The generosity of the Women of WVU inspires many to join in their mission
to create a collective voice and give back
With gratitude for all the contributions and support, below are a few examples
- Dennis Smith, Associate Dean of Libraries and Librarian Jessica Dai gave several large plants for décor
- Travis Stimeling, WVU Music Professor loaned us the Appalachians of Note display
- Courtney Weaver, WELLWVU Director provided items for the self-care buffet including condoms, dental dams, and calming strips
- Erin Brock Carlson, WVU English Professor brought Wikipedia water bottles, stickers, hats, and socks for the self-care buffet
- Professor Carlson also incorporated the event into her course accounting for the turnout
- Sally Jane Brown, feminist artist, writer, and curator lent us the photographic display Portraits of West Virginia Women
- Hilary Fredette, Director of Operations and Resource Sharing at the WVU Libraries, used her sewing skills to custom alter blue filtering cloths used to soften the fluorescent lights, moved old furniture and arranged for the modular setting and tables we have from the space that is now the Sensory Room
- Sam Rahall, Reserves and Stacks Maintenance Associate generously provided on-demand logistical support
- Keeley Wildman, (MSW 2023) Graduate Assistant took a leadership role as Lounge manager and physically made much of transformation seen in the before and after photos happen (and took the photos)
- The West Virginia and Regional History Center contributed access to rare archives enabling us to create online and physical displays. Many thanks to Lori Hostuttler, Director; Elizabeth James, Digital Archivist, Jane Metters LaBarbara, Head of Archives and Manuscripts, and Lemley Mullet, Photographs Manager
- Lucas Blankenship, (MPA 2023) Graduate Assistant constructed display panels, hung posters, installed art, and arranged furniture
- Thea Browne, Sr. Administrative Assistant managed catering, extra tables, guest parking, a meeting about security, and inventory ordering and receiving
- Library IT Department Library LITEs provided a tech support table for the Amplifying Appalachia event
- Special thanks to
- Tara McMillen, Strategic Business Advisor and Business Planning Officer, for managing funding expenditures and reporting
- Jeff Werst, Science Librarian, Jonah McAllister-Erickson, Scholarly Communication Librarian, and Terra Rogerson, Agricultural Science Librarian, for volunteering at the Wikipedia Edit-a-thon, the first event at the venue
For early institutional support and believing in the idea, enabling us to secure the funds to make it real we are grateful for the support of
- G. Corey Farris, Dean of Students
- Lisa DeFrank-Cole, Director and Professor, WVU Leadership Studies Program
- Karen Diaz, Dean, University Libraries
The Women of WVU (WoW) enabled us to achieve our goals By believing in us and our vision, the Women of WVU inspired those around us to contribute. With long-term and new relationships, the resources multiplied.
With the WoW funds and donations from multiple partners, we created a self-care buffet at the Lounge soft-opening event on March 30, a 4-hour Art+Feminism Amplifying Appalachia Wikipedia Edit-a-thon in-person meet-up to improve representation of women and other underrepresented groups in the encyclopedia.
The funds also matched library support to provide refreshments for the 35 students attending and volunteering. The funds helped us decorate with soft blue lighting, display panels to highlight women in the archives, particularly WVU students protesting for improved security on campus, against war and the draft, and for civil rights. Archival display cases will be installed to feature content related to Lounge displays.
For before and after photos see the Lounge Story slide show (best viewed on desk or laptop).
