Donors create mother’s room in library

Sixteen donors associated with Women in Science, Dentistry and Medicine, or WISDM, have pledged or given gifts totaling $50,600 in support of the Make It Real Campaign for VCU to create a mother’s room in a newly renovated space on the fourth floor of James Branch Cabell Library.

WISDM is a faculty organization that seeks to further the professional goals of female physicians, scientists and dentists at the Virginia Commonwealth University schools of Medicine and Dentistry.

The room is in a quiet space on the fourth floor and is outfitted with comfortable chairs, privacy screens, a pump and a refrigerator. Free and available during library hours, it represents VCU’s commitment to workplace diversity and work-life balance. It will benefit hundreds of students, faculty and staff each year.

Retired faculty member Carol Hampton led the fundraising effort and made the first gift while serving as president of the Friends of VCU Libraries. “You cannot have it all, all at once, but you can have it all the way through,” she says, underscoring the importance of a workplace and educational setting that supports family life.

Hampton recently spoke about WISDM’s achievements at the 25th anniversary VCU WISDM Leadership Conference, including VCU Health being named one of the 100 best places to work by Working Mothers magazine in 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2008.

“In spite of the progress we have made, much more remains to be done,” Hampton said, challenging the audience to continue to work toward gender equality in their specific schools and departments.

To learn more about VCU Libraries, contact Kelly Gotschalk (B.F.A.’90/A; M.A.’97/A), director of development and major gifts, at (804) 827-1163 or kjgotschalk@vcu.edu.