An ISU faculty member has been recognized nationally as a leader in affirmative action.

Eveadean Myers, associate director of Affirmative Action, was selected as the 2001 recipient of the President’s Award during the 27th National Conference of the American Association for Affirmative Action, in Las Vegas March 30.

The President’s Award is given annually to one AAAA member to recognize leadership, excellence and service to the organization. “It was a total surprise,” she said. “The national president [Ismael Rivera] announced my name, and everyone started clapping.”

Myers said she has been a member of the AAAA since 1998 and said she was surprised to receive the honor of receiving of the President’s Award because she is a newer member.

Myers was elected as Region VII Director of the AAAA in May 2000. The region is made up of Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa.

As regional director, she brought the 2000 AAAA Conference for Region VII to Iowa for the first time.

The conference was held in Ames, where several local leaders spoke, including Ames Mayor Ted Tedesco, ISU Interim President Richard Seagrave and Provost Rollin Richmond.

“It was a really excellent conference,” she said.

During her term as director, Myers has begun a regional list-serve to keep contact among AAAA members across the country about different affirmative action issues. She also produces a regional newsletter. “This is the first and only region out of the 10 that has an electronic newsletter,” Myers said.

Cyndi Angelo, junior in English, said she works with Myers to produce the Region VII newsletter. “I have learned a lot about affirmative action through Myers,” she said. “She leads by example and is very motivated.”

During the national conference, the National Board appointed Myers to serve as the National Membership Chair. “Membership has increased by getting communication going between Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity professionals among the states,” she said.