Feb. 22, 2011 – The 2011 University of Utah Women’s Week celebration will highlight the progress women have made toward equality in the work place, education, athletics and more, while underscoring the need for continued strides toward full parity. “Ain’t Misbehaving: Women Making History, Fighting for Equality” is the theme of the celebration, which runs Feb. 28 through March 4. All events are free and open to the public.

This year’s keynote address, “Ceilings Waiting to be Broken: Women Sharing Discrimination Stories” will be offered by Ruth O’Brien, an author and scholar who specializes in American politics. She is the executive officer of the Ph.D./M.A. program in political science and a professor of government at John Jay College of Criminal Justice at the City University of New York. She has written several books including: “Bodies in Revolt: Gender, Disability, and a Workplace Ethic of Care” and “Crippled Justice: the History of Modern Disability Policy in the Workplace.” O’Brien will speak at noon on Tuesday, March 1 in the University of Utah Olpin Union Ballroom.

Jennifer Williams Molock, assistant vice president for Student Equity and Diversity and co-chair of the Women’s Week committee, notes the continued importance of celebrating Women’s Week. “In many areas women are still fighting for equality. Both nationally and locally women are paid less than men for doing the same work; lag behind in graduation rates and in entering the fields of science, technology, engineering and math. Women’s Week celebrates women’s accomplishments, but also reminds us there is work to be done.”

The week’s events include the following:

• Monday February 28 – March 18, 2011
  “Women Making Noise” art exhibit, University Olpin Union Gallery
  
  Uniting photography and graffiti body art by emerging artist Sherell Barnes.
  
  Opening Reception February 28 at 4:00 p.m. with Barnes

• Tuesday March 1
  Keynote Address: Ruth O’Brien
  
  “Ceilings Waiting to be Broken: Women Sharing Discrimination Stories”
  
  Noon, Olpin Union Ballroom

• Wednesday, March 2
  The Hinckley Institute of Politics “What Glass Ceiling? Splat!”
  
  11 a.m. to noon, Hinckley Caucus Room, OSH 255
  
  A panel discussion exploring the state of the glass ceiling in today’s corporate, political, academic and athletic spheres.

Panelists include: Lindsey Van, World Ski Jumping Champion; Nichole Dunn, Deputy Mayor, Salt Lake County; Diane Lewis, President, Utah Women in Trades; Kathleen Christy, Assistant Superintendent, Salt Lake City School District; Matthew Basso, Assistant Professor, Gender Studies and History and Director, American West Center. Moderated by KUER’s Jennifer Napier-Pierce.

• Thursday, March 3
  Women’s Week Monologue Presentations
  
  7:00 pm, Crimson View Restaurant, Fourth Floor, Olpin Union,
  
  Poetry, music, short stories and performance art reflecting personal experience with bending, breaking or side-stepping the rules. This is a gender-inclusive event.

• Friday March 4
  Edie Kochenour Memorial Lecture: Sue Coleman, president, University of Michigan.
  “Lessons Learned: Navigating the Leadership Path in Higher Education”
  12:15 to 1:15 pm, Orson Spencer Hall (OSH) Auditorium
  Light refreshments and reception 11:45 am to 12:15 pm
  To register for this event visit: http://libtools.library.utah.edu/mlib_events/pcsw/

The 2011 Linda K. Amos Award for Distinguished Service to Women, recognizing a University of Utah female staff or faculty member who has selflessly given time and energy to improve the educational and/or working environment for women at the university, will also be announced as a part of the celebration.

“The Women’s Week celebration reminds us of the importance of women and the accomplishments we have achieved,” says Jannah Mather, dean, College of Social Work at the University of Utah, a co-sponsor of the celebration. “It also brings together young people of both genders to move forward in our thinking and celebrating of womanhood.”

The 2011Women’s Week at the University of Utah is sponsored by the Office for Equity and Diversity; co-sponsors include the College of Social Work, ASUU Presenters Office, The Presidential Commission on the Status of Women and University Marketing & Communication. Partners include, The Women’s Resource Center, The Hinckley Institute of Politics and The Utah Symphony. For details about all Women’s Week events call 801-581-4250 or visit: www.diversity.utah.edu/events/womensweek/2011. Interviews with Ruth O’Brien and Mary Sue Coleman are available upon request.