UD's very own First Lady and sociology professor, Dr. Claire Renzetti, has recently been awarded the 44th annual Dayton Daily News's Top Ten Women award.

Started in 1962 by the late Dayton Daily News art editor, Betty Dietz Krebs, the Top Ten Women of Dayton award honors women of the Miami Valley that serve as role models for women through their commitment, compassion, dedication, loyalty and service in their profession and make a difference in the community.

'I'm delighted to be receiving this award, especially since I haven't been in Dayton as long as the other nominees,' Renzetti said.

When Renzetti's husband, Dr. Dan Curran, became president of UD five years ago, she wasted no time getting involved with the Dayton community and eventually started teaching sociology in January 2006.

Friend and colleague Susan Katz, who nominated Dr. Renzetti for the award, said, 'She understands that education is a privilege that carries with it an enormous price, and that price is responsibility.'

Out of 95 women who were nominated for the award, a committee of three judges recognized Dr. Renzetti's accomplishments and selected her as one of the top ten women of Dayton.

'It was clear that Dr. Renzetti is a women gifted in the area of compassion,' said Dayton Daily News writer Lucy Johnson. 'She is internationally renowned and respected in sociology, having had an impact through her study, research and publications.'

Renzetti's contributions stretch across her hundreds of hours of service to the Dayton community. She is a volunteer at St. Vincent De Paul's Hotel homeless shelter, vice president of the Board of Miami Valley School District, member of the Board of the Artemis Center for Domestic Violence, on the board of directors for the Dayton Art Institute and chairperson of the Dayton ballet fundraiser for the past three years.

She is also the founding editor of the international journal, Violence Against Woman, which will be in its 13th year of publication in 2007.

'Claire is out there doing what is at the heart of the Marianist community: leadership and service,' Curran said.

'We're always telling students the importance of service, but we need to be a role model of community service for them,' Renzetti said.

Renzetti will get the recognition she deserves on Nov. 21 at the Dayton Daily News's Top Ten Women of Dayton luncheon and award ceremony.