Home Women’s Center History

1894

PLU always has had female faculty members. Sophie Peterson was among the first.

1898

Ettie Kraabel and Amanda Swan are the first female students to graduate from PLU.

1925

Lora Kreidler comes to PLC as faculty member and Dean of Women. She quickly becomes one of PLC’s most influential people and later is the first woman to have a campus building named for her.

1944

As most men are fighting in World War II, the PLC student body is almost all female. The student body elects its first female president, Agnes Mykland, followed by Eunice Torvend in 1945.

1982

Dr. Mary Lou Fenili is appointed as the Vice President for Student Life. She is the first female officer at PLU.

1983

Funding for Women’s History Week is allotted with a presidential decree and faculty support.

1984

The first Women’s History Week takes place.

1990

The “Women’s Center of Pacific Lutheran University” is established in April; the WMST minor is passed by faculty the same month.

1990

PLU offers a minor in Women’s Studies for the first time. Professor Elizabeth Brusco serves as the first chair of the department.

1992

The Women’s Center moves to the Little Red House.

1992

Becky Frehse, Professor of Art, is given course release to serve as the first Women’s Center director.

1995

Judy Mladineo is hired as the second Women’s Center Director.

1997

First Inspirational Women’s Banquet.

1997

The Women’s Center moves to Little Blue House.

1999

The first training of the Sexual Assault Prevention Education Team takes place at the Women’s Center. Approximately 10 students go through training, with the first presentation in Harstad Hall.

2000

The “Vagina Monologues” are first performed at PLU in February.

2004

Bobbi Hughes hired as the center’s third director.

2005

The Women’s Center is awarded a $200,000 grant from the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women, and two new staff members are hired.

Spring 2006

Women’s Studies is changed to Women’s & Gender Studies by faculty.

Fall 2006

The Women’s Center moves to Upper Campus on 121st Street.

2007

The center’s Department of Justice grant is renewed for another three years.

2008

The “He Loves Me, He Loves me Not: Men’s Role in Ending Violence Against Women” national conference is held.

Mar. 11, 2010

Assistant Attorney General Tony West visits as part of a national tour of 10 universities to showcase exceptional campus-based programs to address violence against women.

2011

Dr. Jennifer Smith is hired as the fourth Women’s Center Director and as a member of WMGS faculty.

2012

Men Against Violence changes to Men’s Project.

April 24th, 2013

PLU President Thomas W. Krise speaks at Take Back The Night.

Fall 2014

Provost Steve Starkovich institutionalizes VAV and MAV.

Fall 2014

Jonathan Yglesias is hired as the second Men’s Project Coordinator.

Spring 2015

Jennifer Warwick is named to a national Center for Disease Control & Prevention Think Tank on Sexual Violence Prevention on College and University Campuses.