Two members of UW community honored for advancing status of women

Since 2005, the Women’s Philanthropy Council Champion Awards have honored one man and one woman whose efforts have advanced the status of women at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The biennial awards will be presented on April 16 to two members of the campus community at the 2016 4W Summit on Women, Gender and Well-being in the Pyle Center’s Alumni Lounge.

Lori DiPrete Brown, associate director for education at the Global Health Institute, directs the University of Wisconsin–Madison 4W Initiative (Women and Well-being in Wisconsin and the World), where her efforts focus on improving the lives of girls and women both locally and around the world. She has helped create a variety of programs designed to address women’s financial independence, sex trafficking, and more.

“I have been fortunate to find myself in a circle of intelligent, spirited, bold women,” says DiPrete Brown. “I am proud of what we have done together and look forward to what we can do in the future. I am deeply honored to receive the WPC Champion Award.”

“I am constantly in awe of Lori’s ability to lead many diverse teams of faculty, students, and practitioners,” says Soyeon Shim, dean of the School of Human Ecology. “She is incredibly intelligent and has boundless energy, enthusiasm, deep knowledge and wide experiences.”

Robert Golden, Robert Turell Professor in Medical Leadership, became the ninth dean of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in 2006. During his time in Madison, he has successfully recruited prominent female leaders in academic medicine to serve as department chairs and has provided support to help women on the faculty develop and enhance their leadership skills.

“I am deeply honored, if not intimidated, to have my name listed among the outstanding individuals who have supported the advancement of women on this campus,” says Golden. “Inclusivity is absolutely essential if UW–Madison is to achieve its full potential. We must make a conscious commitment to support the advancement of women in order to mitigate the destructive impact of the unconscious biases that remain within all of us.”

“[Golden’s] actions and decisions exemplify his stated longstanding commitment to address health equity issues,” says Elizabeth Petty, senior associate dean for academic affairs at the School of Medicine and Public Health. “He has a visionary and thoughtful leadership style, high degree of emotional intelligence, and honesty and integrity that together promote a culture of respect for and inclusivity of all, including women.”

As part of the award, DiPrete Brown and Golden will each designate a $5,000 grant to a campus initiative benefiting women. DiPrete Brown will devote funds to the 4W Initiative in order to develop student internships and support the work of student organizations. Golden will designate his gift to the Center for Women’s Health Research.

Founded in 1988, the WPC is a program of the UW Foundation. The council pioneered new national standards for women as philanthropists, and it is the first major-gift organization for women at a coeducational institution encouraging women’s gifts to all areas of the university. Part of the council’s mission is to advance women at UW–Madison.

More information on the 2016 4W Summit on Women, Gender and Well-being