Rodin garners AAUW leadership award

Judith Rodin received the fourth annual Achievement Award from the American Association of University Women (AAUW) yesterday at a luncheon at the Rittenhouse Hotel. The AAUW recognized the University president for her personal and civic leadership as a researcher, educator and administrator, according to AAUW President Marjorie Broderick. "Rodin is a woman who has dared to do more," Broderick said. "She is a role model for today's young women." In accepting the award yesterday, Rodin said American higher education has experienced intellectual and cultural changes over the past 25 years. As the first permanent female Ivy League president, Rodin recognized herself as a "symbol for the full participation of women at every level in American higher education." Broderick also said she was pleased Rodin, who was raised in Philadelphia and attended the University as an undergraduate, returned to her home town to help lead her alma matter. From a small pulpit in front of a crowd of about 50 people, Rodin spoke of the University's commitment to diversify intellectual life and the student and faculty population. "Changes such as [the diversification of the University] frighten some observers of the campus scene," Rodin explained. "[We] hold open the door to orthodoxy's challengers." Rodin spoke to a distinguished crowd including Happy Fernandez, a Philadelphian councilwoman and Tom Kessinger, the president of Haverford College. Past recipients of this award have included Deborah Willig, the first woman to serve as Chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association, Lucy Hackney, the founder of Pennsylvania Partnership for Children and Connie and Howard Clery, who founded Safety on Campus. AAUW Vice President Kay McKenna said this year's elective committee unanimously chose Judith Rodin for the award. "The AAUW promotes the equity of women through education and self-development and seeks positive societal changes," Broderick said. "Rodin," she added, "is a parallel to the AAUW's statement of purpose." In the past, the AAUW has helped uncover gender bias in schools. Recently the W.K. Kellog Foundation allotted a $1,000 grant to the AAUW to lead a two year program to eliminate gender bias in schools.