New Women's Affairs dean

Terry Dworkin, who has been an IU-Bloomington faculty member since 1979, has been named the new dean of the Office for Women's Affairs. \n"I'm finding it interesting and challenging," Dworkin said of her new position, which she began Aug. 15. \nThe dean of the Office for Women's Affairs works to identify where gender equity problems exist on campus by meeting with other department heads, said Professor of Sociology Pamela Walters, who chaired the search committee. \nSince Dworkin has been on campus for so long and has worked on so many committees, she will be able to ease into her new role, said School of Education professor Martha McCarthy, who has worked with Dworkin on several committees through the office. \nDworkin was a professor of business law in the Kelley School of Business, but has been active in the Women's Affairs office for many years -- she even chaired the search committee the last time the office was seeking a new dean. She has served on the office's advisory board under the past two deans. \nIn addition to Dworkin's experience in the office, she has previous administrative experience -- she has served as the business law department chair twice in her career. \nThe Office for Women's Affairs serves as a resource for students, staff and faculty on information concerning women's issues, including harassment, sexual assault and safety on campus. Students, staff and faculty can go to the office for support if they experience discrimination, harassment or an attack. The office also works to establish equal pay, promotion and treatment between genders in the workplace. \nDworkin's previous research will help her in dealing with these issues, McCarthy said. Dworkin's research has focused on employment law -- specifically issues of discrimination, harassment, privacy and whistle-blowing -- and employment and equity issues. Dworkin has also lectured to student groups about diversity and harassment issues and is the president-elect of IU's Academy of Legal Studies in Business. \n"The biggest part (of the dean's job) is being more proactive to create new policies to create a culture on the IUB campus that's more friendly to women," Walters said.\nDworkin succeeds Jean C. Robinson, who served as the office's dean for five years. Robinson will return to her position as a professor in the political science department. \nThe office conducted a nationwide search and recommended three candidates to Chancellor Sharon Brehm, who ultimately chose Dworkin.\n"Whoever is the dean of this office has to be able to persuade others in power (to adopt new policies)," Walters said. "We thought she was very, very good at that."\n-- Contact General Assignments editor Emily Hendricks at emlhendr@indiana.edu.