Vol. 38, No. 18

1-19-2005
By:

Ballam to head Women’s Place

Deborah Ballam, professor of finance in the Fisher College of Business, has been named associate provost for women’s policy initiatives and director of The Women’s Place, a position she has served in an interim capacity for the past six months while a national search was conducted. President Karen Holbrook will ask for approval of the appointment by the university’s Board of Trustees at its Feb. 4 meeting. Ballam’s appointment will be effective retroactively to Jan. 1, 2005.

“Professor Ballam is a dynamic leader who is deeply committed to students, faculty and staff. She knows our culture well, has great energy and is truly committed to Ohio State,” Holbrook said.

“Professor Ballam has earned widespread respect and support from faculty, staff and students alike for her clear and demonstrated commitment to advocacy for women’s issues,” said Provost Barbara Snyder. “She is considered an excellent consensus builder and a dedicated advocate of improving the quality and equality of work/life for women at the university.”

Ballam was a member of a task force that spearheaded the coordination and consolidation of several initiatives into what ultimately became The Women’s Place (TWP). She also was on the search committee for TWP’s first director; and has been a member of the President’s Council on Women’s Issues.

Ballam is a professor of legal environment and the director of the Undergraduate Business Administration Honors Program. Her research is focused on labor and employment law and published in peer-reviewed journals; she is currently advisory editor of The American Business Law Journal, where she has also served as editor-in-chief and in other editorial functions.

She is the recipient of the Senior Faculty Award of Excellence from the Academy of Legal Studies in Business, and was twice the recipient of the College of Business Pace Setters Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award. In addition, she has received the University Distinguished Affirmative Action Award and the 2002 YWCA Women of Achievement Award.
“I am honored that the leadership of the university has entrusted me with this important role in moving forward the human rights agenda here at Ohio State,” Ballam said.

Ballam earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees and J.D. from Ohio State, as well as a Ph.D. in history.
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