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Carol Konek Legacy Award

Headshot of Carol Konek

The Carol Konek Legacy Award honors the remarkable legacy of Carol Konek, an advocate for social justice, gender equality, and global women's rights. Born in Meade, Kansas, Carol's lifelong dedication to addressing inequality was reflected in her academic achievements and international activism.

This $1,000 annual award supports faculty and non-tenure track faculty teaching Women’s Studies courses in the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The funds enable recipients to pursue leadership development, research, or attendance at conferences that reflect Carol's passions. Recipients are chosen through an application process and may reapply each year.

Award Eligibility

  1. Funds will be available to faculty and non-tenure track faculty teaching Women’s Studies courses, including courses cross-listed with Women's Studies, in the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences who are chosen through the application process.
  2. Funds will be used for projects that allow faculty and non-tenure track faculty teaching Women’s Studies courses to become more involved in their studies, research, and professions through leadership development/education projects and/or allow individual membership for attendance at conferences that represent Carol’s passions mentioned above.
  3. The award amount of $1000 will be dispersed annually.
  4. No individual will be excluded from consideration on the basis of age, ancestry, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, generic information, marital status, national origins, political affiliation, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or status as a veteran.
  5. Applicants must apply/re-apply each year. The committee may choose to award to the same individual consecutive years based on the fit for the award.

About Carol Konek

Carol was born in Meade, Kansas on January 6, 1934. She earned her B.A. at the University of Kansas, her M.A. at Wichita State University, and her Ph.D. in Higher Education at the University of Oklahoma. Carol was always excited about opportunities to promote positive change and social justice and address issues of inequality and oppression in her community and worldwide.

She participated in the United Nations Conference on Women in Mexico City, Nairobi, and Beijing. Prior to the Beijing conference in 1995, she traveled on the “Peace Train” with 232 women from 45 countries meeting with women’s groups and parliaments in countries from Finland to China. Carol also participated in International Interdisciplinary Congresses on Women in Ireland, Costa Rica, and Australia; conducted research at the International Women’s Archives in Amsterdam; and served with Women’s Studies delegations in Minsk, Moscow, and St. Petersburg. Locally, Carol’s volunteer board service included the Women’s Equality Coalition, Women’s Alcohol Services, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, YWCA, Alzheimer’s Association, Lifeline, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and the Wichita Library Board.

Wichita State University first offered Women’s Studies classes in 1971, making it the second oldest program in the United States. The Board of Regents approved the BA in Women’s Studies in 1976 and established the Center for Women’s Studies in 1978. Carol Konek co-founded the program with Dorothy Walters, Sally Kitch, and Annette TenElsof. In addition to developing and teaching numerous Women’s Studies classes throughout her career, Carole served as associate dean of Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. During her long service at WSU, Carol guided students to connect their personal lives with the larger political forces in the world. She was recognized as an exemplary community activist, civic leader, and feminist, both on campus and throughout the state.

Plaza of Heroines

Carol Wolfe Konek is honored with a Large Paver at Wichita State's Plaza of Heroines.

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