Newport woman receives award

Judy Rosener honored with Spirit of WIL award from group that involves women in politics.At one time, Judy Rosener thought her life’s work would be as a wife and mother, and that she’d never have a job.

Today, the Newport Beach teacher, author and community activist realizes she was wrong about that.

After leading and mentoring people in her community for years, Rosener was recognized Tuesday by Women in Leadership, which gave her its inaugural Spirit of WIL award.

Women in Leadership is a bipartisan Orange County group that backs women candidates who support abortion rights. The 12-year-old group recognized Rosener at its annual meeting in Costa Mesa.

“I think she just exemplifies what the organization stands for, which is women succeeding and women being completely involved in the political process,” said Women in Leadership board member Karen Clark.

At 76, Rosener can reel off a list of accomplishments that are extraordinary for someone who says she used to be a “typical housewife.”

After raising her three children, she decided to go back to school. Later she became a professor at UCI’s business school and one of the leading researchers on how men and women behave and manage differently in the corporate world.

She has survived breast cancer; has served on the California Coastal Commission; has written newspaper columns and two books; and has spoken to audiences around the world.

Three UC Irvine graduate school alumni were so inspired by Rosener’s spirit that in 2003 they created a fellowship in her honor: the Dr. Judy B. Rosener Spirit of Difference fellowship.

Although she’s been involved in politics behind the scenes, Rosener never sought office herself. She said she’s too outspoken to get elected.

“I consider myself a spear carrier because I could say things that other people couldn’t say,” she said.

“I am very excited to see the county changing and women kind of coming into their own, but I feel a lot of women don’t have the liberty I do. I don’t need the job, I don’t need the money, I don’t need the emotional support.”

She fears today the U.S. is returning to a time when women don’t have reproductive choices -- a time she remembers. Women in Leadership is trying to show people reproductive rights are an issue of civil rights, she said.

Years ago, Rosener never expected to do all the things she’s done, but she said she’s glad to have had an effect on people’s lives.

“I think it’s impossible to be around her without her attention and enthusiasm infecting everyone around her,” said Susan Winston, a Women in Leadership board member.

And she seems to inspire people to action. Clark said the group’s quarterly newsletter prints comments from new members, and one of the questions is why they joined.

“Susan’s answer to it was, ‘Judy made me,’ and everyone who knows Judy relates to that story,” Clark said.20060208hwnl48kfDAILY PILOT(LA)Judy Rosener of Newport Beach received the Spirit of WIL award from Women in Leadership, a group that backs women candidates who support abortion rights.