Member Profiles
Molly Hanlon
Molly Hanlon with her children Audra (4), Teddy (3), and Francine (1.5)
When Molly Hanlon, ’95, was an engineering student at Oregon State in the early 1990s, she was one of only a handful of women studying engineering. Looking back now, the mother of three wishes there had been more support for female engineering students at the time.
“It would have been nice to have had a support group for women in engineering, to help us hang in,” says Molly, who eventually transferred to the College of Science and majored in mathematics, with an option in actuarial science.
Today, thanks in part to funding from the OSU Women’s Giving Circle, the College of Engineering has a well-established “Women and Minorities in Engineering Program,” which is dedicated to supporting, mentoring, and building bonds among women engineering students.
“That’s what I like about the OSU Women’s Giving Circle,” says Molly, who has been an active member since 2006. “It funds innovative projects at Oregon State that help women succeed in life.”
Molly, who lives in Seattle with her husband Mike Hanlon, ’94, hadn’t heard of the Women’s Giving Circle at OSU until a friend and fellow alum described it for her.
“I didn’t know anything about it,” says Molly, who earned a master’s degree in teaching from Seattle University, worked for Safeco and Eddie Bauer, and taught high school math before starting a family. “But I’ve discovered that the Women’s Giving Circle is a really great way to go. All those small amounts of money add up to become a significant funding stream when it’s pooled.”
Members of the Giving Circle each contribute $500, $1,000, or more annually. The pooled money is then distributed to OSU programs and activities that focus on women students.
To help build membership in the Seattle area, Molly is planning to host an OSU Women’s Giving Circle event at her home next spring.
“Mike and I feel it’s very important to give back with both our time and our money,” she says. “We had such a great experience at Oregon State that we want to help ensure others have a similar experience.”
