Letter from the AWF President

Letter from the AWF President

Dear Colleagues:

It is with great pleasure and a sense of certain resolve that I welcome you to the 2008-09 academic year.
Last year was in many ways a watershed for our association. In particular, the awarding of an honorary
doctorate to Phyllis Schlafly united nearly all of our membership in collective protest against the
conferral of the award as well as a university culture that would give rise to and sanction the tribute of
one whose public life has been devoted in sizable measure to disparaging the academy and particularly
women academicians. This and several other key events have served to fortify our mission of advocacy
for women faculty at Washington University. It is that mission which will be of highest priority for me
this year as president of the Association of Women Faculty.

I would also like to extend an invitation to all members, old and new, to voice your concerns and to
offer suggestions for ways in which the AWF can enhance the lives and promote the professional
accomplishments of women faculty on the Danforth Campus.

I look forward to meeting you in person at the Fall Reception in September.

Sincerely,
Rebecca Messbarger, President
Association of Women Faculty