Improving the Quality of Human Life. Honestly I've written and erased so many things in this particular entry because I can't fully express the impact the 100 Women initiative has had on the building project, and on me.A few years ago I had the pleasure of videotaping interviews with some of our honorees - each one came to participate in the project from very different paths. Jean Alford Meyers (MS’47 Home Economics) husband and the couple’s five children joined together to honor her impact on her community. In just one example of how she lives the mission, Jean become a volunteer EMT for her local community later in life because she saw an unmet need. Never one to stand on the sidelines Jean jumped right in, improving the quality of human life.
Mary Kunz Berge (B.S. Home Economics ‘61), was the first 100 Women honoree. I first met Mary when she and husband Paul agreed to chair the School's Centennial Celebration - a huge undertaking considering she had just co-chaired the Sesquicentennial Celebration for UW-Madison. Mary had the brilliant vision to create a campaign that would "bring Human Ecology alumni home again", thus providing the building blocks for a capital campaign.
Being a mentor is what drives Sharon Scanlan (BS ‘70, Textiles and Clothing), retired senior vice president of Sears. Sharon was appointed leader of the world’s largest national appliance/electronics repair and installation division of Sears. Her appointment as the first women in the history of the company to hold such a position, motivated her to establish and lead the Sear’s Women’s Network.
The 100 Women initiative will have a special home in the new building. Prominently installed on the concourse of the third floor of the addition, the exhibit was designed by the very talented team at ZD Studio which includes Human Ecology alums Caroline Altfeather and Melanie Kranz, will delight and inspire each of us to "Improve the Quality of Human Life".
