Dr. Farr to retire
An associate professor in the Department of English, Dr. Farr has served the university community in leadership roles for program development, departmental and university service, and professional activities.
But it is her work as a social and academic visionary that is the most inspiring to her colleagues and to her students. In 1985, Dr. Farr was at the forefront of the establishment of the ECU Women's Studies Program. Her leadership as its founding director saw the program grow from offering only an undergraduate minor to including a Bachelor of Arts degree and a graduate minor. It has always been her vision that the program-and the university-be inclusive; and Women's Studies remains committed to focusing on the study of gender, race, ethnicity, class, and sexual orientation in its examining, questioning, and redefining of gender roles. She has served as the program's academic advisor and on its executive committee.
In addition, Dr. Farr was a faculty advisor for the student group VOICE, which adheres to the tenets of equality and empowerment. She was honored with the organization's first Vagina Warrior Award (2004) as a tribute to her service to women.
From 1997 until the present, Dr. Farr has been the Associate Chair of the English Department, having previously lent her energy to serve as Acting Chair of the Department of Communication (1989-1991) and Assistant Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (1981-1984). She also chaired the Sub-Commission on Academic Support Programs for the ECU Planning Commission (1980-82) and served as a member of the Faculty Senate (1975-1979 and 1980-1984).
Professionally, she has also been active as president and steering committee member of the Southeastern Women's Studies Association (SEWSA). During her tenure with ECU, the Women's Studies Program hosted two of the association's annual conferences. The most recent (in 2005) brought over 120 scholars from across the Southeast to the university. Dr. Farr has published extensively and is a popular speaker with the NC Humanities "Let's Talk About It" Series.