The Carol Konek Legacy Award honors the remarkable legacy of Carol Konek, an advocate for social justice, gender
equality, and global women's rights. Born in Meade, Kansas, Carol's lifelong dedication
to addressing inequality was reflected in her academic achievements and international
activism.
This $1,000 annual award supports faculty and non-tenure track faculty teaching Women’s Studies courses in the Fairmount College
of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The funds enable recipients to pursue leadership development, research, or attendance at conferences that reflect Carol's passions. Recipients are chosen through an application process
and may reapply each year.
Funds will be available to faculty and non-tenure track faculty teaching Women’s Studies
courses, including courses cross-listed with Women's Studies, in the Fairmount College
of Liberal Arts and Sciences who are chosen through the application process.
Funds will be used for projects that allow faculty and non-tenure track faculty teaching
Women’s Studies courses to become more involved in their studies, research, and professions
through leadership development/education projects and/or allow individual membership
for attendance at conferences that represent Carol’s passions mentioned above.
The award amount of $1000 will be dispersed annually.
No individual will be excluded from consideration on the basis of age, ancestry, color,
disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, generic information, marital
status, national origins, political affiliation, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual
orientation, or status as a veteran.
Applicants must apply/re-apply each year. The committee may choose to award to the
same individual consecutive years based on the fit for the award.
About Carol Konek
Carol was born in Meade, Kansas on January 6, 1934. She earned her B.A. at the University
of Kansas, her M.A. at ʹ, and her Ph.D. in Higher Education
at the University of Oklahoma. Carol was always excited about opportunities to promote
positive change and social justice and address issues of inequality and oppression
in her community and worldwide.
She participated in the United Nations Conference on Women in Mexico City, Nairobi,
and Beijing. Prior to the Beijing conference in 1995, she traveled on the “Peace Train”
with 232 women from 45 countries meeting with women’s groups and parliaments in countries
from Finland to China. Carol also participated in International Interdisciplinary
Congresses on Women in Ireland, Costa Rica, and Australia; conducted research at the
International Women’s Archives in Amsterdam; and served with Women’s Studies delegations
in Minsk, Moscow, and St. Petersburg. Locally, Carol’s volunteer board service included the Women’s Equality Coalition,
Women’s Alcohol Services, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, YWCA,
Alzheimer’s Association, Lifeline, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and the Wichita
Library Board.
ʹ first offered Women’s Studies classes in 1971, making it
the second oldest program in the United States. The Board of Regents approved the
BA in Women’s Studies in 1976 and established the Center for Women’s Studies in 1978.
Carol Konek co-founded the program with Dorothy Walters, Sally Kitch, and Annette
TenElsof. In addition to developing and teaching numerous Women’s Studies classes
throughout her career, Carole served as associate dean of Fairmount College of Liberal
Arts and Sciences. During her long service at WSU, Carol guided students to connect
their personal lives with the larger political forces in the world. She was recognized
as an exemplary community activist, civic leader, and feminist, both on campus and
throughout the state.
Plaza of Heroines
Carol Wolfe Konek is honored with a Large Paver at ʹ's Plaza of Heroines.