About WRC

Our Staff

Patricia (Pat) M. Lowrie is director of the Women’s Resource Center (WRC) at Michigan State University and also serves as the assistant to the dean in the College of Veterinary Medicine. As WRC director, she leads a staff in developing and implementing educational, leadership, social justice, and advocacy programs. The center coordinates resources that bring about institutional change by increasing understanding and valuing difference; these resources also help to empower women and men faculty, students, and staff to be effective change agents. In veterinary medicine, Pat’s role is to enhance and increase educational and professional opportunities for underrepresented groups in the health professions. She has had a successful career securing federal and state grants to sustain programs that support this effort. Pat also advises university leadership on effective methods to engage various constituent groups in synergistic activity that moves beyond antidiscrimination teachings and begins to infuse social justice education more comprehensively into the institution. The team shares collective responsibility for addressing the issues of individuals who are members of oppressed groups, including persons with disabilities and persons who are historically victims of racism, sexism, classism, and homophobia. Before coming to Michigan State University, she participated in research and diagnostic services as an electron microscopist at the University of California, Davis and Auburn University in Alabama. Pat, a graduate of Howard University, has had additional leadership development training at the University of California, Davis. She is the recipient of several awards and recognitions, including the University Diversity Award and the All-University Distinguished Academic Staff Award. Currently, Pat serves as chairperson of the advisory board and associated projects for Campus Women Lead, affiliated with the Association of American Colleges and University’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Global Initiatives and its Project on the Status and Education of Women.

Audrey Smith is the office manager of the Women’s Resource Center (WRC) and graduated with a BS from Michigan State University’s College of Social Science. She has worked on campus 27 years—beginning in Human Resources followed by Human Relations—and has worked in the WRC since its inception in 1992. Primarily supporting the director, Audrey also is responsible for staffing several committees, budget, event planning, programming, and day-to-day operations of the center.

Evette Chavez Lockhart is the editorial/administrative assistant at the Women’s Resource Center. She joined the WRC staff in 2005 and has been employed at MSU since 1980. Responsible for the monthly newsletter, Wisdom, Words, & Women (PDF)*, Evette also handles all publications, marketing, and public relations for the Center. Additional responsibilities include conference planning, fellowship and scholarship administration, committee staffing, and providing support to the director.

Jodi Roberto Hancock, the educational program coordinator at the Women’s Resource Center (WRC), joined the WRC staff in 2004. Jodi has a BS in communications/public relations and an MA in student development, both from Appalachian State University. Jodi coordinates many of the workshops and programs hosted by the WRC, including Take Your Child to Work Day, Spring Break Safety Fairs, Girls Get Going, Women in the Middle, Women’s Health Fair, bulletin board contests, political forums, and more. Jodi serves as advisor to the Women’s Initiative for Leadership Development and the annual Women’s Leadership Conference. She also represents the WRC on several committees, including the Women’s Advisory Committee to the Vice President for Finance and Operations, the Women’s Advisory Committee to the Vice President of Student Affairs and Services, and the Employee Assistance Program advisory board. She is a member of the university-wide Homecoming Committee, co-coordinator of the Homecoming Court, and a member of the Supervisor Recognition Committee. Jodi also manages the WRC listserv.

Jayne Schuiteman, PhD, is an associate professor appointed in the Women’s Resource Center (WRC) with a teaching assignment in the Center for Gender in Global Context. She has been a faculty member at the university since 1990, studying issues such as personal safety, harassment/discrimination, and gender issues more broadly. Sexual assault and relationship violence are her research and teaching focuses.

Jayne’s efforts in the WRC have included workshops on prohibited harassment prevention and additional sessions involving her areas of expertise; these have involved students, faculty, and staff across campus. She has presented to students involved in the Greek system, graduate teaching assistants across campus, student-athletes, and undergraduate student employees at the university. She has worked with staff, including those employed as CTs and employees from the Division of Housing and Food Services and the Physical Plant. Additionally, she has conducted prohibited harassment policy/procedure sessions for administrators across campus and for the Athletics Department. Jayne works with administrators to investigate allegations of harassment within their units and often conducts investigations when necessary.

 

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