A WVU clinical psychologist for West Virginia University Health Services and internationally know feminist author has won this years Neil S. Bucklew Social Justice Award.
Madonna C. Kolbenschlag, who died in February at age 64, is perhaps best known for her book Kiss Sleeping Beauty Good-Bye, published in 1979. Dr. Kolbenschlag also wrote several other titles on womens roles and cultural conflict. Her most recent book, Eastward Toward Eve: A Geography of Soul was published in 1996.
A Catholic nun, licensed clinical psychologist and research associate with University Health Services, Kolbenschlag also was involved in policy.
She became a member of the West Virginia Womens Commission in 1989 and served on that body through 1997. She contributed to increasing awareness of domestic violence and the need to expand services to victims and to improve enforcement of state laws.
In addition to counseling students and her other clinical and academic work, Kolbenschlag founded the Womens International Electronic University using technology to span geographic cultural and economic barriers.
She envisioned a way women could reach across the globe to teach each other and learn from each other, and placed WVU at the center of her plans, said Mary Ann Antonelli, MD, among those who nominated Kolbenschlag for the award. She worked tirelessly to build this virtual school, and she was in Chile building upon her extensive international conections at the time of her death.
Kolbenschlag took on the world intellectually and practically in her many activities, Antonelli said.
Helen Bannan, former director of WVUs Center for Womens Studies, said Kolbenschlag had an impact on many lives. At WVU , Madonna worked individually with students, counseling them, and informally with Womens Studies faculty, providing us with a sounding board and role model. She gave much and certainly deserves recognition, sadly posthumously, for her efforts.
Barbara Howe, the centers interim director, said Kolbenschlag was a pioneer.”It’s a real loss to the community because of her role in internationalizing women’s studies,”Dr. Howe said.”She was a good friend of the Center. She was a trailblazer in women’s studies, particularly in terms of international issues.”
Kolbenschlag graduated from Lourdes Academy in Cleveland in 1953. She had a bachelor’s degree from Notre Dame College in Cleveland, a master’s degree in English from the University of Notre Dame and a master’s degree in clinical psychology from Fielding Institute in Santa Barbara, Calif. She also held a doctorate in philosophy of literature from Notre Dame and a doctorate in clinical psychology from Fielding Institute.
She came to WVU in 1990. She was project director for West Virginia Women in Perspective 1980-1995, a statistical data book used in women’s studies.
She was the first woman appointed as Ecumenical Fellow at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. Locally, she was a member of the Advisory Council for Home Care Services in Monongalia County.
Faculty, staff and administrators who have been or are involved in promoting social justice at WVU are eligible for the award. Selection is judged on outstanding leadership, courage and breadth and depth of involvement. The award will be presented on April 14 during a 7:30 p.m. ceremony in the Mountainlair Ballrooms as part of Weekend of Honors. In its 10th year, the WVU Social Justice Award is named for former WVU President Neil S. Bucklew, who established the WVU Office for Social Justice .