LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ -- With an array of outstanding women contributing to Rider University's workforce, the selection committee for the Sadie Ziegler-Bernice Gee Rider University Woman of the Year Award had some tough choices to make.

In the end, the decision was that two is better than one.

Dr. Ava Baron (right), professor of sociology, and Jan Friedman-Krupnick (left), associate dean of students for campus life and director of residence life, became the 17th and 18th recipients of the award when it was presented during Rider's annual Women's Studies Colloquium on Wednesday, March 24. The honor has been presented annually since 1986 to a female member of the University staff, faculty, or administration who has most effectively created a positive image for women at Rider and contributed to the effort to elevate the status of all women.

Dr. Baron, a resident of Princeton Junction, NJ, has been a faculty member since 1976 and earned the rank of full professor in 1986. She has received international acclaim for her scholarly research, which includes 19 published works and more than three dozen presentations of papers, keynote addresses, and colloquia. Director of Rider's law and justice program, she specializes in the teaching of sociology of law and criminal justice.

"One of the ways to create a positive image of women is to make them and their achievements more visible," said Dr. Baron, who has served on the women's studies curriculum subcommittee, taught courses on women, and developed new courses at Rider specifically about women's issues and feminist perspectives. "Therefore I am proud of the contributions I have made to incorporating issues of women and gender into the curriculum."

Dr. Baron holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in sociology from New York University, and completed her undergraduate study with honors at Brooklyn College, City University of New York. She has received numerous honors for her scholarly work, including membership in the Institute for Advanced Study's School of Social Science (1993-94), a pair of National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowships (1993-94 and 1985-86), a Bunting Institute of Radcliffe College Fellowship (1985-86), two National Institute of Mental Health -- Law and Society Fellowships (1975-76 and 1971-72), a Ford Foundation Fellowship in Women's Studies (1973-74), and a New York University Fellowship (1972-73).

Friedman-Krupnick, a resident of Marlboro, NJ, has been a member of the residence life and student affairs staff for the past 18 years, and has taken on the additional role of acting vice president for student affairs while a national search for the position was conducted. She will continue in that role through May.

"When I work with students and staff, I hope that they see someone who works hard, cares about students, and has successfully combined her work at Rider with being a wife, mother, and participant in her community," said Friedman-Krupnick, whose current campus activities include the faculty Phi Beta Kappa club, the retention committee, and the admissions and financial aid tripartite committee.

Friedman-Krupnick holds a B.S. in psychology from Ohio State University. She has previously served as area coordinator for residence life at the University of Rochester and as a counselor/teacher and hall director at the University of Florida.

Rider University is an independent, coeducational, nonsectarian institution with a 353-acre main campus in Lawrenceville, New Jersey and a 23-acre campus in Princeton, New Jersey. The University offers 60 undergraduate programs and 17 graduate programs in the Colleges of Business Administration; Liberal Arts, Education, and Sciences; Continuing Studies; and Westminster Choir College.