Carol Rowell Council
Encyclopedia
Carol Rowell Council is the co-founder of the women's studies
department at San Diego State University
, the first women’s studies program in the United States
in 1969. The other co-founder is Dr. Joyce Nower. Today, there are over 600 women's studies programs around the world.
Council holds a bachelor's degree in public administration
from San Diego State University
(SDSU
), and a master's degree in art history
, from Rosary College's Villa Schifanoia campus, Florence, Italy. A former Women's History Museum executive director, Council taught the women's studies field experience course, designed to connect feminist activism to the community, while still a student.
In 1972, she co-founded a nonprofit organization
, The Center for Women’s Studies and Services (now the Center for Community Solutions http://www.ccssd.org/), where she served as director for over 20 years. There, she helped establish their domestic violence shelter, feminist free university, rape
crisis center, 24-hour hotline
, and special women’s programs, including arts festivals, lectures, poetry
readings, performances and exhibits. She later worked as development director and consultant to numerous San Diego nonprofit organizations, served as an equal opportunity commissioner for San Diego, and chaired the "Feminist Action Coalition". Today, she continues as a women rights
activist, ("Women's March on Washington", feminist forums, and community coalitions), a public speaker on the founding of the first women’s studies program, and is at work on her memoirs.
She lives in San Diego with her husband, Trevor Black, and her son, Tim.
Women's studies
Women's studies, also known as feminist studies, is an interdisciplinary academic field which explores politics, society and history from an intersectional, multicultural women's perspective...
department at San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
, the first women’s studies program in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1969. The other co-founder is Dr. Joyce Nower. Today, there are over 600 women's studies programs around the world.
Council holds a bachelor's degree in public administration
Public administration
Public Administration houses the implementation of government policy and an academic discipline that studies this implementation and that prepares civil servants for this work. As a "field of inquiry with a diverse scope" its "fundamental goal.....
from San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
(SDSU
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
), and a master's degree in art history
Art history
Art history has historically been understood as the academic study of objects of art in their historical development and stylistic contexts, i.e. genre, design, format, and style...
, from Rosary College's Villa Schifanoia campus, Florence, Italy. A former Women's History Museum executive director, Council taught the women's studies field experience course, designed to connect feminist activism to the community, while still a student.
In 1972, she co-founded a nonprofit organization
Nonprofit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
, The Center for Women’s Studies and Services (now the Center for Community Solutions http://www.ccssd.org/), where she served as director for over 20 years. There, she helped establish their domestic violence shelter, feminist free university, rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
crisis center, 24-hour hotline
Hotline
In telecommunication, a hotline is a point-to-point communications link in which a call is automatically directed to the preselected destination without any additional action by the user when the end instrument goes off-hook...
, and special women’s programs, including arts festivals, lectures, poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
readings, performances and exhibits. She later worked as development director and consultant to numerous San Diego nonprofit organizations, served as an equal opportunity commissioner for San Diego, and chaired the "Feminist Action Coalition". Today, she continues as a women rights
Feminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
activist, ("Women's March on Washington", feminist forums, and community coalitions), a public speaker on the founding of the first women’s studies program, and is at work on her memoirs.
She lives in San Diego with her husband, Trevor Black, and her son, Tim.