Joan Schmidt named CMU's Woman of the Year
Central Michigan University commemorated its latest Woman of the Year for her distinction and dedication Thursday afternoon.
On Thursday, a luncheon at the Bovee University Center was held to honor the nomination of Joan Schmidt as Woman of the Year. About 150 community members attended to celebrate as the American Council on Education announced Schmidt's award.
Anyone can be nominated each year in January before a committee consisting of former award winners and a panel of hosts. This year, hosts Management Faculty Amy McGinnis and Department of Biology Assistant Chair and Professor Tracy Galarowicz contributed to determining the winners.
“We were impressed with Joan’s long-term commitments with women on campus and her hard work with Residence Life. She is involved with many activities on and off campus; she has really made a difference in everyone’s lives,” Galarowicz said.
Schmidt is a CMU alum with a master's and bachelor's degrees in recreation, parks and leisure service administration. Schmidt has worked in the residence life department for 35 years and became executive director in November of 2012. Her hard work and achievements were not to go unnoticed by her colleagues and the community.
“I was nominated by my colleague Nathan Thompson. I was surprised when I received the call. I am excited, humbled and very honored to receive such an award," Schmidt said. "... I thank all the women role models in my life, and I only hope that I can have touched the lives as they have in mine and others that have had the opportunity to know them like I have.”
According to CMU, Schmidt began her career at CMU managing 584 campus apartments and is director of Residence Life.
CMU ACE also honored Executive Director of Alumni Relations Marcie Otteman and Counseling and Special Education Associate Professor Holly Hoffman for receiving the Women of Excellence award.
Otteman helps CMU stay connected with 214,000 alumni worldwide, but aside from this work, "Otteman is particularly dedicated to seeing girls and women mature in their thinking and self-esteem."
Hoffman has won many awards over a span of 17 years for her course teaching including special education, inclusion and educational practices for special-needs students.
Presenting the keynote address was CMU President George Ross. While discussing Women's History Month, Ross highlighted the impact CMU women have made in the school's history.
“We have come a long way … Today, women are equal partners in society and here at CMU. Women are equal in the law and will continue to be,” Ross said. “When you leave here today and walk by the buildings and halls at CMU, you will notice Bertha Ronan Hall, Elizabeth Wightman Hall, etc., all of which are named after historical women, and today we have three more names to add the history of CMU.”
