Salisbury, MD – Since its founding as a state teachers college in 1925, Salisbury University has strived to empower women to succeed in their careers.
The Daily Record recently celebrated that dedication, naming Salisbury University among its inaugural Empowering Women Award recipients for 2023. Sponsored by the Baltimore-based, statewide media company, the award recognizes companies and organizations that show a strong commitment to supporting and elevating women in Maryland.
“From our earliest years as a teachers college with a predominately female student body to today, when women comprise more than half of the University’s senior leadership team, Salisbury University has been a place for women seeking to further their knowledge and their careers,” said SU President Carolyn Ringer Lepre, who was recognized by The Daily Record as one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women during her first year at the institution’s helm.
“As a higher education leader in Maryland and in the nation, it is our responsibility to make sure women have a seat at the table in the decision-making process to ensure we continue to foster a culture of inclusion for all.”
“The 2023 Empowering Women honorees demonstrate a consistent commitment to recruiting, hiring and promoting women in their organizations. They also know the benefit of mentoring programs for women and understand the value of women in leadership positions,” said Suzanne Fischer-Huettner, managing director of BridgeTower Media/The Daily Record. “We at The Daily Record are pleased to honor these incredible organizations for empowering women each and every day.”
Honorees demonstrate a track record of hiring and promoting women; support programs to mentor women in their organizations and address inequalities; show a strong record of women on the company’s board or in C-suite positions; and establish diversity, equity and inclusion programs and philanthropic efforts to support women.
Lepre is the second woman leader in SU’s history. She oversees a six-member President’s Cabinet that includes three additional female leaders: Dr. Laurie Couch, provost and senior vice president of academic affairs; Lynn Adkins, associate vice president of administration and finance; and Karen Treber, general counsel. SU also recently hired its first female director of athletics and campus recreation, Monica Gordy Polizzi.
Support programs at the University include the SU Women’s Forum, which leads efforts in gender equality while working to address women’s issues and empower members of the campus community who identify as female. Its initiatives include an annual International Women’s Day conference, featuring discussions and presentations led by members of the SU community.
In addition, SU has worked to make education more accessible to non-traditional students who are also caregivers, including single and working mothers. Recent initiatives have included the introduction of Study Buddy Playtime Packs at the Patricia R. Guerrieri Academic Commons. Through the program, students, faculty and others may check out a “play pack” filled with books, puzzles and other activities to keep younger children occupied while their parents use the library’s resources for studying and research.
SU will receive its Empowering Women Award during The Daily Record’s Women’s Leadership Summit on Wednesday, October 25. For more information visit https://thedailyrecord.com/event/empowering-women.
Learn more about how SU and opportunities to Make Tomorrow Yours at www.salisbury.edu.
