Lt. Governor Lawton Visits Campus, Meets with Women Faculty

Professor Jo Handelsman greets Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton

On the morning of Monday, October 22, Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton came to the UW-Madison campus at the invitation of PROFS, Inc. and the Women in Science and Engineering Leadership Institute (WISELI).

Lt. Governor Lawton first received a tour of the brand-new Microbial Sciences Building from Professor Jo Handelsman, Chair of the Department of Bacteriology. She then met with a group of women faculty, most from engineering and the sciences, to discuss the challenges confronting women faculty.

As part of the discussion, Handelsman presented Lawton with a copy of the recently-completed book, Beyond Bias and Barriers, Fulfilling the Potential of Women in Academic Science and Engineering, from the National Academy of Sciences. Handelsman serves on the Academy’s Committee on Maximizing the Potential of Women in Academic Science and Engineering, which is chaired by former UW-Madison Chancellor Donna Shalala.

Lt. Governor Lawton is interested in having a continuing dialogue on the concerns of women faculty

Professor Patti Brennan, Chair of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, suggested to the other faculty members that they meet again to discuss strategies for working with Lawton on issues relating to women faculty. A meeting has been scheduled for December.

At the end of the meeting, PROFS President Louise Robbins, Director of the School of Library & Information Studies, thanked Lawton for coming to campus and for her interest in issues affecting women faculty.