October 6, 2000

The founding director of the Women's Center arrives at Loyola

by Raymond Willhoft, A'00, Intern in the Offices of Public Affairs and Publications and Marketing Communications

Opportunities for curricular and co-curricular development for female students, faculty, and staff will be expanded on Loyola's campus with the recent appointment of Susanne B. Dietzel as director of the University Women's Resource Center. Dietzel, who has a Ph.D. in American studies and feminist studies from The University of Minnesota, a M.A. in English from The University of Mississippi, and a Zwischenprüfung (German equivalent of B.A.) in American Studies from J.W. Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany, is no stranger to the needs of women. She has over 10 years of experience teaching women's studies and English at the University of Mississippi, the University of Minnesota, and Loyola University City College, and has served as a visiting assistant professor of women's studies at Tulane University since 1997.

As director of the Women's Center, Dietzel plans to listen to female students and faculty in order to understand and respond to their needs. "My goal is to make the campus a more responsive place to women through education," says Dietzel.

The main objective of the center will be to help women explore issues of gender roles, sexuality, family life, spirituality, inequality, women's history, and feminism as a social change movement. Having a new director also will help the center implement new programs such as student-led and center sponsored support and discussion groups and regional and national conferences on women's issues. Dietzel's responsibilities will include: planning and implementing programs, activities and events; managing the day-to-day operations of the center; raising funds for the center; and serving as the center's official spokesperson.

In addition to running the center, Dietzel also will work closely with the Women's Studies Committee in order to expand the women's studies curriculum. Teaching is very important to her and she feels it is necessary to emphasize both the academic and co-curricular aspects of women's lives.

Despite the name Women's Resource Center, the center will actually be a place where both men and women can participate in programs and activities aimed at giving each of the sexes a better understanding of one another, according to Dietzel. These programs and activities also will help individuals to understand the struggle against sexism both on and off campus.

The University Women's Resource Center was originally established in 1976, but was closed a few years later. A new center was established in 1996 as a physical place, without a staff or budget, in Mercy Hall, Room 103. The director position was approved and funded in 1999 after the May 1999 Report of the University Task Force on Student Success and Retention recommended strengthening institutional support of the center as one of its top 10 priorities. According to the report, a strengthened center would better serve our female student population by expanding hours of operation and by broadening the center's breadth of programming. It would also create opportunities for student peer and faculty mentoring, leadership workshops, regional and national seminars and symposia on women's issues, and coordinated activities with other departments on campus such as Student Affairs, Alumni Relations, Academic Affairs, and the Boggs Literary Center.

A search committee was appointed in May 2000 with members: Cecelia Bennett (Institute for Ministry); Jane Chauvin (Education); Michelle Holloway (Student Issues Organization); Laurie Joyner (Sociology); Julia McSherry (Publications and Marketing Communications); Isabel Medina (Law School); Connie Mui (Philosophy); Allen Nisbet (Music); Cecelia Sun (Counseling & Career Service Center); Rev. John Weling, S.J. (University Ministry); and Cathy Wessinger (Religious Studies).

"The position was advertised nationally and attracted a strong pool of qualified candidates," according to Julia McSherry, committee chair. "Dr. Dietzel demonstrates a strong commitment to excellence in teaching, scholarship, and women's issues. She also presents innovative ideas about the role of women's centers in the context of higher education."

Dietzel was recommended by the search committee and appointed by Dr. Lydia Voigt, associate provost for academic affairs, to whom Dietzel will report. "This is an exciting moment for the entire Loyola community," says Dietzel, "And I am happy to be a part of it." Dietzel began her new job September 5.