Dr. Joan M. West, a professor in Foreign Languages, founded the University of Idaho Athena organization in 1987, after five University of Idaho female faculty members went to the National Endowment for the Humanities conference in 1986. These women were able to get together and discuss the issues female professionals experienced in the work place. They continued to meet together informally and discuss these issues, inviting other women join They turned it into a formal organization on campus called Athena.

The organization promotes an inclusive and equitable climate for women, women’s leadership and networking and seeks to improve the campus climate for the female professionals at the University of Idaho. They also provide professional women at the University of Idaho with an opportunity to become acquainted with each other, to raise mutual interests and concerns, to further the growth and effectiveness of university women through professional programs, and to support the educational effort of women through stipends and/or scholarships.

Throughout Athena’s existence, their aim has been to support professional women. They have since awarded a scholarship called the Athena Opportunity Scholarship, and established the Women of the Year (WOTY) Award in 2002. Other events include the Women’s Leadership Conference and support programs of interest to other women on campus