Editor's note: A photo caption mis-identifying EMU Regent Floyd Clack has been corrected.

United Way of Washtenaw County has named Eastern Michigan University regent Beth Fitzsimmons its '2013 Woman of the Year.'

Floyd Clack and Beth Fitzsimmons during an Eastern Michigan University Board of Regents meeting.

Fitzsimmons will be honored at the UWWC’s Power of the Purse event on March 13 at the Eastern Michigan University Student Center.

“Beth exemplifies what the Power of the Purse initiative is about: women taking action to address community issues,” Jackie Jenkins, co-chair of the United Way Power of the Purse committee, said in a statement.

Fitzsimmons founded Information Strategists LLC, which provides information services to high-tech businesses.

Beth Fitzsimmons with her husband Joe.

Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com file photo

She became an EMU regent in 2011. A literacy advocate, Fitzsimmons served as the chairwoman of the National Commission of Libraries and Information Science from 2003 to 2008. She has served on the board of the YMCA, University of Michigan Libraries, and the Library of Michigan Foundation.

Fitzsimmons was the president of the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor.

She has also served on the Department of Commerce National Technical Information Services Advisory Board and in an advisory position at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Simmons College, a master’s degree in library science from the University at Albany, State University of New York, and a doctorate in public policy from George Mason University.

Kellie Woodhouse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at kelliewoodhouse@annarbor.com or 734-623-4602 and follow her on twitter.