Membership is open to any individual

employed by Clayton State, male or female (including student employees),

and meetings will be held monthly during the regular nine-month school

term. All meetings will be open to the general public and will include

a guest speaker, the first of whom will be the new Provost and Vice President

of Academic Affairs, Dr. Sharon E. Hoffman. A calendar of speakers will

be announced in August and will consist of community leaders and career

women, from both local and state levels, according to Eunice Glover, assistant

vice president and director of Human Resources and Services at Clayton

State.

One of the main focuses of

the Forum is to endow an annual scholarship for women attending the University.

"The Women's Forum goal of endowing an annual scholarship for a female

student is a worthy project for me to invest my time and effort,"

said Joan McElroy, fundraising chairperson of the Forum and Employment

Relations Coordinator for Clayton State.

McElroy, who is experienced

in soliciting corporate sponsors for campus career days and is a former

Clayton State team captain for The March of Dimes, is more than qualified

for her role in the Forum. "With the help of people on the Clayton

State campus, we will make the scholarship a reality."

As head of the Scholarship

Committee, Dr. Benita H. Moore, acting dean of the School of Technology,

is equally excited about the scholarship endowment. According to Moore,

she and her group will be "charged with determining and carrying

out a process for the selection of appropriate scholarship recipients".

Beyond the scholarship, the

Forum's focus is on the enhancement and encouragement of women. A fraternity

of men and women working together to mentor, support and celebrate women

and their achievements; a place to give back the knowledge and expertise

that gives authenticity to the time and effort that makes a successful,

worthwhile career, according to Glover.

"I think women have made

great strides in the last five years, but I also know that there are still

areas that need development," says Diane Burns, Forum membership

chairperson and director of Recruitment at Clayton State. "I am excited

to be in charge of membership and want everyone on campus to know that

both men and women are welcome to participate."

The first meeting open to the

public will be in September, with dates and details forthcoming. For information,

contact Stephanie Bolton at [email protected].