PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Unsung Heroes

A good friend of education, Dr. Liz Karnes, died at home in Omaha April 24 after a 12-year battle with cancer. We had honored her more than a year ago at our January convocation, but her cancer treatments precluded her from being present to receive the honorary degree. The mother of four beautiful daughters, Liz was a remarkable woman who gave generously to board memberships and public service along with husband, former U.S. Senator David Karnes.

At our Arbor Day event we honored the late John R. and Elizabeth “Libby” Davis Lauritzen family. Libby is a key member of the family team, with her late husband, John, and son, Bruce, who have built to prominence the First National Bank of Omaha and many other banks, including Blair’s own Washington Country Bank. Libby is another remarkable woman who has generously supported the arts, nature and education while bringing dignity to the role of mother.

Three others in recent years who fit that role and have been so important to greater Omaha, Neb. and Dana, are the late Marge Hennigson Durham, the late Myrna Hawks, and Dana Board of Regents member Jeanne Gardner of Wakefield, Neb.

Women often function behind the scenes. You may not agree, but the verse I found on a greeting card recently, merits sharing. It reads, “Whatever women do, they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good.” Truthfully, I have seen it with my own wife, Anne. She routinely does twice as much as, and better than, I, but because I hold the office of president, I often get greater mention. Of course, I may receive twice the criticism I’d like coming my way, too, but that is probably warranted.

The bronze plate outside of my office in Pioneer Memorial reads: “This building is named Pioneer Memorial in memory of A.M. Andersen, Kr. Anker, C.X. Hansen, P.S. Vig, G.B. Christiansen, and many other faithful men and women who contributed to the development and influence of Dana College and Trinity Seminary.” The men listed were instrumental in our founding and development as an institution and greatly merit our honor. Yet, I am left to wonder about the women. What is the story about the women partners to Dana’s founders? They gave birth to and reared their children, and assisted their spouses at home and at the college. I can’t imagine being able to do my job nearly so well without my wife’s full support and partnership.

I can’t either imagine a Dana College even half as good as it is without the women faculty members, student leaders and staff members who have been instrumental in teaching, counseling, directing, cooking, cleaning and providing clerical and administrative support for Dana students and others in the community. Happily, women are winning key positions in colleges like Dana.

Yet, only one of our ELCA colleges or universities has been led by a woman president and only a few, including Dana, have ever been served by a woman as chief academic officer. Three of the five campus pastors serving Dana in my 17-year tenure as president have been women, and many of our leading faculty and staff members are females. We look with pride to our all-female department of biology, and the many women in director or department head roles, but the progression to full partnership for women has been slow.

We can and must do better as we enter a new century where women are equipped to take on leadership roles long overdue to them. The role played by women is featured throughout this issue of the REVIEW. As you read, you might reflect upon those women who have shaped your life, whether at Dana or elsewhere.

I would like to call attention to one woman who has had a significant impact on Dana over the past 25 years. I refer to Carolyn Potter, administrative assistant to the president. None of the very able assistants I have known for more than 40 years in higher education has exceeded her speed and accuracy at shorthand or on the keyboard. Carolyn has typed tens of thousands of letters and contracts for five presidents, answered and initiated thousands of phone calls, made countless appointments, prepared volumes of meeting minutes for faculty, staff, and regents, and entertained a small army of students, employees and other visitors. She does it all without so much as a harsh word about anyone.

When the history of Dana is written again, I hope more mention will be made of the many talented women who have served Dana so ably, often with scant recognition.

They are among the unsung heroes.