Kutztown University hosted a dedication ceremony honoring former KU Women’s Center director Ann T. Gundry ’81 on Oct. 11.
The Director’s Office was dedicated in honor of Gundry’s support and visionary leadership of the Women’s Center, Women’s Studies and programs, and Women’s Intercollegiate Athletics.
“We’re here to celebrate the woman who paved the way for the Center as you see it today, thriving and providing meaningful programs and services to our campus and beyond,” said Kutztown University Women’s Center Director Christine Price, “The work that you have done has been so important on our campus.”
In attendance for the ceremony, held in the Old Main concourse, were many who were involved with the Women’s Center in the past and present, as well as those whose lives have been positively touched by the people serving in the Center. Also attending were Sen. Judy Schwank and Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education’s new interim chancellor Dr. Karen M. Whitney who was on campus that day during her tour of the PASSHE schools.
According to www.kutztown.edu, “In 1988, the Commission on Women in Education developed a document outlining 15 ways in which universities could improve the status of women in higher education… That fall, KU’s Women’s Consortium, headed by Dr. Constance P. Dent, proposed that the ACE recommendations could be met in part by the establishment of a Women’s Center. The Center opened for the 1989-1990 academic year with Dr. Sandra McSwain as its first director. She was succeeded in 1991 by Dr. Ann T. Gundry, who formed its advisory board the following year and added a full-time coordinator, Grace Hill, in 1999.”
“I am just delighted to be able to say a few words about the contributions you have made through Kutztown University and the Women’s Center,” said KU President Dr. Kenneth Hawkinson.
Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others,” Hawkinson said, “I am sure that the service that you have provided over the many years of your commitment to Kutztown University has indeed helped you to find yourself but even more important, all these years I think you have helped others find themselves.”
Hawkinson said KU’s “mission is to awaken people, to make them curious, build character and to instill a gratefulness and humility that will serve them the rest of their lives.”
He said Gundry, through her many years of service at the Women’s Center, has indeed awakened young people and helped them to find themselves.
“She has made young people curious and to understand and seek out new ideas and to go beyond their parameters and to understand different lifestyles, different ways of thinking. She has built character so that our students have been able to develop very fundamental values that include tolerance and a love of others but also a love of themselves,” said Hawkinson. “I think, through her work, she has indeed instilled a sense of humility and gratefulness on her students and Kutztown University is grateful for all she has done.”
Former Women’s Center Director Grace Hill, who formerly worked with Gundry in the Center, gave Gundry one of her famous hugs.
“Thank you, for your generous commitment and foresight in setting the KU Women’s Center and Women’s Studies Department on their early steps,” said Hill, noting that it was Gundry’s recommendation that the Center needed a full-time coordinator “to assist the students and faculty to create a women-positive environment at KU that continues to grow and prosper.”
“I’m so happy the Women’s Center is in your capable hands, Christine … I know we’re on the right track,” said Gundry to the current Center director.
Gundry offered many thanks to those in attendance and those who were involved in the Center over the years, those who made the founding of the Center possible.
Speaking to the Kutztown Patriot editor prior to the ceremony, Gundry said she was overwhelmed by the ceremony being held in her honor.
“There’s so many who came it makes me cry,” she said. “I hope I was known for integrity and hard work and dedication.”
Gundry believes the Women’s Center brought to KU an environment “for women to flourish.”
A reception followed at the home of the University president.
