Posted 03/28/2000
Contact: Andrew Svec, 218-281-8380
UMC to Celebrate Women’s Achievements with Luncheon on March 31
The University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC) Commission on Women will host a luncheon "Celebrating Women's Achievements" Friday, March 31, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Brown Dining Room of the Sahlstrom Conference Center. UMC students, employees and Crookston community members are all invited to attend. Lunch is $4.75 per person.
Women from a variety of career areas—including government, technology, science, and health—will discuss their careers. They will detail their career experiences, challenges, and people or events that were helpful or instrumental in those experiences. The panel will also share advice on the opportunities for women in their respective fields. The event marks the end of Women’s History Month celebrations at UMC.
Scheduled speakers include Pat Owens, Mayor of Grand Forks, ND; Joy Johnson, VP of Planning and Development, Riverview Healthcare Association; Carol Windels, U of M Plant Pathology Professor, Northwest Regional Outreach Center; Carol Cotter, U of M Program Director, College of Continuing Education; and Jane Fisher, Global IT Operations Manager, Great Plains Software.
Pat Owens is a lifelong resident of Greater Grand Forks. She credits her parents, who were deeply involved in the community, for providing the groundwork for her life in public service and for nurturing a desire to work for the people. Owens was elected Mayor of Grand Forks for a four-year term on June 11, 1996, by 77% of the vote. She has been recognized nationally with many awards and honors for her leadership during the aftermath of the devastating flood of 1997.
Joy Johnson has been involved in health care planning, communications and marketing for many years. She has served in her current position at Riverview for five years. Johnson completed the Executive Program in Healthcare Financial Management, at Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, in 1985. An active member of the community of Crookston, she is involved with the Crookston Chamber of Commerce, the Crookston Telecommunications Task Force, Polk County Developmental Achievement Centers, and Lions Club International.
Dr. Carol E. Windels’ research focuses on the biology and integrated control of economically important pathogens of sugar beets. She has authored or co-authored over 150 publications, book chapters, and popular articles. She is also active in the American Phytopathological Society (APS), an organization of 5,000 plant scientists and plant health professionals who specialize in the biology and control of plant pathogens. Her research continues to be an important asset in maximizing agricultural production.
Carol Cotter was a small business owner in the Minneapolis area before she made a career shift to computer consulting. Cotter has written computer code for National Information Systems, converted proprietory computer systems at Ford Motor Company, trained end users on UNIX based computer programs, and served as consultant for more than ten other large corporations. She now works for the U of M’s College of Continuing Education presenting digital, skills based, OCR compatible resume workshops and collaborating with industry to determine needs for computer training.
Jane Fisher has been with Great Plains Software for nearly ten years. She manages the firm’s network, project management, and telecommunications teams. She is also integrally involved in company capital budget management and infrastructure planning. Fisher began her career as a product support technician and a certified trainer, moved into market research, and then transitioned to a systems administrator role, focusing on electronic mail, Internet, and knowledge management infrastructures.
Disability accommodations are available upon request and can be made by calling 218-281-8587. For more information, contact Jane Sims at the UMC Center for Continuing Education, 218-281-8681.