Message from the Chair of the Women's Faculty Council

It is my great pleasure to serve as Chair of the Women’s Faculty Council (WFC) for the 2012-2013 academic year, and I thank you for visiting our website.  The WFC consists of twelve highly-motivated faculty members from both basic science and clinical departments.  Together, we are proud to serve as an advisory committee on issues that pertain to the professional development of women faculty members.

The Women's Faculty Council values and promotes equity in all aspects of MCW faculty life, and strives toward this through

This year, the WFC is particularly proud to collaborate with the Dean's Office to further promote the development of women faculty at MCW through a bi-directional approach:

• First, an MCW Women's Leadership Think Tank will consider and develop ways to promote the retention and promotion of women faculty at MCW, with the joint goals of both internal success and national recognition as a center for women's leadership excellence.

• Second, a research arm will consider the barriers and facilitators of women faculty's academic retention and success.  This research group consists of a multidisciplinary team from MCW, UWM, and UW Madison, and will take a Career Psychology approach to the issue.

Additionally, the WFC will continue to organize a variety of events, including:

• Professional development seminars (e.g. rank and tenure, negotiations, conflict management, leadership skills, panel sessions with MCW and/or community leaders)
• Work-life seminars (e.g. health and wellness, meditation, financial planning)
• Networking opportunities (e.g. gatherings with other faculty, WFC Honorees, or medical student events)

The WFC is also proud to nominate several deserving female faculty throughout the year for numerous awards and honors that recognize outstanding service and/or achievement.  In addition, the WFC works together with the Women in Science program to highlight the accomplishments of our highly-successful female basic scientists and clinicians.

The WFC values its collaborative projects with the Diversity Advisory Council and the Faculty Career Development Council involving mentoring facilitation and leadership excellence.  The WFC is additionally grateful to the Office of Faculty Affairs and the Dean's Office for their assistance in many of WFC's endeavors.

Please visit our website regularly to stay informed of our upcoming events throughout the year.  We also encourage you to contact us if you would like to suggest future discussion topics, provide feedback regarding a recent event, or if you would like to join our Council.  The WFC takes every opportunity to present the best programs possible, and we welcome your input so that we can better serve the female faculty at MCW.  We can be reached at WFC@mcw.edu.

On behalf of the WFC, we look forward to seeing you at our next event!

Libby Ellinas, MD
Chair, Women's Faculty Council
2012-2013