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Professor Emerita B.J. Seymour during a recent visit to campus |
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Student award winners (l. to r.) Kate Savage '09, Seth Haley '10, Sean Carroll '09 and Madeleine Forrest '09 |
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Dr. Sharon Eury Kofoed '83 |
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Anne Derby McDougall, Esq. '79 |
The R-MC Dean of Students Office and Gender Relations Council lauded the recipients of the B.J. Seymour Alumna Award and the recipients of the Woman of Excellence and the Men of Vision awards at the 5th annual Empower Leadership Luncheon on Friday, March 6, 2009.
Dr. Sharon Eury Kofoed, M.D. ’83 and
Anne Derby McDougall, Esq. ’79 received the B.J. Seymour award, which is named in honor of pioneering Randolph-Macon College Professor Emerita Betty Jean “B.J.” Seymour. In 1971, the college officially became coeducational with the enrollment of 50 women. Seymour, who taught religious studies, joined the faculty in 1971 as the first full-time female faculty member. She was also the first woman to attain tenure, chair a department and be granted the rank of full professor.
The award honors alumnae of Randolph-Macon College who have consistently worked on behalf of issues important to women and/or girls, and who demonstrate vitality, integrity and leadership. The award carries an honorarium.
Sharon Eury Kofoed graduated Summa Cum Laude from Randolph-Macon in 1983. During her tenure at the college, she was known for her leadership ability, warmth and kindness. Since then, Dr. Kofoed earned her M.D. from the University of Alabama, Birmingham, and has since practiced medicine as a board certified obstetrician-gynecologist in Greenville, South Carolina. In her 12 years in this role, Dr. Kofoed has delivered thousands of babies and performed hundreds of surgeries. She also spends much of her time counseling women and girls on a variety of women’s health and family planning concerns. In addition, she volunteers in the “Sunshine Math Program” at her children’s elementary school. The program helps students think beyond basic math facts and develop confidence is using math skills to solve problems. Dr. Kofoed’s life work and community volunteerism reflect a commitment to women and girls.
Anne Derby McDougall graduated from Randolph-Macon in 1979 with a B.A. in philosophy. She went on to receive her J.D. and M.B.A. at University of Richmond and currently works as a practicing attorney at Freed and Shepherd, PC in Ashland, Virginia. Anne is well known on campus and in the local community as an active member of the Randolph-Macon Board of Trustees and an involved Hanoverian. One of Anne’s most notable community achievements is her committed involvement with the local non-profit Hanover Safe Place, a domestic violence and sexual assault crisis center. Anne has served on the board of this organization in some capacity for almost 15 years, and is considered by staff there to be “the most committed member ever.” Through her activities in and out of Randolph-Macon, Anne has shown unwavering commitment to issues that affect women and girls.
The luncheon also honored the winners of the Woman of Excellence and the Men of Vision awards.
The Woman of Excellence award honors students of Randolph-Macon College who have worked to contribute to advancing the status of women on campus, and who demonstrate leadership, vitality and integrity in their lives off or on campus. This year, Madeleine Forrest '10 and Kate Savage '10 received this prestigious honor.
Madeleine Forrest majors in history and religious studies. She has served as a Randolph-Macon Presidential Merit Scholarship recipient and a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa, Rho Lambda and Order of Omega leadership fraternities. Madeleine has also served as president of Delta Zeta Sorority and she served as an orientation leader, a judicial board member and a Panhellenic delegate.
Kate Savage majors in international relations with a minor in speech/communications. Kate is the executive director of R-MC Dance Marathon. Kate’s long list of involvements at Randolph-Macon include serving as vice-president of membership for Delta Zeta Sorority, director of public relations for the senior class gift committee, vice-chairman of the R-MC judicial board, and orientation leader.
The Men of Excellence award honors students of Randolph-Macon College who have worked to contribute to advancing healthy, respectful relationships between R-MC men and women on campus, and who demonstrate leadership, vitality and integrity in their lives on or off campus. This year, Seth Haley '10 and Sean Carroll '09 were selected to receive this prestigious honor.
Seth Haley majors in international studies and drama. Seth is an active member of One in Four (men’s sexual assault group), the R-MC Sexual and Relationship Violence Committee (SARV) and OSMA (the Organization for Sexual Minorities and Allies). He serves as a student assistant in the Office of International Education, has performed in various drama productions to include The Crucible and Rashomon and is a member of Randolph Artists and Writers, Macon Peer Response, Gender Relations Council and the R-MC Judicial Board. Seth also participates regularly in conferences and activities sponsored by non-profits like Equality Virginia.
Sean Carroll majors in religious studies, with a minor in ethics. He is a Randolph-Macon Presidential Merit Scholarship recipient and a member of the Theta Alpha Kappa honor society. He has also served as a men’s bible study leader for intervarsity, a career specialist in the Center for Career and Counseling, and as junior class president and a judicial board member. Sean is also very active in his community, having spent a J-term in Nepal, where he was head of a team that worked with impoverished families and children, and also in his local church, where he participates in various community service and outreach projects.
The Empower Leadership Luncheon was sponsored by the Gender Resource Center (GRC), which began as the Women’s Resource Center. The GRC was developed by the college in the mid-1990s as a tool to increase and enhance the academic, leadership and social environment of women at R-MC. This campus resource provides a variety of services, leadership opportunities and social/educational activities to the entire R-MC community related to cross-gender relations and women's issues. Shalise Bates-Pratt is the director of the Gender Resource Center.