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Women in the Curriculum / Women's Studies

Maryann Hartman Awards

2002 Award Winners
Honoring three Maine women

Elizabeth (Libby) Mitchell:

Moving to this state in 1971, former teacher Elizabeth (Libby) Mitchell was introduced to the Maine State Legislature when she lobbied for the Equal Rights Amendment. In 1974 she was elected to the Maine House of Representatives where she represented Vassalboro and part of Augusta for 18 years, sponsoring numerous bills important to women and girls including expanded access to education and training for recipients of welfare, the creation of the District Court Family division, and Women's Recognition Week within the Maine School System. From 1986 to 1990 as Director of the Maine State Housing authority she worked to expand rental housing to meet the needs of low-income Maine families. Libby is currently a Public Policy Fellow at the Muskie School of Public Service at USM and is attending the University of Maine Law School.

Valerie Osborne:

Is an Old Town native and UMaine graduate, an educator, librarian, quilter, and community and church leader. As head librarian of the Old Town Public Library Osborne led the multimillion dollar capital campaign that more than doubled the capacity of the original Carnegie library building. In 1997, she started GirlsTalk, a mentoring program that pairs middle school girls with community women in monthly book discussions and which now (along with its spin off for high school girls, Chin Wag) serves 82 girls. As President of the Maine Library Association Valerie was a key player in the negotiations with NYNEX. The resulting Maine School and Library Network provides free Internet access for all schools and libraries in Maine. Valerie serves as webmaster for the City of Old Town; she is co-founder of the philanthropic project, Canoe City Quilters, and an original member of the River Coalition.

Jean Symonds:

Associate Professor Emerita in the School of Nursing, has embodied feminist principles in her teaching, her courses, and her actions. Jean moved to Corea in 1970 where she became an integral member of the community, opening and operating a general store, serving on the school committee, and helping out whenever needed. She learned from her neighbors how to fish for lobsters and was the first woman to be invited to join the Corea Fisherman's Cooperative. A registered nurse who served in the U.S. Army (1957-1965), Jean went back to school to earn a Ph.D. in higher education from Vanderbilt University. For 15 years she taught Nursing and Women's Studies at the University of Maine. She continues to to haul 500 traps a day and to volunteer her clinical expertise at the Mabel Wadsworth Women's Health Center where she once served as president of the board.

Winner of the Young Women's Social Justice Award
Alicia McConkey:

who is currently a student at Lesley College in Massachusetts, has courageously spoken out for sexual assault awareness, social justice, and the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered students' rights. As president of the Oxford Hills Gay/Straight Alliance, she addressed the entire Oxford Hills High School faculty and administration about creating a safer school for all students and for LGBTQ students specifically. Invited to attend the Straight Educators Network's Annual National Conference in Chicago as a youth activist, she raised the money she needed to go. For three years she has been a member of the math and science Upward Bound camp at the University of Maine. She is the second recipient of the Young Women's Social Justice Award.

Back to Maryann Hartman Awards

Women in the Curriculum
Women's Studies Program
101 Fernald Hall
University of Maine
Orono, ME 04469
Phone: 581-1228
E-mail: Angela.Hart@umit.maine.edu