June 21, 1982
The President today announced the appointment of Thelma Duggin as Special Assistant to the
President and Director of the 50 States Project for Women. Ms. Duggin will continue to serve in
the White House Office of Public Liaison under the direction of Elizabeth Hanford Dole, Assistant
to the President for Public Liaison.
The 50 States Project reflects President Reagan's campaign commitment with the 50 Governors in
an effort to identify and correct State laws which discriminate against women. The groundwork
for the program was begun in May 1981 with a Presidential letter to the Governors seeking their
assistance in identifying and correcting discriminatory State laws. In October 1981, the
Governors' representatives met at the White House to exchange information and promote
cooperation between the States. In her new capacity, Ms. Duggin will work to carry out the
project in all 50 States.
Since April of 1981, Ms. Duggin has been serving as Deputy Special Assistant in the Office of
Public Liaison. Her responsibilities include outreach to the black community and youth
organizations. Before joining the White House staff, she served as a field coordinator with Wright
McNeill and Associates, which directed the Black Community Involvement program for the
Republican National Committee.
Ms. Duggin, 32, is a native of Mobile, Ala., and holds a degree in education from Edgewood
College in Madison, Wis.