April 24, 2008

Four honored as Women of Distinction

by K.C. Jaehnig

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Four Southern Illinois University Carbondale women were named Women of Distinction at a reception held Thursday, April 17, at the Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center. The event celebrated the 20th anniversary of the University Women's Professional Advancement office, which created the annual award program.

Catherine A. Hagler, executive director of administration, Kathryn L. Hollister, assistant director for special populations in recreational sports and services, Marjorie J. Malkin, professor of health, education and recreation, and Georgia L. Norman, office systems specialist III in computer science, each received a commemorative plaque.

The annual designation recognizes women who have demonstrated leadership, vision and action in their professions, who have shown a sustained commitment to diversity or who have served their university or community.

Hagler, an early UWPA administrative intern, spoke at the ceremony. The event also featured a slide show, recognition of present and past participants and the music of the local group Loose Gravel.

Hagler, nominated by Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Larry H. Dietz, has worked at SIUC for 26 years. Dietz described her as "always prepared, analytical in her problem solving, articulate and respectful, professional in her approach with a warm personality and a keen sense of humor." He noted that not many women have worked in the positions that she has held over the years and said that she strives to bring the same kind of diversity to the workplace that she herself embodies.

"She has hired women and minorities in positions that were heretofore unoccupied by those individuals," he wrote in his nominating letter. "She has also worked diligently to employ individuals with disabilities and has been instrumental in emphasizing training for her units' employees in sexual harassment, sexual assault defense training, multi-cultural diversity, hate crimes, etc."

Hagler is a two-degree graduate of SIUC, earning her bachelor's in 1980 and her master's in 1988. She and her husband, Scott, have a son, Ryan, and a daughter, Lauren. The family lives in Carbondale.

Hollister, nominated by William P. Ehling, director of recreational sports and services, has worked at SIUC for more than 20 years. Her job entails responsibilities for international students, youth and adaptive recreation programs for those with disabilities. Ehling said Hollister is selfless, talented, passionate and creative and has developed new, exciting programs for those she serves.

"Community involvement and contributions are many and extremely varied," he wrote in his nominating letter, noting that she currently serves on the boards of directors of Carbondale Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the Wesley Foundation and Special Olympics Illinois, volunteers for the Carbondale Women's Center, belongs to her hometown historical society, advises the Saluki Shooters Archery Club, takes an active role in her church and plays recorders, penny whistles and an American Indian flute for a local group called Blackberry Blossoms.

A native of Bellevue, Mich., Hollister earned her undergraduate degree in 1974 from Central Michigan University and her master's in 1986 from SIUC. She is the daughter of Bellevue residents George and Phyllis Hollister. She lives in Carbondale.

Malkin, nominated by colleague Regina B. Glover, came to SIUC in 1989 and specializes in therapeutic recreation. "She is a strong believer in the equality of human beings, an advocate for the removal of barriers, a champion for women and an active member of the SIUC community," Glover wrote in her nominating letter.

In addition to teaching classes in the field, she looks for ways to provide services, such as respite weekends for families of people with disabilities and an adaptive horseback riding program. Malkin has twice held internships through UWPA's advancement program, has herself served as a UWPA mentor and regularly participates in the organization's annual poster session spotlighting women's research. Nearly three-fourths of the graduate students whose committees she's chaired have been women, and she is a strong advocate for hiring women faculty.

Malkin earned her undergraduate degree from Mt. Holyoke College in Massachusetts in 1967 and her master's and doctoral degrees in 1983 and 1986 respectively from the University of Georgia. She and her husband, Tim Brossart, have two sons, Dan Klotz and Jace Brossart. The family lives in Carbondale.

Norman, nominated by computer science chair Mehdi R. Zargham, started at SIUC in 1996. "We cannot imagine having a functional, friendly and diverse department without her," he wrote in his nominating letter.

Productive, positive, effective and efficient, Norman works with little supervision, performing varying tasks in accounting, admissions, processing, purchasing and supervision, but she doesn't stop there, Zargham noted. She's called a congressman to check up on immigration applications, mentored both graduate and undergraduate students and gotten her husband to pull staff members' cars out of the snow. She's active in campus Civil Service organizations, community life and her church and "enjoys working with and participating with different cultures, races, sexes, age groups and interests," he wrote.

Norman earned her bachelor's degree from SIUC in 1995. The daughter of the late Maj. Gen. George E. Marine and Georgeanne L. Marine, both of Jacksonville, Norman grew up in Virginia, where her father was stationed. She and her husband John live in Pulaski. They have three children: Saundi N. Harrington, who lives with her husband, Doryne, and daughter, Clarissa, in Springfield; John O. Norman Jr. of Chicago; and Mark E. Norman of Pulaski. Her mother, Georgeanne Marine McKean, now lives with her husband Jesse McKean in White Hall where Norman's brother George R. Marine also resides.

Cathy Hagler Kathy Hollister Malkin Georgia Norman