Contact:

Nancy Uscher, 277-7601 Laurie Mellas-Ramirez, 277-5915

March 11, 2002

FOUR FROM UNM EARN YWCA WOMEN ON THE MOVE RECOGNITION

Two University of New Mexico faculty and two staff were honored at the YWCA's Women on the Move Awards banquet in Albuquerque March 7.

The YWCA of Middle Rio Grande established the awards program in 1985 to recognize women who make significant contributions to their community, businesses and organizations.

Nancy Uscher, Ph.D., associate provost for Academic Affairs and music professor, Mary Lipscomb, M.D., chair of the Department of Pathology, are among 10 women who received Women on the Move Awards.

Among the 74 nominees, also recognized at the event, is Susan Harrison-Salt, director of Emergency Services for the UNM Hospital, and Denise Wheeler, program manager for the Center on Alcohol and Substance Abuse and Addiction.

Uscher, nominated by Terry Crowe, Ph.D., director of Occupational Therapy in the School of Medicine, joined UNM as professor of music in 1992. She has served as chair of the Dept. of Music and associate dean and acting dean of University College.

An accomplished musician, performer and educator, Uscher has taught and performed internationally. She brought Native American and Hispanic performances to New Mexico prisons, schools and cultural centers; helped to create a music curriculum at two Albuquerque schools; oversaw the creation of the UNM Music Prep School for elementary and middle school students; and served on the boards of several local music-related organizations. Uscher is currently at work on a long-range university initiative that will emphasize the importance of service learning across disciplines.

Lipscomb, nominated by the UNM Health Sciences Center has led the University Hospital Pathology Department since 1994. She has increased national funding for research in cancer, asthma, emerging infections and bioterrorism defense.

Lipscomb is nationally and internationally known for her research on mechanisms of immune regulation on the lung and serves on several statewide and national professional associations.

All 74 honorees received a special certificate and miniature replica of the bronze art statue by artist Betty Sabo specially designed for the event.

PNM and the Women on the Move Network sponsor the annual banquet. The Women on the Move award is presented by Lovelace Health Systems.

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The University of New Mexico
Public Affairs Department
Hodgin Hall, 2nd floor
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0011
Telephone: (505) 277-5813
Fax: (505) 277-1981