Sources: Lorraine Cutler, 785-532-5992, lcutler@k-state.edu;
and Geraldine Craig, 785-532-6605, gkcraig@k-state.edu
Photos available. Contact media@k-state.edu or 785-532-6415.
News release prepared by: Katie Mayes, 785-532-6415, kmayes@k-state.edu

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

TWO K-STATE DEPARTMENT HEADS INVITED TO PRESTIGIOUS OXFORD ROUND TABLE

MANHATTAN -- Two department heads at Kansas State University were recently tapped to take part in the Oxford University Round Table on women in academia.

Lorraine Cutler, head of K-State's department of interior architecture and product design, and Geraldine Craig, head of the department of art, attended the invitation-only event March 14-19, in Oxford, England. The round table's official title was "Women in the Academy: Status and Prospects."

The Oxford Round Tables promote human advancement and understanding through the improvement of education. They are a forum for the study of current issues facing state and national systems of education, and each session is made up of a small select group of leaders from both the public and private sectors of several countries.

Topics addressed at the round table included gender equity; discrimination; compensation, tenure and promotion; sexual harassment; and institutional restraints on women's leadership.

At the round table, Cutler presented "Yin and Yang: Can It Be," a paper comparing a number of existing and emerging leadership styles and those used most frequently by women in higher education administration.

"Leaders from all fields presented papers identifying the present and future challenges for women in academia," Cutler said. "Whatever perspective was taken, each paper addressed things that have worked or could work to improve the institution to make it a place where women can thrive. I was honored to be invited for my leadership in the academy."

Craig chose not to make a presentation, but is writing an academic response for the published proceedings of the round table. She'll respond to "To What Extent Does Contemporary Media Gender Stereotypes Affect Gender Representation by Females in Design Education," presented by a professor from New Zealand's Massey University.

"I was honored to be one of the few art scholars among eminent scientists, and pleased to share much common ground," Craig said. "I returned with a deepened commitment to help foster environments where young women can thrive as strong professionals and good mothers, and not feel they have to choose between either."