Friends of Women’s Studies is the community support group for the Women’s Studies program at Old Dominion University. The purpose of the Friends of Women’s Studies is to preserve and strengthen the Women’s Studies program at ODU, to educate the community and university about the program, and to underwrite functions of the Women’s Studies program that are otherwise unfunded. The Women’s Studies program itself began in 1977 with a grant and was the first Women’s Studies program in Virginia. Carolyn Rhodes was the coordinator of the pilot program which offered six courses relating to women’s influences in society. It grew and expanded under the leadership of Nancy Topping Bazin (Women’s Studies Director, 1978-1985). When she resigned in 1985, the future of the program seemed in doubt. Carolyn Rhodes (Women’s Studies Coordinator, 1977-78) mobilized professional women at ODU and in the community to form the Friends of Women’s Studies to support the continuance of the Women’s Studies program. Also involved were Ellen Mars (Women’s Caucus President), Edie Harrison, Zelda Silverman, Sharon Adams, and Nellie Hayse (who was to become the first President of the Friends of Women’s Studies). The group of women rounded up a support group, held meetings, and developed a constitution. The number of supporters grew and the organization began to take shape. On January 25, 1986, an organizing committee of close to 80 women met for the inaugural event of the Friends of Women’s Studies attended by hundreds. The initial tasks of the organization were to raise money for the Women’s Studies program and to provide public lectures explaining exactly what Women’s Studies was all about. In 1990, the Friends of Women’s Studies began funding the Women’s Studies Student Essay Contest and the Women’s Studies Junior Faculty Lecture. In 1995, when Women’s Studies became a major, the Friends of Women’s Studies started an endowment scholarship, named in honor of Carolyn Rhodes. They also began buying Women’s Studies journals for the ODU Library. When Nancy Bazin retired in 1999, the Friends of Women’s Studies raised money for an endowed scholarship for graduate students in her honor. Friends of Women’s Studies sponsors Work in Progress conferences in the community, provides support for an annual feminist activist fair, provides a mentoring program for Women’s Studies students, produces the Like Minds newsletter, and hosts an annual dinner that includes speakers. Board members are made up of women professionals, faculty members, former Women’s Studies students, and other individuals from the University and local community. Much of the success of the Women’s Studies program comes from the support of the Friends of Women’s Studies.

Note written by Special Collections Staff