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CORVALLIS - Four Corvallis women have earned recognition as recipients of the university's 2002 Women of Achievement Awards.

The women will be honored at a free public reception on April 26, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the OSU Women's Center. The Daughters of Cybele will provide musical entertainment.

The Women's Center presents the annual awards to honor the contributions and commitment of women whose work has benefited the women of OSU, the local community, and Oregon.

"As always, the pool of nominations exceeded the capacity of the Women's Center Advisory Board to award recognition," said Beth Rietveld, OSU assistant director of Student Involvement. "The committee was impressed with the commitment to women demonstrated by all the nominees."

The 2002 recipients, as selected by the campus Women's Center and The Women's Center Advisory Board are: Leslie Davis Burns, Betty Busch, Carole Ann Crateau, and Rebecca Johnson.

Davis Burns, a professor in OSU's Department of Apparel, Interiors, Housing and Merchandising since 1992, served for five years as OSU's director of Undergraduate Academic Programs. She demonstrated a commitment to diversity and women in her leadership role, advocating for the Difference, Power, and Discrimination Program and focusing on salary equity issues for women in several OSU departments, judges noted. The panel also noted that she is an innovative and committed educator and serves as a role model for countless students, especially in her role as mentor to graduate students.

Busch, a musician and music educator, was cited as a visionary leader whose work in music education touches many layers of the community, from classrooms of grade-school students to a church choir. The panel noted that her greatest impact on women's lives, however, is as conductor of Jubilate! The Women's Choir of Corvallis, which she founded in 1994. Busch has provided chances for learning and artistic expression to women as Jubilate's leader. She was also cited for building tolerance and respect for diversity.

Crateau, an instructor in OSU's University Honor's College, gained recognition for efforts to improve the lives of women. As a member of the OSU President's Commission of the Status of Women, and most recently chair of the commission (1999-2002), she provided opportunities for involvement by faculty and initiated campus meetings to address issues of race and gender.

Crateau was also praised for her position as a role model for students and colleagues while providing leadership in many areas, including service on theses committees, coordinating a women's symposium and organizing retreats for women faculty. Judges also noted that Crateau's work in moving writing beyond the classroom and into the real world crosses disciplines and reaches a diverse audience, including schoolchildren.

Johnson, OSU professor and associate dean for academic affairs in the College of Forestry, was cited for her pioneer role in a predominately male field. As a teacher, she provides a role model for students, mentoring and advising at the undergraduate and graduate levels and working to create a conducive

atmosphere that encourages women to pursue careers in forestry. Johnson also is serving as chair of the university's 2007 steering committee, an initiative by OSU to align its resources and priorities.