Cal-Soap Director to Receive
YWCA Tribute to Women and
Industry (TWIN) Award June 27

June 5, 2008

By Jan Jennings

Linda R. Doughty, director of  the California Student Opportunity and Access Program (Cal-SOAP), will receive a YWCA Tribute to Women and Industry (TWIN) Award for outstanding achievements in her profession. The University of California, San Diego is the state’s fiscal agent for and a partner with Cal-SOAP.

Linda R. Doughty, director of  the California Student Opportunity and Access Program (Cal-SOAP)

Doughty will be recognized at the 29th annual TWIN awards luncheon beginning at 11:30 a.m. June 27 at the San Diego Convention Center. Proceeds will benefit the YWCA’s program and services for women and families who are victims of domestic violence and homelessness.

Doughty has been an employee of UC San Diego for 18 years, and since 1994, she has served as director of Cal-SOAP, an initiative of the State of California to improve access to higher education eligibility for students in grades K-12. Cal-SOAP partners with UC San Diego on many projects including preparing first generation, low income students for college success.

“Under Linda’s leadership, Cal-SOAP and the Academic Enrichment Programs at UC San Diego sponsored the first Dare to Dream college preparatory event for 600 fourth through 12th grade students and their parents,” said Veronica Henson-Phillips, faculty mentor program coordinator for UC San Diego’s Academic Enrichment Programs, who nominated Doughty for the award. “She is a wonderful role model and mentor to many at UCSD.”

Cal-SOAP holds annual college fairs, application workshops, test preparation seminars, jumpstart senior year workshops, Dare to Dream programs and much more. Doughty has been instrumental in working in the Cal-SOAP/ UC San Diego partnership in various college forums,  in securing more than $750,000 in scholarships for high school students in San Diego and Imperial Counties, and in starting classes for parents to become and stay informed.

Doughty has received numerous awards, including the Diversity Award from UC San Diego and the Advocate Award from San Diego Unified School District, as well as special recognition from school districts for her work and commitment to students and their families. She has a bachelor’s degree from Marietta College in Ohio, a M.Ed. from Lynchburg College in Virginia, and has completed classes toward a Ed.D at the University of Virginia.

The TWIN Awards were initiated in 1980 to recognize outstanding women managers, executives, and professionals.  In the past 28 years TWIN has paid tribute to 2,300 outstanding businesswomen and has raised more than $1.8 million to support YWCA programs.

Media Contact: Jan Jennings, 858-822-1684