We welcome the opportunity to talk with you about your interest in the Center.
Please contact Betsy Wilson at 734.764.7291, or email, ecwilson@umich.edu
CEW, 330 East Liberty
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104.2274
Anne Lehker is a natural for the Center for the Education of Women's Leadership Council. Not only does she have a valuable background as a teacher and social worker but, as she explains, "I'm passionate about education!"
Anne has been a member of the Council since 2005, but her association with CEW began more than three years ago when her sister-in-law and CEW staff member Beth Sullivan recommended Anne for the team that selects scholarship finalists. It's an assignment Anne loves. "It's so inspirational to read the stories and learn about the scholars' accomplishments."
Anne was born in Muskegon. After graduating from Kalamazoo College with a BA in English, she taught in Bogota, Colombia for one year. From that experience Anne discovered a love for teaching, so she earned a teaching certificate at the University of Michigan. She taught at both Detroit Country Day School and in Hazel Park before returning to the University to earn a master's degree in social work. For over five years, Anne worked in a variety of positions with Oakland Family Services, including as a home therapist with the Head Start Program.
Anne is married to Sam Slaughter, also a Michigan graduate, who owns Sellers Buick Pontiac GMC dealership in Farmington Hills. Anne and Sam have twin 13-year-old daughters, Claire and Katherine. They live in Milford, Michigan, where Anne is now committed to a variety of local organizations.
"I love my role in the community," Anne says. She's on the curriculum committee and the strategic planning team of the Huron Valley School District. She sees her role there as twofold: helping administrators and teachers make key decisions; and learning as much as she can, in order to keep her neighbors and fellow citizens informed of the wonderful work the schools are doing Ð despite serious financial constraints and other pressures.
Another important part of Anne's life is her involvement with the board of the Huron Valley Educational Foundation. Through the foundation, both she and Sam raise funds for school programs not supported by state funds.
Anne is also on the board of the Milford-area YMCA, formerly its president. She admires the role the "Y" plays in her community, especially its philosophy of not turning people away. One project of the board is to raise money to underwrite memberships for people who could not otherwise afford YMCA services.
Given Anne's focus on community-based activities, she is especially impressed with how CEW serves the surrounding communities. "I love that anyone is welcome at CEW, to seek free counseling or to attend workshops. CEW is such a treasure. I want to help spread the word more widely about all the wonderful work CEW does. I want to absorb as much as I can and bring everything back to share with my own community."
The more Anne learns about all the things CEW does, the more impressed she is about the three-part mission of service, research, and advocacy. "How wise of CEW to reach out to help people in so many different ways," she says. "Most impressive, however, is the personal impact CEW makes. The programs may be wide-ranging but, whether it's a scholarship, some counseling or workshop guidance, or research findings, the Center for the Education of Women focuses on
