Institute for Research in Training & Development.