The Utah Women and Education Project featured on KSL

Utah Women and Education Project Director Susan Madsen and Dr. Cheryl Hanewicz, assistant professor in Technology Management at UVU, were highlighted on KSL Aug. 29.

They were interviewed regarding their research into the higher education gap between Utah men and women.

Madsen explained that the intial work of the project has gone straight to the source: the young women of Utah. They have been talking to women from various backgrounds, trying to piece together the puzzle of why some women choose to complete a higher education while some do not.

"We really want to understand what they are thinking," Madsen said during the interview.

Deciphering how numerous influences affect the mindset and ambitions of Utah women will be no easy task. Thereafter developing methods to encourage them to obtain college degrees will be equally difficult.

And yet, these women, along with their supporters, are prepared for the challenge. Their dedication to improving the educational experience of Utah women is unyielding.

"Education is so much more important than just getting a job. It's good for the family, they're more involved in their communities, healthier, wealthier families," Hanewicz said in the interview.

Their findings will be presented at the Utah Women and Education Summit scheduled for Nov. 12, 2010.