History of the Women's Center

1992-1993

• Coordinating Council for Women’s Concerns

1994-1995

• Center opened in Lane Hall with Penny Burge as Director
• Website launched
• In its first year, the Center has 3 professional staff members and relies on 5 volunteers for many of its everyday functions
• First Woman of the Year Award given to Pat Hyer

1995-1996

• Center moved into Price House
• First Sexual Assault Awareness Month observed in October
• 3 professional  staff and 12 volunteers call the center home
• Sexual Assault prevention program created through collaboration with EOAA and Athletics

1996-1997

• 75th Anniversary of first women students at Virginia Tech
• University-wide Sexual Assault Task Force created
• Consulted with Women’s Resource Center on Peaceline curriculum about sexual abuse and dating violence

1997-1998

• Black Women’s History Project initiated by Elaine Carter
• Grant funded victim advocate position added to Center staff
• Women’s Way Plaza of commemorative bricks created

1998-1999

• Helped establish Women’s Studies leadership concentration
• Hosted “Future Think: Fostering Alliances Among Women”
• Coordinated work of Eating Disorders Task Force
• More than 100 girls attend Take Our Daughters to Work Day programming

1999-2000

• Lactation Room Project launched with Family Work/Life Resources
• Completed comprehensive review of the Center’s first five years of service
• SAVES peer education program rejuvenated

2000-2001

• Ellen Plummer appointed as Director
• Half-time Volunteer Coordinator position established
• Full-time Counseling and Advocacy Coordinator position created

2001-2002

• The Center is awarded a $292,632 Violence Against Women Act grant in partnership with the Office of Student Conduct
• Vagina Monologues production raised $12,000 for violence against women services

2002-2003

• Co-sponsored “Women in Graduate School: Challenges and Triumphs” conference
• Received national recognition for “Take Our Daughters to Work” program
• Commission on Equal Opportunity and Diversity established

2003-2004

• Center expanded to 9 staff members and more than 70 volunteers
• Violence Against Women Act grant renewed
• Sweet Honey in the Rock kicks off 10th Anniversary celebration

2004-2005

• The Women’s Center celebrates its 10th anniversary
• The Women’s Center moves to its current location at 206 Washington Street
• The Center is awarded a grant from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services to hire a Victim Advocate
• The Women’s Center grows to 7 professional staff and 90 volunteers
• The university-wide sexual assault response protocol is completed

2005-2006

• The Women’s Leadership and Mentoring Program is established
• The university-wide stalking response protocol is completed
• The first Women’s Leadership Conference for students is held

2006-2007

• The Center receives the Alumni Association’s award for Excellence in Team Outreach
• The Women’s Center creates a Health and Wellness Series of programs
• Through Feminist Eyes, a feminist scholarship speaker series is launched in collaboration with the Women's Studies program

2007-2008

• Anna LoMascolo and Christine Dennis Smith are appointed as the Center’s first co-directors
• The first Health and Wellness Chocolate Festival is held
• Successful launch of the Graduate Women's Research Series
• 130 volunteers log in over 3600 hours of active support

2008-2009

• The university-wide relationship violence response protocol is completed
• AWARE, a student team at the Center expands its mentoring program to all 3 grade levels at the Blacksburg Middle School
• "Vote 2008" launched to educate students on policies and voting rules

2009-2010

• "The Challenge" marks the celebration of 16 years (Sweet 16!) of the Women's Center
• Mentors in Violence Prevention program launched with over 15 workshops in its first year
• 8 staff members, 8 work study students, and 112 volunteers call the Women’s Center home

2010-2011

• The Center brings $tart$mart to campus to empower college women with necessary skills to negotiate salaries and benefits as they approach the job market
• Women and Wellness launches as a monthly program with special focus on staff, faculty and graduate students