JUDITH FOUNTAIN NAMED TO HEAD NEW WOMEN'S PLACE AT OHIO STATE
COLUMBUS -- Judith B. Fountain has been appointed to a two- year term as the first director of The Women's Place, a clearinghouse for resources and services for women students, staff and faculty of The Ohio State University. Edward J. Ray, executive vice president and provost, announced Fountain's appointment today (11/4). Subject to approval by the university's Board of Trustees, Fountain will begin her new duties on Dec. 20.
Executive director of Planned Parenthood of Central Ohio since 1995, Fountain spent the previous 20 years at Ohio State -- as director of the Child Care Center from 1975 to 1991 and as director of the Office of Work and Family from 1991 to 1995.
"Judy Fountain's knowledge of the university, outstanding leadership, dedication and reputation as a consensus builder make her the ideal person to turn this idea into a reality," Ray said. "I, and those who have worked so hard to bring this project to this stage, are very pleased that Judy has accepted this position. Her breadth and depth of experience and expertise in strategic planning, communications and development will help ensure the success of The Women's Place."
The concept for The Women's Place emerged from volunteer efforts of numerous faculty and staff concerned about how women's issues get lost in the bureaucracy of Ohio State. A number of studies have documented that the quality of the work and study climate at Ohio State has not been as supportive for women as should be expected. Although a number of programs exist to provide support to women, they are not well-coordinated and these activities have not been communicated effectively enough.
The Women's Place is designed to bring together partnerships and collaborations to be a source and system for referral, information and professional consultation. In an advisory and informative capacity, it will seek to keep women's issues on the table as university policies and procedures are developed and revised. The Women's Place will serve as a voice for women throughout the university and ensure that issues of concern to women do not get lost among a long list of university initiatives.
As director, Fountain will work intensively with students, staff, faculty, administrators and the university's governance bodies to implement The Women's Place concept.
"I am looking forward to working in partnership with colleagues at all levels of the university to shape The Women's Place into a valuable and effective voice for Ohio State women," Fountain said. "Having spent so much of my career at Ohio State, I am also looking forward to returning to familiar faces and places."
Fountain has shown a strong commitment to improving the quality of women's lives throughout her career. In her previous tenure at Ohio State she held several key leadership positions in organizations and groups that helped identify priorities and issues that now will be addressed through The Women's Place. In 1992, she was appointed to the President's Commission on Women. She was chair and a founding member of the Critical Difference For Women committee, a program that assists women coming to college in mid-life, and she was a member of both the Council on Academic Excellence for Women and the steering committee of the Dependent Care Commission.
Among her many honors, Fountain has received the Ohio State University Distinguished Staff Award and the YWCA Women of Achievement Award. Last year, she was named to the Jefferson Academy. She holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Ohio State.
Contacts:
Judith Fountain, (614) 224-2235
Ed Ray, provost, or Nancy M. Rudd, vice provost,
(614) 292-5881