Honoring the Legacy of Sarah Goddard Power at the University of Michigan
Sarah Goddard Power was widely acclaimed as a major contributor to the advancement of higher education, an advocate for affirmative action and human rights, and a champion of freedom for the international press. As a Regent of the University of Michigan for more than 12 years, Sarah Goddard Power worked tirelessly to advance the position of women and minorities in faculty and administrative roles.
Regent Sarah Goddard Power originally suggested that the Academic Women’s Caucus present awards to such individuals. In 1984, an Awards Committee was established to select the first recipients of the Academic Women’s Caucus Awards. Thus, it seemed appropriate that the Academic Women’s Caucus Award be renamed to honor Regent Power. In 1988, Regent Philip H. Power graciously consented to allow the Caucus to rename its awards the Academic Women’s Caucus Sarah Goddard Power Award. In 1998, President Lee Bollinger enabled the Award to be offered with an accompanying stipend. Each year, nominations are selected for the Sarah Goddard Power Awards.
Nominations
Nominations for the 2020-2021 award are now closed.
Questions? Contact Dr. Tiffany Marra at tmarra@umich.edu
Sarah Goddard Power 1935-1987, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- 1974 and 1982 Campaign Postcard
- Sarah Goddard Power enjoying a conversation with students.
- Sarah Goddard Power speaking with Amadou-Mahtar M’Bow, director general of UNESCO.
- Regent Sarah Goddard Power speaks in October 1980 during the 20th anniversary “rededication” ceremony for the Peace Corps on the steps of the Michigan Union, where President candidate John F. Kennedy first proposed the organization.
Sarah Power was a guiding light for the causes of women’s rights, human rights, education, and press freedom. During her distinguished career, she worked tirelessly as a Regent of the University of Michigan, and to promote women and minorities, including the establishment of women’s intercollegiate athletics in 1975.
Sarah Power believed passionately in the essential goodness of people, and in their desire and potential for contribution and achievement if given a fair opportunity. “My interest in opening up the system is simple. I want us to create reasonable options for all human beings, women and men. I want us to ensure the individual rights by which all persons can develop their potential, which will surely result in improved quality of life for both women and men.”
Sarah Power was also known and respected for her work on the national and international level – with the United Nations, as a presidentially appointed delegate to four worldwide UN conferences, and as Chair of the US National Commission for UNESCO which, she said, is “the only international agency concerned with those immeasurably precious aspects of the human condition – education, science, and culture – which make man what he is.”
Sarah Power was appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights and Social Affairs under President Jimmy Carter. In 1980 she was honored in a joint resolution of tribute by the Michigan Legislature for her work as “one of our State’s most active and most important citizens in her dedication to serving humanity.” She was inducted into the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame in 1988.
U-M Law Professor Sallyanne Payton said that the long list of Sarah Power’s accomplishments does not reflect the total impact of her contributions. Rather, she said, the legacy which Sarah Power has left is the strength of her example. “If we can just pass along what she has given to us, that light will go forth from this place.”
Qualifications
Academic Women’s Caucus looks forward to reviewing your nominations for the Sarah Goddard Power Award. Nominees for the Sarah Goddard Power Award will be judged according to the following criteria:
- Affiliation with the University of Michigan (faculty including instructors, lecturers, primary researchers, librarians, and curators; and senior administrative staff)
- Significant achievement in contributing to the betterment of current challenges faced by women in one of the following areas:
- Distinguished leadership
- Scholarship
- Other activities related to their professional lives
- Must be available to attend the award ceremony that will happen on February 10, 2021.
Past Award Recipients
Academic Women’s Caucus is pleased to have presented awards to the following recipients:
2020:
Cathleen Connell
Professor, Department of Health Behavior and Health Education
Allison Steiner
Professor, Department of Climate and Space Science and Engineering
2019:
Rada Mihalcea
Professor, Computer Science and Engineering and Director of the Michigan Artificial Intelligence Lab
Jody R. Lori
Professor and Associate Dean, Global Affairs, School of Nursing, and Director of PAHO/WHO Collaborating Center for Nursing and Midwifery, School of Nursing
2018:
Kimberlee Kearfott, Sc.D. CHP
Professor, Department of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences
Assistant Professor, Departments of Learning Health Sciences and Obstetrics and Gynecology
2017
Sioban Harlow, Ph.D.
Professor of Epidemiology, Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology, and Director of Center for Midlife Science
Sofia Merajver, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor of Internal Medicine and Epidemiology
Scientific Director, Breast Oncology Program Director, Breast & Ovarian Cancer Risk Evaluation Program
2016:
Valeria M. Bertacco, Ph.D.
Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Sally Camper, Ph.D.
James V. Neel Professor and Department Chair of Human Genetics
Patricia W. Coleman-Burns, Ph.D.
Professor of Nursing
Sarah Goddard Power Distinguished Service Award
Gloria D. Thomas, Ph.D.
Director of the Center for the Education of Women
2015:
Carol Rossier Bradford, M.D.
Professor and Chair of Otolaryngology, Co-Director, Head and Neck Oncology Program
Lilia M. Cortina
Associate Professor of Psychology, Associate Professor and Graduate Director of Women’s Studies
Dee E. Fenner, M.D.
Furlong Professor of Women’s Health, Director of Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
2014:
Dr. Juanita L. Merchant, H. Marvin Pollard Professor of Gastrointestinal Sciences, professor of internal medicine, and molecular and integrative physiology, U-M Medical School
Dr. Lisa A. Newman, Professor of Surgery, U-M Medical School
2013:
Mieko Yoshihama, Ph.D.
Professor, School of Social Work
Avery Demond, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Director,
Environmental and Water Resources Engineering
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Elizabeth Cole, Ph.D.
Professor, Women’s Studies, Psychology, and Afroamerican & African Studies
Chair, Women’s Studies Department
2012:
Deborah Goldberg
Elzada U. Clover Collegiate Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and chair of the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Denise Sekaquaptewa
Professor of Psychology, LSA
Cynthia Luz Marcelo
Research emerita professor of surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical School
Patricia Warner
Executive Director of C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital
2011:
Carolyn Sampselle
Director, Carolyn K Davis Collegiate Professor, School of Nursing, Professor of women’s Studies, LSA and Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Lori Pierce
Vice Provost of Academic and Faculty Affairs and Professor of Radiation Oncology
Sarah Goddard Power Distinguished Award
Jill Becker
Professor of Psychology and Professor at the Behavioral Neuroscience Institute
Rhetaugh Dumas Progress in Diversity Award The American Culture Department of LSA
2010:
Cindy Schipani
Professor of Business Law, Professor of Business Administration, Chair of Law, History and Communication
Carol Jacobsen
Professor, School of Art and Design and Women’s Studies
Elizabeth Ann Duell
Emeritus Professor, Dermatology, the Medical School
2009:
Carol J. Boyd
Director of Institute for Research Women & Gender, Professor of Nursing and Women’s Studies
Cinda-Sue Davis
Program Director of Women in Science and Engineering
Rebecca McGowan
Regenta Emerita, University of Michigan
2008:
Suzanne L. Bergeron
Associate Professor of Women’s Studies and Social Sciences; Director of Women’s & Gender Studies
John H. Vandermeer
Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Carol S. Hollenshead
Director of Center for the Education of Women and Chair of President’s Advisory Commission on Women’s Issues
2007:
Karin M. Muraszko Professor and Chair of Neurosurgery, Professor Plastic Surgery, Surgery, Department Communicable Diseases
Martha E. Pollack
Professor and Chair of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Chair of the Division of Computer Science
2006:
Kate Barald
Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology, Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Associate Director, PIBS
Carroll Smith-Rosenberg
Professor of History, Women’s Studies and American Studies
2005:
Carol Fierke
Professor of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry
Timothy R. B. Johnson
Professor of Diseases of Women and Children and Obstetrics and Gynecology
Karen Dickinson
Relationship Manager Information tech CTR Services distinguished Service Award)
2004:
Mary E. Corcoran
Professor of Political Science and Women’s Studies
Janet R. Gilsdorf
Professor of Pediatrics and Communicable Disease and Professor of Epidemiology
Marilee Benore
Associate Professor of Biology and Biochemistry
2003:
Seyhan Nurettin Ege
Professor Emerita, Chemistry
Lora Bex Lempert
Associate Professor of Sociology Aline Souls Associate University Librarian California State University, Hayward
2002:
Noemi G. Mirkin
Assistant Research Scientist Biophysics Research Division
Lisa A. Tedesco
Vice President and Secretary of University of Michigan
2001:
James E. Gruber
Professor of Sociology
Jane A. Thorson
Assistant Dean for Faculty Affairs, Medical School
2000:
Peggy Kahn
Professor of Political Science, Women and Gender Studies Program; Research Scientist in Center for the Education of Women
Anne W. Monterio
Assistant Dean, College of Engineering
Patricia Shure
Lecturer and Researcher, Mathematics
1999:
Christin Carter-Su
Professor of Physiology; Chief of Biomedical Research Division of Michigan Diabetes Research Training Center
Abigail J. Stewart
Professor of Psychology and Women’s Studies, Director of Institute For Research on Women and Gender
1998:
Maria Comninou
Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics
Linda N. Groat
Associate Professor of Architecture
1997:
Joanne Leonard
Professor of Art and Women’s Studies, Faculty Associate in Program in American Culture
Patricia K. Smith
Associate Professor of Economics, Director of Women’s Studies
1996:
Lois W. Gage
Professor Emerita of Nursing
Edie N. Goldenberg
Dean, College of Literature, Science and the Arts, Professor of Political Science and Public Policy
1995:
Mary L. Brake
Associate Professor of Nuclear Engineering
Miriam H. Meisler
Professor of Human Genetics
1994:
Patricia Y. Gurin
Professor of Psychology and chair
Susan S. Lipschutz
Associate Provost
1993:
Martha J. Vicinus
Professor of English Language and Literature, and Women’s Studies
1992:
Inese Z. Beitins
Professor of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases
Susan S. Kilham
Associate Professor of Biology and Associate Research Scientist
Virginia B. Nordby
Associate Vice President for Student Affairs
1991:
Janice M. Jenkins
Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Jean P. Krisch
Associate Professor of Physics
Phyllis M. Ocker
Associate Director of Athletics for Women & Assistant Professor of Sports Management and Communications
1990:
Irene H. Butter
Professor of Public Health Policy and Administration
Peggie J. Hollingsworth
Assistant Research Scientist Department of Pharmacology, and Department of Environmental and Industrial Health
1989:
Beth Glover Reed
Associate Professor of Social Work and Women’s Studies
Helen M. Graves
Associate Professor of Political Science
1988:
Jacquelynne S. Eccles
Professor of Psychology and Women’s Studies, Assistant Vice President for Research
Maxine Baca Zinn
Professor of Sociology
1987:
Muriel D. Ross
Professor of Anatomy and Cell Biology
Eva Mueller
Professor of Economics
1986:
Jean W. Campbell
Director, Continuing Education for Women
Anita H. Payne
Professor of Biological Chemistry and Obstetrics and Gynecology
Rosemary C. Sarri
Professor of Social Work
1984:
Elizabeth M. Douvan
Professor of Psychology
Rhetaugh G. Dumas
Dean & Professor of Nursing
Marilyn Mason
Professor of Music and University Organist
Harriet C. Mills
Professor of Chinese, Far Eastern Languages and Literature
Barbara Furin Sloat
Director Of Women in Science Program