President Emerita Peggy R. Williams receives distinguished award from national education council.

“Women have made significant advances in higher education over the past 35 to 40 years, but there still is much work to be done to see that their potential is fully realized,” said President Emerita Peggy R. Williams in accepting the 2009 Donna Shavlik Award, bestowed by the American Council on Education’s Office of Women in Higher Education.

The organization honored Williams for her leadership and commitment to the advancement of women in education. “I am honored, beyond what words can describe, to be recognized [with] this award,” said Williams.

Williams, who retired last summer from a lifetime career in higher education, served the ACE Commission on Women in Higher Education, the NCAA Presidents Council Subcommittee on Gender and Diversity Issues, the NCAA Office for Diversity and Inclusiveness, and the Vermont Women's Fund, among other programs.