Jeanette McVicker Women's Studies Scholarship
History of Jeanette McVicker Women's Studies Scholarship
Dr. Jeanette McVicker began teaching in Fredonia in 1988. She, along with a group of Fredonia faculty, was pivotal in reinstating the defunct Women's Studies Program in 1996.
She served as director of the program from 1996 to 2000, ensuring in those important first years that the curriculum reflected the dynamism and rigor of Women's Studies as an interdisciplinary field of academic inquiry. She was also a faculty advisor to the Women's Student Union.
The majority of her professional work explores the convergence of politics, economics, gender and culture in the 20th century as expressed in the writings of such authors as Virginia Woolf, Zora Neale Hurston and Katherine Anne Porter.
Dr. McVicker said Women, Rock and Soul was integral in getting the scholarship fund off the ground.
"When Women, Rock and Soul started out in 1996 (the year the minor went into effect and my first year as director) the fundraiser was to support Women's History Month and Women's Studies programming because there was no money at all and WSU was still just acknowledged, so they only had a couple hundred dollars," she said.
"We got the idea for a scholarship together when Women's Studies and WSU finally started to get their feet financially, so to speak-- and decided that Women, Rock and Soul would be the best avenue to raise funds for and awareness of our desire for a scholarship."
Previous Recipients:
Alyssa Brooke-Gay (2009)
Rebecca Grady (2008)
Sarah T. Schwab, 2007
Kathryn Diebold, 2006
Sandra D'Alonzo, 2005
Melissa Dimartino, 2004
I. DESCRIPTION:The Jeanette McVicker Women’s Studies Scholarship was established to recognize and encourage scholarship—and activism informed by scholarly inquiry—in the area of women’s studies. Award amount: $575
II. ELIGIBILITY: Students who meet the following criteria are eligible to apply:
- Completion of WOST 201, Introduction to Women’s Studies, and six additional hours in courses with the women’s studies designation (WOST). Shows academic promise. (Suggested GPA of at least 3.0)·
- Shows potential to improve status of women through scholarship and/or activism.·
- Declared Women’s Studies majors and minors will be given preference.
III. APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Student qualifications will be evaluated by a committee of at least three, including the Director of the Women’s Studies Program, and at least two additional women’s studies affiliates. Applicants should submit the following:·
Cover sheet: Include the following information: name, phone number, social security number, address, email, class level, major, minor, and women’s studies courses completed or in progress. ·
Essay: Respond to the following questions in no more than two typewritten pages:
1. How did you become interested in women’s studies and why are you interested?
2. How do you see yourself and others benefiting from your work in women’s studies during your college career?
3. What are your goals for the future, and how do they reflect your commitment to elevating the status of women?
4. Tell us why you should receive this award and how you would benefit from it. Include any factors about your life situation (financial or otherwise) that you would like the committee to consider.·
Two Letters of Recommendation: At least one should be from a faculty member (NOT including the Director of the Women’s Studies Program). The second could be from a professional staff member at SUNY Fredonia or a pertinent supervisor. Be sure that letters speak to your qualifications for this scholarship in women’s studies. Please have the letters signed across the seal in envelopes, and returned to you to be turned in with your complete application.
Transcript: An unofficial copy from the registrar’s office will suffice.
**Turn in THREE copies of your cover sheet, essay, and transcript, and single copies of letters of recommendation **to the Women’s Studies Office, 171A Fenton Hall, SUNY Fredonia, Fredonia, NY 14063. For questions call or e-mail Dr. Ingrid Johnston-Robledo, Director, Women’s Studies Program, 673-3893, robledij@fredonia.edu. IV.
DEADLINE: TBA