IN MEMORIAM
SHIRLEY LASCH MENAKER
Shirley Lasch Menaker died at her home in Charlottesville, Virginia,
on December 24, 2004, after a long and valiant battle with kidney
cancer. Valiant and vibrant describe Shirley personally
and professionally during her twelve years at The University
of Texas at Austin and at the institutions of higher learning
she served after leaving UT in May 1979.
Shirley was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1935 and attended
high school at Woodrow Wilson High in Chevy Chase, Maryland.
She received her B.A. degree from Swarthmore College with high
honors in English literature, art history, and French and earned
a Ph.D. in clinical psychology at Boston University. She joined
the faculty of educational psychology at The University of Texas
at Austin in 1967 as one of three women in a large department.
Promoted to associate professor in 1970, and later to professor,
Shirley played an active role in the counseling psychology program
and the Research and Development Center for Teacher Education
associated with the department at that time. Shirley was
one of the leading researchers at the center and instrumental
in the development of assessment measures that became classics
in the field.
In September 1975, she was appointed associate dean of the Graduate
School, an appointment that turned out to be quite influential
in her academic career. In 1979 she moved to the University of
Oregon and soon became dean of the Graduate School. In 1987 Shirley
moved to the University of Virginia as associate provost for
academic support and classroom management, a position she held
until shortly before her death. Her duties and responsibilities
included supervision of the offices that support the University’s
academic mission, such as the registrar’s, the Women’s
Center, the University Art Museum, the University Press, Summer
Session, and the Upward Bound program. She also was the university’s
liaison to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia,
working on matters such as space utilization, new degree programs,
and annual reviews.
Shirley self-identified as a feminist and was a leader in creating
an academic climate that was welcoming and supportive to women
and men. A major research focus during her years at UT focused
on the psychology of women and precursors of achievement in women
and environmental effects influencing their career paths. She
knew from her own life and her research that, in academia, being
a woman was often not taken seriously, and that this situation
needed to change. Her interest and commitment in this area continued
throughout her professional career at the University of Oregon
and the University of Virginia. In 2002 Shirley was awarded the
prestigious Elizabeth Zintl Leadership Award from the University
of Virginia. This leadership award annually recognizes women
working at University of Virginia whose high degree of professionalism,
creativity, and commitment mirror the extraordinary service that
the late Elizabeth Zintl gave to the University as the president’s
chief of staff until her death in 1997. Colleagues who nominated
Shirley for the award commented on her being an inspiration and
mentor to many individuals, especially women, and a role model
par excellence in successfully integrating one’s professional
and family life.
Shirley was tireless, tenacious, amazingly articulate, and always
fair. Colleagues at UT affectionately remember Shirley for her
verve, her clear logic, her keen grasp of facts and figures,
her fun loving nature, her deeply felt human compassion and grace,
and her ability to embrace and live life fully. She is missed.
Her
husband, Michael Menaker; daughter, Ellen Briones, spouse Jon,
and three children, all of whom live in Charlottesville, Virginia;
and son, Nicholas, of Menlo Park, California, survive Shirley.
<signed>
William Powers Jr., President
The University of Texas at Austin
<signed>
Sue Alexander Greninger, Secretary
The General Faculty
This memorial resolution was prepared by a special committee consisting of Professors
Lucia Albino Gilbert (chair), Edmund T. Emmer, and Toni Falbo.
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