As a candidate for re-election to the presidency of the AAUP, I am writing to share my experience and views concerning gender issues in higher education. My record concerning issues important to women faculty members is strong, as is my record of activity outside academe on such matters.

For years in Nevada I have worked for women's rights. As chair of the State Democrat Party resolutions committee in the late 1970s I worked successfully to get planks included about the Equal Rights Amendment and reproductive rights for women. Later, as Chair of the Democrats in my county, I worked hard on both issues in Nevada, testifying on the issues and working for candidates who supported those positions. I have also done research on these issues, such as on gender bias in courts, a study for the Nevada Supreme Court.

I worked for years on the candidate recruitment committee for the Democrats, finding good female candidates and them working to get them elected. I am happy to say that these efforts by me and many others have resulted in a strong contingent of women in the Nevada legislature.

Within higher education I have also supported specific programs to improve the pay of women and to get more of women hired. At my university years ago we worked out a program, in the face of litigation over pay equity, to improve the pay of female professors. I worked to set this program in place and have strongly supported it ever since.

This program uses a sophisticated regression model to predict salaries based on some 20 variables. If a person's salary is below prediction, then that salary is reviewed by a faculty committee, which makes recommendations for adjustments. The dean of that person's college can veto such recommendations, but that is rare. Dozens of women received significant salary increases through this program, which was accomplished without litigation.

At the national level I was invited to serve on AAUP's Affirmative Action Commission that assessed the actions of the University of California Board of Regents on Affirmative Action. That report can be viewed on the AAUP web site or a copy can be obtained by calling 1-800-424-2973. My work as Chair of Committee R (Government Relations) has also afforded me many opportunities to support women and women's issues.

In the last two sessions of the Nevada Legislature I lobbied, as chief lobbyist for the Nevada Faculty Alliance, along with others in favor of increased funding for gender equity in athletics. This effort resulted in additional millions of dollars being placed in the budget for gender equity. The NFA has also worked successfully to improve the pay for part-time faculty, many of whom are women.

My personal philosophy includes a strong position on women's rights and the role of women in academe. My record includes specific actions that have helped rectify the wrongs of the past.

If re-elected President of AAUP, I will continue to work actively in support of gender issues throughout the profession. I ask for your support in the election.