Formed in 2007 in response to concerns raised by the membership of ISA, the Committee on the Status of Women in the Profession is tasked to analyze ISA membership data, review the work of similar committees in other organizations, and provide recommendations to the Governing Council that will increase the status and visibility of women in international studies, broadly defined.

This committee is tasked with reviewing the status of women in the profession and making recommendations to the President of ISA and the Governing Council on ways to track and increase the status and visibility of women in the profession.

The Committee on the Status of Women is a permanent standing committee of ISA. Committee members are appointed by the ISA President and approved by the ISA Governing Council.

Membership and Terms

• Seven committee members serve two-year, staggered terms
• Committee member terms officially begin with the start of the ISA Annual Convention meeting of the first year listed and end with the closing of the ISA Governing Council meeting of the final year listed

The members of the ISA Committee on the Status of Women in the Profession are deeply saddened by the loss of our fellow committee member, dear friend, and highly respected colleague Patricia Ann Weitsman. Patricia was an icon of professionalism and collegiality. Her presence enriched the IR community and the community of women scholars more particularly. Patricia was ever-ready to contribute, indefatigable in lending her support and taking leadership to further the cause of women in the profession, the ISA and its International Security Studies Section, and IR scholarship more broadly. Her fantastic teaching and many published works have improved our collective understanding of international security and IR theory. A PhD candidate I spoke to last week had just finished reading her latest book, Waging War: Alliances, Coalitions, and Institutions of Interstate Violence. When I told him she had just passed away he was shocked and said “but that means this will have been her last book!” It does mean that, and it is a very bad loss. But next to her scholarship we will miss above all her warmth and her grace. Just one week before the ISA convention in Toronto I had an e-mail exchange with her. She reminded me she wouldn’t be able to come to Toronto and told me why: She had had a relapse and was battling acute myeloid leukemia. Shaken, I sent her my best wishes. And what did she do? Just days before her passing, she responded to me with a message of thanks. That was Patricia. I will remain shaken by this loss, as will many others. Our hearts go out to her family.

Annette Freyberg-Inan, on behalf of the ISA Committee on the Status of Women in the Profession

If you wish to make a gift in memory of Patricia, you can contribute to funding the Patricia A. Weitsman Memorial Scholarship at Ohio University. To do so please visit Ohio.edu/Give or call (740) 593-0732.