WRITING KENTUCKY WOMEN BACK INTO HISTORY

WRITING KENTUCKY WOMEN

BACK INTO HISTORY

Kentucky Commission on Women
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

700 Capital Avenue
Frankfort, Kentucky 40601

502.564.2611

CALL US ANYTIME

ABOUT THE KENTUCKY COMMISSION ON WOMEN

The Kentucky Commission on Women is comprised of a board of directors. Membership to the board consists of the Lieutenant Governor and not more than 24 members and a Chairperson, who shall be appointed by the Governor. The members of the commission shall serve terms of four (4) years. The Governor, in appointing the commission, shall attempt to insure, insofar as it may be practical, and with due regard to the several geographic regions and socioeconomic groupings of the state, that the membership is broadly representative of the women of the state.

Visit the Kentucky Commission on Women state website.
Read about the Kentucky Commission on Women Foundation, Inc.

2015 BOARD MEMBERS

Lt. Governor Jenean Hampton, ex-officio, First Lady Glenna Bevin, ex-officio, Madeline Abramson, Chairwoman, Catherine M. Bishop, Bettye Brookfield, Nicole Candler, Mary Lynne Capilouto, Gale Cherry, Janet Craig, Mary Ellen Elsbernd, Nancy E. Eskridge, Laken Gilbert, Kimberly Greenwell, Joan Gregory, Elizabeth Black Hatchett, Audria (Pat) Havens, Greta Jones, Margaret (Margee) Koffler, Melissa Newman, Vera A. Newton, Carolyn O’Daniel, Vice Chair, Sarah Oglesby, Kathy Plomin, Linda B. Roach and Marcia Roth.

2105 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Madeline Abramson, Chairwoman, Carolyn O’Daniel, Vice Chair, Nancy Eskridge, Secretary, Nicole Candler, Vera Newton, and Executive Director, ex-officio.

MANDATE OF THE COMMISSION

The Kentucky Commission on Women is dedicated to elevating the status of women and girls in the Commonwealth, empowering them to overcome barriers to equity, and expanding opportunities to achieve their fullest potential. KRS 344.510-344.530 mandates Kentucky Commission on Women to:

Promote, encourage, and provide advisory assistance in the establishment of local volunteer community improvement programs for, and of the interest to, women;
Conduct programs, studies, seminars, and conferences, and encourage state and local women’s business, professional, and civic organizations to do likewise, to educate the public to the problems of women;
Consult with and advise the Governor and the agencies, departments, boards, and commissions of the state and local and municipal governments on matters pertaining to women;
Cooperate with the federal government and with the government of other states in programs relating to women; and
Contract from time to time as may be appropriate with experts and consultants who may be utilized as deemed necessary and make other purchases and expenditures, all in accordance with the provisions of KRS Chapter 45A, and make such other agreements, subject to the provisions of KRS Chapter 45 and 45A, and perform any acts that may be necessary to carry out the purpose of KRS 344.510 to 344.530.

HISTORY

In response to President John F. Kennedy’s creation of a commission on the Status of Women, Governor Edward T. Breathitt established a state commission in April 1964, to study and report on the status of Kentucky women. The findings demonstrated a pronounced need for a permanent agency to promote the improvement of women’s status, and in November 1968, Governor Louie Nunn signed the executive order establishing the Kentucky Commission on Women. In 1970, Kentucky Commission on Women became an official state agency through legislative action. Kentucky Commission on Women became part of the Cabinet for General Government as an administrative body attached to the Governor’s Office in 1980. In January of 2008, Governor Steven Beshear relocated the Kentucky Commission on Women into the State Capitol for the first time in the Commission’s history. The Commission on Women now shares the same hall as the Kentucky Women Remembered Exhibit.

From Executive Order No. 64-357 establishing a Commission to study the status of Kentucky women signed by Governor Edward T. Breathitt on April 21, 1964. Chloe Gifford was appointed the following September by Gov. Breathitt to chair the Governor’s Commission on the Status of Women. From Executive Order No. 68-832 establishing the Commission on Women as an independent agency responsible to the Governor signed by Governor Louie B. Nunn on Nov. 4, 1968.

Chair Appointments to the Kentucky Commission on Women

Marie Humphries, 1968, appointed by Governor Louie B. Nunn
Marie Abrams, 1973, appointed by Governor Wendell Hampton Ford
Judy Fannin, 1978, appointed by Governor Julian M. Carroll
Carole Morse, 1982, appointed by Governor John Y. Brown, Jr.
Gail Duckworth,1984, appointed by Governor Martha Layne Collins
Carolyn Bratt, 1984, appointed by Governor Martha Layne Collins
Shirley Massie, 1984, appointed by Governor Martha Layne Collins
Mary Mangione, 1988, appointed by Governor Wallace G. Wilkinson
J. Carolyn Self, 1991, appointed by Governor Brereton C. Jones
Penny Miller, 1992, appointed by Governor Brereton C. Jones
Jamillah Muhammad, 1996, appointed by Governor Paul E. Patton
Hunnah H. Baird, 1997, appointed by Governor Paul E. Patton
Sarah Blanken Kahmann, 2004, appointed by Governor Ernie Fletcher
Pat Friebert, 2004, appointed by Governor Ernie Fletcher
Aloma Dew, 2008, appointed by Governor Steven L. Beshear
Madeline Abramson, 2012, appointed by Governor Steven L. Beshear

Executive Directors of the Kentucky Commission on Women

Helen Howard Hughes, 1978-1981, appointed by Governor Julian M. Carroll
Jessica Loving Schikler, 1981-1984, appointed by Governor John Y. Brown, Jr.
Robin Crigler, 1984-1987, appointed by Governor Martha Layne Collins
Phyllis J. Alexander, 1988-1991, appointed by Governor Wallace G. Wilkinson
Marsha Weinstein, 1992-1996, appointed by Governor Brereton C. Jones
Virginia Woodward, 1996-1998, appointed by Governor Paul E. Patton
Eugenia Potter, 1998-2000, appointed by Governor Paul E. Patton
Betsy Nowland Curry, 2000-2003, appointed by Governor Paul E. Patton
Glenda Woods, 2005-2008, appointed by Governor Ernie Fletcher
Eleanor Jordan, 2008-2015, appointed by Governor Steven L. Beshear