Barbara K. Mistick, distinguished service professor of entrepreneurship at the Heinz School, was named “2003 Woman of the Year in Education” by Vectors Pittsburgh, a community service organization that works to improve the quality of life in Pittsburgh by promoting leadership among community members.
Mistick, who holds a joint appointment in the School of Design, is also director of the Girls, Math & Science Partnership, a project of Fred Rogers’ production company, Family Communications, Inc. The Girls, Math & Science Partnership is focused on expanding informal learning opportunities for girls to explore entrepreneurship, math and science.
“It is heartwarming to be a member of a community that values the importance of education. I am humbled to work at Carnegie Mellon University in an environment that fosters the unique contribution of each individual and encourages equity in educational opportunities for women and girls,” Mistick said.
Mistick is nationally recognized as an innovator in entrepreneurship education and as an advocate for women’s issues. Her continuing research interests are on entrepreneurial intentions, retention of girls in science and math, and work/life issues.
Prior to joining Carnegie Mellon, Mistick was director of Seton Hill University’s National Education Center for Women in Business where she facilitated the first statewide research in Pennsylvania documenting women’s current and potential economic contributions.
Named one of Pittsburgh’s Top 50 Business Leaders by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Mistick is the recipient of numerous recognitions for her work with women entrepreneurs including the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Women’s Business Advocate Award and the Ernst & Young Supporter of Entrepreneurship Award. She is also the recipient of the 2003 Carlow College Women of Spirit Award.
As former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge’s appointee, she served on the Pennsylvania Commission for Women. Last year, Mistick was the chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the International ATHENA Foundation, an international leadership organization dedicated to advancing opportunities for women throughout the world with programs in more than 350 cities in the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia.
