Learn about our members

Professional Associates (PA) is a community of nearly 50 educators, scientists, innovators, business leaders, policymakers, and professionals who bring their real-world experience to support Fort Lewis College. Members share a commitment to strengthening student learning, enriching faculty teaching, and advancing community partnerships across the Four Corners.

Expertise across disciplines

PA members represent seven core areas of expertise:

  • Medicine, public health, and life sciences
  • Engineering, physical sciences, and technology
  • Environmental science and ecology
  • Education, sociology, and community development
  • Arts, communication, and humanities
  • Leadership, strategy, and organizational management
  • Law, policy, and government service

This breadth of knowledge allows PA members to serve as guest lecturers, mentors, advisors, and collaborators—bringing valuable insight to classrooms, academic programs, and community initiatives.

History and purpose

Professional Associates was established in 1999 by President Kendall Blanchard as a strategic advisory group. Since then, its role has expanded to include direct support for students, faculty, and community programming—while maintaining a strong advisory partnership with college leadership.

Meet our members

Each member brings a unique background and perspective to Fort Lewis College. Browse the directory below to explore individual bios, professional experience, and areas of expertise.

Jill M. Bystydzienski

Bystydzienski.1@osu.edu

Profession: Professor of Sociology and Women’s and Gender Studies

Education

  • 1971, BA, Honors Sociology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
  • 1974, MA Sociology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
  • 1979, PhD, Educational Foundations/Sociology, State University of New York, Albany

Dr. Jill M. Bystydzienski is a retired university professor who taught sociology and women’s and gender studies courses, conducted research and published articles and books in three different academic institutions for about 40 years.  She chaired academic departments and directed multiple programs. Her most recent research examined the barriers and opportunities for women and people of color in STEM fields.  She has been a co-principal investigator and researcher on two National Science Foundation’s ADVANCE Institutional Transformation awards (one at Iowa State and another at Ohio State) and a PI on two NSF Research on Gender in Science and Engineering collaborative grants that supported a seven-year study of a cohort of diverse young women who explored pathways to engineering. In autumn 2015 she had a Fulbright Research Fellowship to study women’s organizations that work to improve the status of women in STEM in Poland.

She also has done research and taught courses on women, gender and politics in international and global perspective, with politics broadly defined to encompass established political institutions and women's movements, organizations, and actions. Some of her research in this area focused on women’s organizations, movements and feminisms in post-Soviet countries.

Expertise

  • Qualitative research methods
  • STEM education
  • Grant writing
  • Student and faculty mentoring
  • Organizational research and management

Employment

  • The Ohio State University, Department of Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies, (2006-2018).
  • Iowa State University, Professor of Sociology and Director of Women’s Studies Program (1998-2006).
  • Franklin College of Indiana, Sociology Dept. Chair; Director, Women’s Studies (1980-1998).

Community Outreach

  • Fort Lewis College Professional Associates
  • FLC Grub Hub Support Committee
  • PA Student Scholarships Committee
  • Manna Volunteer
  • Native Hope Project
  • 100+ Women Who Care - Durango Chapter