RADNOR, Pa. (March 27, 2018)—On April 12, Beth Sturman, Executive Director of Laurel House, will be presented the 2018 Ivy Young Willis and Martha Willis Dale Award during a ceremony at Cabrini University.
Given annually, the Ivy Young Willis Award recognizes women who have made outstanding contributions in the field of public affairs.
- All are welcome to attend this free event in the historic Cabrini Mansion at 4:30pm.
- Directions are available at cabrini.edu/directions.
Since October 2005, Sturman has served as Executive Director of Laurel House, a comprehensive domestic violence service and prevention agency, based in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
Sturman brings more than 30 years of professional experience in the human services field to her role at Laurel House. Most of her career has focused on addressing the needs of families and children. In 1980—as Laurel House first opened its doors in Montgomery County—she began her work with domestic violence programs in the nonprofit sector after leaving a corporate environment. She served as a senior manager in prominent human services organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, as well as in the Southeastern Pennsylvania region.
Since first opening in 1980, Laurel House has remained committed to its vision of ending domestic violence in each life, home, and community. Under Sturman’s leadership, Laurel House has grown to offer a comprehensive array of resources, including a nine-bedroom safe haven, an emergency response program that works in conjunction with police departments and hospitals, community-based domestic violence counseling in five locations throughout Montgomery County, and a community education program that helps to address and prevent dating violence in middle schools, high schools and colleges. The organization also runs two thrift shops. All proceeds help to support Laurel House’s direct service programs, and domestic violence awareness materials are readily available at both locations.
Sturman holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from California State University, East Bay.
The Ivy Young Willis and Martha Willis Dale Award and Lecture program began in 1992 through the generosity of William G. Willis, father of Martha Dale, a 30-year employee of the University who passed away in 2012. His wife Ivy Young Willis was a pioneer in the teaching of reading on television who worked closely with The League of Women Voters and the World Affairs Council.
Previous recipients of the Ivy Young Willis and Martha Willis Dale Award include Gloria Bonilla-Santiago, PhD (2017), Board of Governors Distinguished Service Professor, Department of Public Policy and Administration; Clara Clanagan (2016), found of In His EyesOutreach; Gloria Richardson (2015), civil rights pioneer; Sister Simone Campbell, SSS (2014), executive director of NETWORK; Risa Vetri Ferman (2012), district attorney of Montgomery County; Jane Golden (2010), executive director of the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program; Lisa Johnson Nutter (2008), president of Philadelphia Academies, Inc.; and the late Happy Fernandez (2000), former Philadelphia City Councilwoman and president of Moore College of Art and Design.
For more information, visit cabrini.edu/willisaward.
About Cabrini University
Founded in 1957 by the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Cabrini University is a Catholic institution that empowers students to become advocates of social change through an Education of the Heart, focusing on academic excellence, community engagement, and leadership development.
Cabrini enrolls approximately 1,650 undergraduates in more than 35 majors, pre-professional programs, concentrations, and minors on its serene 112-acre campus located 30 minutes from Philadelphia. The University also enrolls 800 students in graduate, doctoral, and professional studies programs at its main campus in Radnor, PA, and at five off-campus locations.