URI Professor Named Woman Of The Year Taken From The Good 5 Cent
"I give her credit for the subject on which she has focused. There is nothing more
Cigar
important
By: Heather Gordon Friends, colleagues, and prominent members of the Rhode Island communities one
of URI's
political and business gathered Thursday night to honor
own
who
was
chosen at the 1994
colleagues. "She isn't
The Rhode Island Commission
chose to honor Dr. Diane
on
Disney,
Women
associate
women
over
30
and for her
non
profit
organizations. Chairperson of the Woman of
Program Beverly A. Dwyer said. Besides teaching management policy, she
is
director of the research center in business and economics and is involved in economic
development
a
issues
the
country. "She is well on her way to being a force in the community. She has a broad background in she has served on government and business economic and education commission in Rhode Island," RI Secretary of State Barbara Leonard .
.
said.
Disney was presented with a citation in "recognition of her tireless efforts to improve the economic and educational status of
women." Attorney General Jeffrey Pine said Disney's contributions affect everyone, not only women. "I believe her work is a public service to this
jobs, economic development. business and quality of life start with Diane Disney. These are issues that relate to all of state
.
.
.
us." Pine said. Senator
Myrth York of Providence Disney on her work in defense
commended conversion.
or a
Republican, she's
woman
the commission
of the year is selected and how to choose Diane Disney.
came
"She has been
state and the
-
how the
variety of
throughout
Democrat
a
also the person of the year because she works for alt of us." Whitten said. Dwyer explained
the Year
consistently involved. in major policy areas and she has had systematic impact in areas of importance,"
working a
Dwyer said, Dwyer said Disney
is
completing
a
study of
government salaries to determine the disparity between the genders. state
Thomas Roberts and Judith Swift, chairwoman of the theater department, emceed the event. Since Disney was born in Louisville, Kentucky. Roberts and Swift applied a "Southern Belle" theme to their presentation, offering Disney white gloves, an Elvis action figure, a tiara, and a gaudy corsage.
Peter
Phipps.
the financial editor of the
Providence Journal spoke with to
its
breath",
on
his experiences
Disney, describing their monthly meetings
discuss the state of the economy. When examining line graphs of the state of
the Rhode Island economy others would say the economy was dead, but Diane would call the economy "cautious" or "stopping to catch
or
"i
see
suggestions of
a
slow
recovery," Phipps said. In February she said "just sort of lying there,"
the economy is Phipps said.
Disney
ended the
night
with thanks and
appreciation for all those who attended and
to
the Rhode Island Commission for Women for the honor of "If this
a
liberal, she doesn't fit into any mold. You can't typecast Diane Disney," Whitten said. "Her colleagues are not just names or positions, they get the full benefit of her attention," he said. "She is not only the Woman of the Year, but not
professor of management at URI. for her contributions in trying to improve the inuolvement in
this state than defense conversion.
She has changed the focus in Rhode Island and nationally," York said. Tom Whitten. executive director of the John Hope Settlement House described Disney's political affiliation and treatment of her
Woman of the Year.
economic status of
in
trade
me
being chosen
woman
of the year.
were a sports event, please don't from this Rhode Island team," Disney
said. The money raised from the banquet will provide three scholarships for women, Barbara Fuyat, Chairman of the commission said. Sheldon Sollosy, President of Human Resources 2000, North Kingstown Representative Susan Hensler, and South Kingstown Representative Leona Kelley also make presentations at the banquet. Disney received her undergraduate degree from Stetson University. She hold graduate degrees from URI and Duke, and got her Ph.D. from Brandeis in policy analysis. Her most recent book is the Sourcebook on Postretirement Health Care Benefits: 1990.
Currently Disney
serves on
the boards of the
Naval War
College Foundation, the National Federation of State Humanities Council, Women's Development Corporation. John Hope Settlement House, SER Jobs for =
Progress, and
the
Community College
Rhode Island Foundation.
of