Four women are honored

Love and respect for education linked the four women honored Monday by the Laguna Beach Foundation of the American Assn. of University Women.

University professor Susan V. Bryant; artist, environmentalist and teacher Jan Sattler; Arts Commissioner and Laguna College of Art & Design board member Mary Ferguson; and School Board member Betsy Jenkins were recognized as women leaders who have made a difference in the community

Bryant was honored for her outstanding efforts to advance women in science.

“I gave my first scientific talk at the London Zoo,” Bryant said. “Then we went across the street [to eat] — it was a men’s club. They drew a curtain — the men sat on one side and I sat on the other.

“But in 1990, I went to a meeting of the National Science Foundation and instead of being the only woman, I was one of about half of [the participants].”

Bryant was the first woman hired in the School of Biological Sciences at UC Irvine in 1970. She is now a professor of developmental biology and vice chancellor for research at the university.

Bryant was introduced by Barbara Hamkalo, herself an honoree in 2006 for science education.

“Beyond noting that she is spearheading UCI’s program in regenerative medicine—aka stem cell research — I won’t discuss her numerous research accomplishments since we‘re honoring her for her tireless efforts to support and further women in science at UCI and nationally,” Hamkalo said.

Bryant has pursued grants to benefit women from high school students to women in higher education. She is a mentor and this year supported one youngster to the Tech Trek for girls.

2001 honoree Deana Pink introduced Sattler.

“Jan Sattler has been a presence throughout the arts in Laguna Beach and an equally powerful presence for the environment of our coastline,” Pink said.

Pink also extolled Sattler’s teaching credentials.

“With her extensive experience teaching art to school children, Jan correlated [a Laguna Art Museum exhibit] to the California State Standards for the Visual Arts, thereby securing the enduring support of Laguna teachers, who now had an excellent avenue for both their art curriculum and their history curriculum,” Pink said.

Sattler grew up in Laguna and was inspired by local teachers to love the environment and art.

And she had reason to thank AAUW for more than honoring her.

“About 20 years ago, the AAUW did a study on how teachers react to boys and girls,” Sattler said.

In her own experience boys at that time sought attention and wildly waved their arms to be called on to answer questions. Girls were more retiring.

“The study recommended alternating boys and girls,” Sattler said.

Sattler gave it a whirl, but saw little difference in the reactions at first.

However, she persevered and eventually the girls were equally eager to respond.

Sattler shares with her husband, Fred, a dedication to the arts — he is on the board of the Festival of Arts — and near shore environment. Together they founded Laguna’s Tidewater Docent Program.

Nancy Lawrence, a 2003 honoree and mastermind of the Color It Orange children’s art exhibit, introduced Ferguson.

“We can thank Quaker Oats [Ferguson’s employer] for bringing Mary to Orange County in 1994,” Lawrence said. “She fell in love with Laguna and bough a small house with a view, but she was relocated.”

She continued: “Then, from 1997 to 2002, she helped Echostar Communications grow their business from 500,000 customers to more than 7 million.”

Ferguson says “That was my ticket out of corporate America and into Laguna Beach.”

Corporate America’s loss is Laguna’s gain.

She has chaired the LCAD Board of Trustees for the past three years and will co-chair the Collectors Choice event in June.

Ferguson has been an Arts Commissioner for five years.

She has been a member of the Pacific Marine Mammal Center for four years, serving as chair of the board this year.

She also chaired the annual fundraiser last year and the upcoming one in November. Ferguson chaired the Alliance of Arts’ Art Star Awards in 2008 and will reprise in March.

Thurston Middle School Principal Joanne Culverhouse went back in time to 1991 in her introduction of Betsy Jenkins, who was recognized for her contributions to education.

In September of that year, Betsy and Dr. Gary Jenkins’ elder son, Chris, started kindergarten at Top of the World Elementary School, accompanied by his mother.

“Little did the staff, students and parent community truly know what a dynamic, committed, dedicated parent had just walked onto the campus,” Culverhouse said.

By the time, the Jenkins’ younger son, Kyle, started school in 1996, his mother had a designated parking space at TOW and an office in the school.

In addition to serving as TOW PTA President, Jenkins organized enrichment programs for the students. She has served on the SchoolPower board and chaired the Coffee Break monthly talks.

She organized support for the school bond, which was approved by 81% of the voters, and sat on the Citizens Oversight Committee to monitor how the bond money was spent.

She has served for on the school board for six years.

With her ready smile and gentle manner — which should never be mistaken for lack of resolve — perhaps Jenkins’ greatest contribution to the district is her ability to achieve compromise without enmity.

“The behavior we model for our students in times of conflict is what they will remember,” Jenkins said. “In 1998, the school district was in chaos. We had three superintendents in four years. The district was nearly bankrupt and the infrastructure was in shambles.”

Leaders emerged.

Now, the district finances are stable, Jenkins said, and students have superior teachers, beautiful campuses, cutting-edge equipment and are known by name.

“It is a district to be proud of,” Jenkins said.

More than 170 people, including numerous previous honorees, attended the 10th Annual Leadership Dinner.

Proceeds from the dinner benefit the Laguna AAUW nonprofit foundation, which raises funds to sponsor programs and events for girls and women.

BARBARA DIAMOND can be reached at (949) 494-4321 or [email protected].