By Kathy Reiser
A longtime community leader in Wichita, Kansas, Ruth Luzzati first served as a community volunteer and later in public policy positions. From 1973-1987, she was a member of the Kansas House of Representatives for the 84th District. Ms. Luzzati was an advocate for inclusion, demonstrating her commitment through public and personal support for civil rights, women’s rights and legislation protecting displaced homemakers. While in the Legislature, she also was an important advocate for creating and gaining the appropriate funding to support the College of Health Professions at WSU and the Kansas University School of Medicine – Wichita. Ms. Luzzati died in 2006. The Ruth Luzzati Guest Lecture Program in Political Science was established in her memory by her daughter in 2009.