Washington, D.C. – Carolyn H. Garfein, of Alpharetta, Georgia, was recently elected to a two-year term as president of the AAUW Board of Directors. The election was held at the 2009 AAUW National Convention in St. Louis, Missouri, which was attended by more than 1,000 members representing more than 1,300 AAUW states and branches.
"AAUW members all over the nation give generously of their time and resources. I am proud to join the ranks of leaders who have helped this wonderful organization break through educational and economic barriers for women for more than 125 years," Garfein said.
"AAUW is the nation's leading voice promoting education and equity for women and girls. The St. Louis meeting was a historic one for AAUW, with members approving our move forward as a 21st-century organization. We are proud of our new developments such as online branches, electronic student membership, and social-media advocacy," said Linda D. Hallman, AAUW executive director.
In addition to the election of Garfein and other new AAUW board members, last month's national convention featured presentations by a number of high-profile political activists and elected officials who have championed the issues of importance to women and their families, including Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA), and the face of pay equity, Lilly Ledbetter.
Ledbetter is the inspiration behind the first piece of legislation signed by President Barack Obama, which restores basic protections that allow workers to challenge wage discrimination.
"The recent passage of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act is one small victory in the battle for pay equity for women. We won't stop fighting until women — and men — receive equal pay for equal work," said Garfein.
"Now, AAUW is determined to push ahead the Paycheck Fairness Act," said Hallman. "AAUW is putting the same nationwide, energetic advocacy as we did when we successfully moved it through the House behind our efforts to urge the Senate to pass this bill."
Garfein represents a long tradition of accomplished AAUW leaders rising to higher office after years of previous AAUW service. She most recently served on the Board of Directors of the AAUW Educational Foundation. Before that, she was the state Legal Advocacy Fund chair, leading Georgia to first place in per capita giving. Her local branch in North Fulton, Georgia, has raised thousands in scholarship dollars significantly aided by an annual book fair, a tradition of philanthropic activism that dates back to half a century.
While serving on the AAUW of California board as budget director, Garfein returned to school — 18 years after receiving her bachelor of arts from Cornell University — worked full time, and raised two children. She received an MBA in marketing and management, graduated with honors, and was inducted into Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest, largest, and most selective all-discipline honor society.
Garfein has had a successful marketing career, serving as manager of program research at NBC and vice president and regional manager at Maritz, Inc. Currently, Garfein is senior vice president of The Marketing Workshop, Inc., in Norcross, Georgia.
