PUC professor receives grant to develop podcasts for mentoring female students

A Purdue University Calumet professor has received one of seven national American Association of University Women Campus Action Grants to develop a series of podcasts intended to prepare and encourage female students to increase their earning capability.

In response to data from The Institute for Women’s Policy Research indicating that Indiana women earn 50 to 70 percent of what the state’s men earn, Associate Professor of English Colette Morrow of Oak Park, Ill. plans to use her $4,000 grant to help close the gender wage gap.

Her podcasts will focus on the nature, causes and consequences of the gender wage gap; salary negotiation, job preparation and development of other pragmatic, professional skills for remedying the shortcoming; and motivational, self-narrated experiences of successful professional women.

“The Institute for Women’s Policy Research gives Indiana a ‘D+’ on wage equity, and the problem is particularly pronounced for Latinas, of whom there are more than 750 enrolled at Purdue Calumet,” Morrow said. “Podcasts are highly accessible to busy students whose school, job and parenting responsibilities deter them from participating in traditional mentoring programs on campus.”

She added that the podcasts will be relevant to wide ranging careers and will be designed to promote self-confidence. Listeners will be able to access the podcasts without charge.

Assisting Morrow will be faculty colleagues and students within Purdue Calumet’s Department of English and Philosophy.

A Purdue Calumet faculty member since 1994, she has coordinated the university’s women’s studies program and has served as president of the National Women’s Studies Association. She also received a Fulbright Award to teach women’s studies, English and American literature in Belarus during 2000-01. She holds a baccalaureate degree from the University of St. Thomas, master’s degree from the University of Houston and a Ph.D. from Texas Christian University.

News Release Date: April 4, 2008