Year Honored: 2001
Biography
Myrna L. Bair earned a PH. D in inorganic chemistry from the University of Wisconsin. After moving to Delaware, she was the Director of Public Information for the Delaware Energy Office and taught chemistry and energy education at the University of Delaware. In 1987, she became the policy advisor for the Universities Institute for Public Administration. Bair also founded and served as the Director of the Women’s Leadership Development Program at UD.
Bair was also the founder of the Delaware Chapter of the International Women’s Forum, chaired committees for the American Association for the Public Administration and the International Leadership Association. In 2002, Bair was a visiting professor at Ural State University, and taught her self-created programs in leadership, conflict resolution, and change.
In 1980, Bair ran for a position in the State Senate, and served until 2000. During that time, she was Minority Leader for 14 years and Minority Whip for two, and the only woman in legislative leadership. She helped to found the Department of Services for Children, Youth, and their Families; and sponsored the bill that created the Office of the Child Advocate, a role meant to ensure the welfare of children in Delaware. Bair was on the National Conference of State Legislature Committee, President of the NCSL Women’s Network, and organized a leadership program for women in the state legislature.
Bair has been recognized by the Delaware State Bar Association, Grassroots Citizens for Children, and the Department for Children, Youth, and their Families. She has also received the Order of the First State and the Emily P. Bissell Award.
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Sources and Additional Readings
Myrna Bair Papers. Manuscript and Archival Collection Finding Aids . (n.d.). Retrieved January 13, 2022, from https://library.udel.edu/special/findaids/view?docId=ead%2Fmss0689.xml%3Bquery
Myrna L. Bair Collection. UDaily. (n.d.). Retrieved January 13, 2022, from https://www1.udel.edu/udaily/2015/dec/myrna-bair-papers-120314.html
Thomas Irvin Bair II, ph.D.. obituary (2014) The News Journal. Legacy.com. (n.d.). Retrieved January 13, 2022, from https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/delawareonline/name/thomas-bair-obituary?pid=170703113
- Collections: 2001