We introduce you to our Face of ACE, Jane Goettsch, from Miami University! ACE Women’s Network-Ohio continues to explore new and creative opportunities to communicate who we are, provide networking opportunities for Ohio women in higher education and to promote women’s professional advancement. Our new Faces of ACE posts will introduce you to women involved in the ACE Women’s Network-Ohio.
Name: Jane Goettsch
Title: Director of Miami University Women’s Center
Education: BS Sociology, Iowa University MBA Sociology, Iowa University
How long have you been involved with the ACE Women’s Network-Ohio and in what capacity?
I began serving as Miami University’s Institutional Representative (IR) when I joined the Executive Board in 2004 as a Member-at-Large. I served as Membership Chair from 2006-11, Secretary from 2009-11, and State Co-Coordinator from 2011-14. I cycled off the Executive Board and out of the IR role in the summer of 2015.
What have you gained from your involvement in the ACE Women’s Network-Ohio?
In my 11 years on the Executive Board I got to work with and learn from so many wonderful colleagues from a variety of institutions in Ohio. I gained knowledge about the gendered nature of leadership in American higher education as well as what the ACE Women’s Network is doing to advance women into leadership within higher education. I also gained organizational and meeting facilitation skills, which helped me become more confident in my abilities and better able to use my talents to advocate for women’s advancement.
What are you most looking forward to professionally or personally in the coming year?
In 2016 Miami’s Student Affairs Division brought together the Office of Diversity Affairs, LGBTQ* Services, and the Women*s Center – three distinct, yet closely aligned identity-based functional areas – into one department with the goal of creating greater synergies, efficiencies, and mutual support in order to better serve students. I’m looking forward to being part of this new team of diversity and inclusion professionals as we identify opportunities for intersectional programming. I’m also looking forward to sharing space with LGBTQ* Services in the newly named Women*s and LGBTQ* Center, located in Miami’s new student center.
What are you most proud of?
I am very proud of advancing scholarship in the field of women’s and gender equity centers in higher education. Specifically, I was the lead author on a 2012 SOCHE/GC3 issue brief on structural issues and emerging trends for women’s and gender equity centers in higher education. I’m working with the co-authors to turn this issue brief into a chapter for a new book on women’s and gender equity centers. I also served as a Contextual Statement Contributor for the 9th edition of the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS) Women’s and Gender Programs and Services functional area. I have been active for many years in the SOCHE/GC3 Wo/mxn’s Collaborative Committee and in the National Women’s Studies Association Women’s Center Committee.
