Idaho State University’s Pemberton named as delegate to Vision 2020 Women in Leadership National Project###

Cynthia Pemberton, associate dean of the Idaho State University Graduate School and professor of educational leadership, has been selected as one of 102 national delegates to participate in the Vision 2020 Women in Leadership National Project.

Pemberton is one of two representatives from Idaho, along with Rebecca Miles, executive director for the Nez Perce Tribe. In March 2006, Miles was selected the Woman of the Year by Washington State University Alumni Association. Miles also received the National River Hero Award in 2007 for her work on ESA listed species in the Columbia and Snake Rivers.

Two representatives from each state and the District of Columbia will serve as Vision 2020 National Delegates to the American Conversation about Women and Leadership on Oct. 21-22 at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Penn.

Vision 2020’s purpose is to write a Declaration of Equality and set in motion an action agenda to fulfill its intentions by the year 2020, a deadline established in recognition of the centennial of the 19^th Amendment, which guaranteed women the Constitutional right to vote.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to participate in formulating and directing the national conversation on how we work together to truly realize the vision of the 19th Amendment, and women's right to be fully empowered citizens,” Pemberton said. “I'm honored, excited and humbled by this opportunity.”

Vision 2020 is a national project of the Institute for Women’s Health and Leadership at Drexel University College of Medicine focused on advancing gender equality by energizing the dialogue about women and leadership.

The selection process for choosing Vision 2020 National Delegates was rigorous. Delegates selected have committed to serving a three-year term, attending the 2010 Conversations in October and the follow-up conferences in subsequent years. The delegate must be a leader or affiliate of an organization and must be willing to mobilize her individual and professional resources to bring about positive change in one of eight topic categories. The eight topic categories are arts and culture; business, law and finance; communications and media; engineering, science and technology; education; faith, family, philanthropy and volunteerism; health; and politics and government.

Prior to coming to ISU, Pemberton served for over a decade as an intercollegiate athletic administrator, and successful intercollegiate coach at the NCAA Division-I, Division-III, and NAIA levels. She earned conference and district coach of the year honors numerous times, as well as NAIA national coach of the year in the sport of swimming.

Pemberton has and continues to publish, present, and consult locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally on Title IX and gender equity in school sport. Her academic record of scholarship includes an externally published book (2002-NE University Press), two academic manuals, another book (in progress), 25 refereed and/or limited review/magazine publications or proceedings, a similar number of invited publications, over 40 regional, national, international presentations, and more than 100 local university and community presentations, the majority of which focus on issues of educational equity/ethics and leadership.

Of particular relevance to issues of leadership and social justice advocacy, is her book: “More Than a Game: One Woman’s Fight for Gender Equity in Sport.” This autobiographical account chronicles the struggle for Title IX compliance and gender equity in school sport from 1992 through 1998, at a small liberal arts college in Oregon. It portrays, according to Pemberton, an inside look at life as a “whistleblower,” the workings, limitations and costs of the legal process, the day-to-day battle engaged and endured; and ultimately the price in human capital paid.

“More Than a Game” was honored with the Phi Kappa Phi Bookshelf Award in October 2002, and has received a number of positive reviews (Journal of Legal Aspects of Sport, Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal, Booklist and Choice). More recently, excerpts from the book were selected for and included in the prestigious Bedford Series in History and Culture: “Title IX a Brief History with Documents,” by Susan Ware (2007). 

For more information on Vision 2020, visit www.drexel.edu/vision2020/.

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About Idaho State University

Idaho State University, a Carnegie-classified doctoral research institution founded in 1901, educates approximately 15,000 students per year in more than 280 programs. It is Idaho’s lead institution in health professions and medical education. Its seven colleges engage in a broad range of innovative research, teaching, and learning in the natural and physical sciences, humanities, performing and visual arts, education, engineering, business, pharmacy, and technology. Visit ISU today at www.isu.edu.