Sandra Pyke Presentation

The College of Arts & Science invites the faculty, staff and students to a presentation by Sandra Pyke, Arts & Science Alumni of Influence inductee for 2013 and pioneer in the field of feminist psychology. This event will take place:

Time: Thursday, March 14, 3 p.m.

Location: Edwards School of Business, Room 243

Presenter Bio
Sandra Pyke has inspired countless women to challenge the status quo and to promote positive change for women. After attending the U of S and receiving her PhD at McGill University ('64), Pyke was hired by York University's Counselling and Development Centre (CDC). Here, she established a comprehensive feminist workshop program that was unique within Canada at the time. She became increasingly involved in activist events and participated in a march in Ottawa, dedicated to the legalization of abortion.

In International Women's Year, Pyke sat on the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA)task force for Women in Psychology and also participated on the Status of Women Committee, which supervised subsequent changes in the organization. She was also the founder of the CPA Section on Women and Psychology and was later elected president ('81-'82) of the association. At York, Pyke was appointed advisor to the president on the status of women, chair of the department of psychology, and dean of graduate studies.

She was responsible for establishing a doctoral program in women's studies; York became the first Canadian university to offer a PhD in women's studies. She has long been in high demand as a speaker on women's issues. Pyke's publications have appeared in several prominent journals and she has won several awards, including the CPA's lifetime achievement award and a university professorship award from York.