In 1871 the first women students were admitted to Penn State, but it took more than 100 years for the first woman to be elected chair of the University Faculty Senate, when Helen Snyder (Wise), associate professor of educational psychology, was elected chair in 1974. From only six women in this first class, women now comprise nearly half of the of the student body. Penn State has fourteen female deans, campus executive officers, and vice presidents, and that number grows every year. In addition female faculty, staff, and students are achieving great things in their own fields. 

"Penn State Commission for Women-Then and Now: Twenty Years of Progress" is also on display at the mall entry to Pattee Library through April 27, 2001. This exhibit describes the efforts of a group of twenty female Penn State faculty and staff members, who in 1981 decided to speak out on issues of equity, childcare, classroom climate, and other longtime concerns. With the assistance and support of some key people, the Commission for Women was formed at Penn State. 

Now celebrating its twentieth anniversary, the Commission for Women's recommendations have led to the establishment of the Center for Women Students, the Women's Studies Program, the Administrative Fellows program for women and minorities, and the Mentoring Program for all Penn State faculty and staff, among numerous other accomplishments. 

Karen Hackett, Amy Milgrub Marshall, and Susan Shuman, on behalf of the Commission for Women developed both exhibitions in celebration of its twentieth anniversary.  For more information about the exhibit, contact the University Libraries Public Information Office, 814-865-0401.

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Contact: Catherine Grigor,  865-0401, cqg3@psu.edu