Paustenbaugh Chairs Commission on Status of Women

STILLWATER - Dr. Jennifer Paustenbaugh wears many hats, and she has just added one more: Chair of the Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women (OCSW). Paustenbaugh was recently elected by the Commission to serve as their leader for the upcoming year.

Paustenbaugh is the Associate Dean of OSU Libraries for Planning and Assessment, Executive Director of the Women’s Archives at OSU and Puterbaugh Professor of Library Service. She is also the co-author and co-editor of the recently published Oklahoma Women’s Almanac. In addition to her many leadership positions in the American Library Association and the Oklahoma Library Association, Paustenbaugh is a wife and mother of two.

As Chair of OCSW, Paustenbaugh will oversee much of the Commission’s administration. Her most noteworthy duty, though, will be as the Commission spokesperson.

According to Paustenbaugh, the mission of the OCSW is to improve the quality of life for women and families in Oklahoma. Paustenbaugh said, “It’s exciting to be a part of something like this.”

“Our most recently completed project concerned the incarceration of women. Oklahoma leads the nation in incarcerating females. We helped fund a legislative study to investigate why so many Oklahoma women are imprisoned and the impact on their families and society. We hope this information can inform future policy makers, and spur the development of programs to reduce this trend.”

Looking to the future, Paustenbaugh would like to see the Commission examine women’s health issues. “By the year 2020, women over 55 will represent 35% of the growth in the state’s population, and this will have a significant impact on our health care system. It’s a potential crisis. This is an example of one area where the Commission’s work could provide valuable insight for our legislature.”

Paustenbaugh was originally appointed to the OCSW by Governor Brad Henry in January 2003 to complete an unexpired term. She was reappointed in July 2005 for a full 5-year term. The Commission is comprised of 30 members, 10 appointed by the Governor, 10 by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and 10 by the Speaker of the House.

Source. Oklahoma Comission on the Status of Women's press release June 27, 2006