Women in Rotary Award
Virginia B. Nordby
Women in Rotary Award
Established 2013-2014
Rotary International
District 6380
Biography
Virginia B. Nordby received an undergraduate degree with distinction, (1951) and a graduate law degree (1954) from Stanford University California, She was the Article and Book review Editor of the Stanford Law Review and was selected to the Order of the Coif Honorary Law Society. After practicing law as the Assistant Executive Secretary of California Law Revision Commission, she moved to Michigan and a career as a faculty member and administrator at University of Michigan.
In the University's central administration, Virginia had increasing responsibility for policy formation, review and implementation, including the Bylaws of the Board of Regents; faculty tenure, promotion or grievance procedures; student code of conduct and discipline procedures; guidelines for program discontinuance . She also had responsibility for institutional compliance with a number of federal an state laws, such as equal opportunity/non-discrimination and freedom of information. She reported directly to University's President and other Executive Officers.
In addition, Virginia Nordby was a part-time faculty member with an appointment as lecturer at the University of Michigan Law School and later as Adjunct Professor at the Center for the Study of Higher Education. She was the principal drafter of the State of Michigan Criminal Sexual Conduct Act of 1975 (rape law reform) and lectured widely on law and higher education, equal opportunity, reform or sexual abuse laws and Constitutional issues such as due process and Religious liberty. She has received many awards and honor's, including the Harriet Myer Memorial Service Award of the Michigan Association of Women Deans, Administrators, and Counselors and the University of Michigan's International Women's Year Award. In 1991 she was inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame.
Her impact on women in Michigan extends beyond the context of the 1974 Criminal Sexual Conduct Act. She he molded the sensitivities and understandings of future generations at the University of Michigan with a pioneering class called Women and the Law. The goals of the course were "to understand the great number and variety of ways in which the law establishes or reinforces sex role stereotypes," as well as, "to develop a thorough understanding of the legal tools and theories available for challenging stereotypes". During her time at the University of Michigan and a a consultant for the Michigan Women's Task Force on Rape, Nordby has worked tirelessly to end discrimination against not only women, but against people of all color's, genders, sexual orientations, and social classes.
Virginia has been active in many civic and service organizations, particularly the Girl Scouts of the USA and Rotary International. She served six years as a member of the National Board of Girl scouts and has been a National Volunteer working to evaluate the performance of local Girl Scouts Councils and to improve communication throughout the organization. She has been awarded the Girl Scout's highest volunteer award, the Thanks Badge.
In Rotary International, Virginia was the first women in the world to be nominated and serve as a District Governor. She has been active on several Rotary International Committees. Most notably, she has served for over seven years on the committee to develop and implement the Rotary Center's for International studies in peace and conflict resolution. She has chaired the Women in Rotary Committee and a multi-district President-Elect Training Seminar. In 2004-2005, she served on the Rotary International Finance Committee. She has received the Rotary Board of Directors' Service Above Self Award and the Rotary Foundations's Distinguished Service Award.
Virginia and her deceased husband, Dr. Gordon L. Nordby, have four grown children.