Cook award winners recognized for improving climate for women at Cornell

A Cornell undergraduate, a faculty member, a staff member and two senior-level administrators were recognized April 29 for their contributions to improving the climate for women at Cornell. The winners of the 10th annual Constance E. Cook and Alice H. Cook Recognition Awards, were honored at special luncheon in Balch Hall on campus. The awards are granted by the Cornell Advisory Committee on the Status of Women (ACSW), a campus group, and are selected by an ACSW panel from nominations by members of the Cornell community.

Professor Margaret Washington, left, and fellow Cook Award winner Susan Lang, Cornell News Service senior science writer, listen to speakers during the awards luncheon, April 29, in Balch Hall. Frank DiMeo/University Photography

This year's winners are: Rebecca Abou-Chedid, a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences, who was nominated by Wendy Lombardo, assistant director of student services. Abou-Chedid was cited for her work in creating a network of support for Muslim and Arab students, especially women, on campus, and a forum for voicing concerns following the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001; Margaret Washington, associate professor of history, who was nominated by N'dri Assié-Lumumba, associate professor of Africana studies and education. Washington was cited for raising the profile of Sojourner Truth through her extensive research and publications on the 19th-century African American preacher and activist; Susan Lang, senior science writer at Cornell News Service, who was nominated by News Service senior writer Linda Myers. Lang was cited for attracting national media attention to the work of women researchers at Cornell, as well as promoting Cornell research on issues of importance to women and garnering support for local United Way agencies through her news stories; and Susan Murphy, vice president for student and academic services, who was nominated by Francille Firebaugh, dean and professor emeritus of the College of Human Ecology, and Gretchen Orschiedt, director of external relations in Student and Academic Services. Murphy was cited for ensuring parity of resources and support for men and women in student athletics and other areas, for being a mentor and role model to women students and for her engagement with such supportive student programs as the Women's Resource Center and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Center.

In addition, Cornell President Hunter Rawlings, who spoke about each of the winners at the awards ceremony, was honored, in turn, by Vice President for Human Resources Mary Opperman and ACSW life member Judy Hart, director of human resources for Student and Academic Services. They presented Rawlings with a Cook award for his efforts to improve the climate for women faculty and staff at Cornell, including appointing many more women to senior-level administrative positions.

The awards are named for Constance Cook, Cornell's first woman vice president, and Alice Cook, one of the first women faculty members at the School of Industrial and Labor Relations, both of them early advocates for women at Cornell.