1971: The UMKC Women’s Center has been in existence for over 35 years, originally founded as the Women’s Resource Center in 1971 as a part of the Division of Continuing Education with a grant of $2,500 from the University Associates, located in a house on Charlotte Street. Ruth Margolin was hired as the first director.

1976: The Women’s Resource Center moved to the Division of Students Affairs because so many female non-traditional students were attending UMKC. Many faculty and staff continued to push for more support for women students on campus.

1981: A survey of female students’ needs entitled, “Creating Change for College Women,” was sponsored by the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Gary Widmar. The study revealed female students’ concerns included career counseling, attitudes of faculty and staff, scheduling of classes, and child care. In addition, they wanted a place to gather on an urban campus where they would feel less isolated. The report was taken to Chancellor George Russell and a task force was created to study the report by Jeannette Lee, a community volunteer. The task force’s recommendations included the need for a physical space and an expansion of staff and resources. The recommendations were accepted by then Chancellor George Russell even though there was a scarcity of resources at the time.

1995: The Women’s Center moved to 105 Haag Hall, where it still resides. Led by board member “Corky” Pfieffer, the UMKC Women’s Center was painted a coral color, and complete furnishings, including a board room and built-in bookcases to house the library were finished.

1998: Ruth Margolin, first director of the Women’s Center, retires, and Linda Rodriquez, Assistant Director, takes the role of director.

2002: Linda Rodriguez retires. For a time, programming at the Center was minimal, and caused some to believe that the Center was on the verge of closing.

2002: Jane Wood, Ph.D., faculty member at Baker University, is hired to lead the UMKC Women’s Center in Spring of 2002.

2003: The LGBT Office is established and begins to serve LGBT students under the director of the Women’s Center.

2005: The LGBT Office was moved to the Student Life Office.

2005:.The Women’s Center was repainted and newly furnished, made possible by a gift from Barbara Pendleton’s estate. The mission centered on creating social justice events for students, staff, faculty, and community members, leadership institutes, and violence prevention programming.

2006: The Women’s Center hosted the first Black Women Leaders Conference with support from the Skillbuilders Fund and the Department of Labor Women’s Bureau.

2007: Brenda Bethman is hired as Director of the Women’s Center after Jane Wood’s departure for a position at Park University. In spring 2007, the Director and Advisory Board engaged in a strategic planning process, resulting in a re-focusing of the Center’s mission, programs, and services. New Board guidelines are also established.