Dr. Cynthia Baum, center, with Penny and Bill George
Minneapolis—September 22, 2014—The George Family Foundation recognized Dr. Cynthia G. Baum, president of Walden University, as one of 84 exceptional women leaders making remarkable contributions to building the Twin Cities at its first-ever “Celebrating Twin Cities Women Leaders” event on Sept. 16, 2014, at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis.
“We are pleased to honor Dr. Baum for her leadership and contributions to our community,” said Penny George, president of the George Family Foundation. “I find it immensely gratifying the number of talented women who have led the Twin Cities in building institutions and solving significant social problems. I hope the community realizes how very fortunate we are for their dedication and their leadership.”
The event celebrated women who have served as CEO, board chair or president of large corporations, colleges and universities, government and nonprofit organizations, healthcare and major arts organizations in the Twin Cities. Nine groundbreaking women leaders were also honored posthumously at the event for their contributions in creating the quality of life present in the Twin Cities today.
“I am very honored—and humbled—to be included among the accomplished women recognized for making the Twin Cities so vibrant, energetic and important,” Dr. Baum said. ““Minneapolis is our academic headquarters, and the Walden faculty, staff and administration based here are not only dedicated to the success of our online students but also to making meaningful contributions to the region and to their communities.”
The event was held in conjunction with a preview performance of Wendy Wasserstein’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play The Heidi Chronicles. Written in 1989, The Heidi Chronicles is a story of women struggling to make greater contributions to the world of art, business and government.
Bill George, former chair and CEO of Medtronic who currently teaches at Harvard Business School, added, “Ever since Penny and I moved to Minnesota in 1970, we have been astounded by the remarkable women who have built the character, culture and quality of life of the Twin Cities. These women are leading or have led our major corporations, government organizations, nonprofit foundations, healthcare, universities and colleges and the arts. We are proud to recognize these outstanding leaders.”
According to the 2013 Minnesota Census of Women in Corporate Leadership, produced by St. Catherine University and co-sponsored by the Minnesota Women’s Economic Roundtable, women are gaining ground in corporate leadership positions statewide. Fifty-two of Minnesota’s 100 largest publicly held companies have both women corporate directors and women executive officers. In 2008, women held 117 board seats and only four women were CEOs in the state’s top companies. By 2013, there were 119 women board members and seven CEOs.
About the George Family Foundation
The mission of the George Family Foundation is to foster wholeness in mind, body, spirit and community by developing authentic leaders and supporting transformative programs serving the common good. The guiding philosophy of the George Family Foundation is to invest in people, programs and initiatives that further the mission of the Foundation and help build the communities in which we live. For more information, visit georgefamilyfoundation.org.
About Walden University
For more than 40 years, Walden University has supported working professionals in achieving their academic goals and making a greater impact in their professions and their communities. Today, more than 50,000 students from all 50 states and more than 150 countries are pursuing their bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degrees online at Walden. The university provides students with an engaging educational experience that connects them with expert faculty and peers around the world. Walden is the flagship online university in the Laureate International Universities network—a global network of more than 75 campus-based and online universities in 29 countries.
Walden offers more than 80 degree programs with more than 370 specializations and concentrations. Areas of study include health sciences, counseling, human services, management, psychology, social work, education, public health, nursing, public administration and information technology. For more information, visit www.WaldenU.edu. Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association, www.hlcommission.org.