This Spring, Linda Hoeptner Poling, Ph.D., associate professor of art education at 91ֿ, earned the Heather E. Adams Impact Award for her efforts in ensuring the wellbeing of women across campus.
She was given this award shortly after being promoted to full professor in March.
The Heather E. Adams Impact Award, supplied through 91ֿ’s Center for Sexual and Relationship Violence Support Services (SRVSS), has been awarded to exceptional faculty and staff since 2017. The award recognizes the accomplishments and impact of Heather E. Adams, former Executive Director of the Women and Gender Centers, and celebrates an individual's leadership and work that have contributed to the overall wellbeing of female-identifying faculty, staff and students.
Hoeptner Poling received the award while she attended the National Art Education Association conference, but met with Jennifer O’Connell beforehand, director of SRVSS, to learn the good news.
“When she told me, I immediately said, ‘are you sure?’ Because there's so many excellent people on campus working,” said Hoeptner Poling. “I was so moved that they recognized the small grassroots things that I do.”
Hoeptner Poling has been a full-time professor at 91ֿ for twenty-two years, with her efforts in women’s wellbeing starting in 2017 with her More Than Words Can Say group, now called the More Than Words group. This group is still ongoing and combines art and wellness in a workshop for victims of sexual and relationship violence to heal through artmaking.
“The thread throughout my work is trying to empower and make visible marginalized voices,” said Hoeptner Poling.
More recently, Hopetner Poling has partnered with Jennifer O'Connell and Yvette Roberts, assistant director of SRVSS, to display the “What Were You Wearing?” exhibit.
This display showcases clothing that victims of sexual assault were wearing at the time of their assault, as well as a story on a side placard detailing their experience.
“It's a different way of exhibiting art,” said Hoeptner Poling. “It's not like a traditional art exhibit; It's an installation of stories.”
Hoeptner Poling’s impacts on women’s equity and wellbeing continue to be seen across campus, with installations such as these.