UW-Platteville faculty and staff, as well as the family of the honoree, gathered to honor Annie Kinwa-Muzinga, associate professor of agriculture, for her efforts to empower women and minorities on campus. She was presented with the 2008 Woman of the Year award, which recognizes female employees who have an outstanding record of making a difference to the lives of women by supporting the well being and interests of females.

“Dr. Kinwa-Muzinga has been an outstanding mentor, both academically and personally, to the female students in agriculture, a predominately male field,” Kay Wilkins, assistant to the Dean of BILSA Duane Ford, said.

Kinwa-Muzinga achieved one of her dreams by taking a group of 12 participants, 11 female, to Ghana, Africa. While in Africa, she shared her own insight and experiences on culture and traditions, and the group explored traditional roles of women in agriculture and their everyday lives in Ghana.

Kinwa-Muzinga serves as Chair of the College of Business, Industry, Life Science and Agriculture Equity and Diversity Committee. Kinwa-Muzinga also wrote and received a grant to determine issues and experiences of faculty and staff because of their racial or ethnic minority status.

“Her contributions with this [BILSA Equity and Diversity] club have been very beneficial,” said Ford. “I’m impressed with her work.”

“This isn’t the end. I have a long way to go on improving myself to be a better role model for women on campus,” Kinwa-Muzinga said. She is also in the process of organizing another trip to Ghana set for December 2009.