A University of New Brunswick professor recognized for her contributions to women's rights threw her hat into the ring Thursday as a possible candidate for the Liberals in the next federal election.

Wendy Robbins announced her intention to run for the nomination in Fredericton, saying it was time to practise what she preaches. The sitting MP is Keith Ashfield of the Conservative party.

"I joined Equal Voice about five years ago and very much encouraged students and other people that I came in contact with to think about why it is that Canada ranks 46th in the world in terms of representation of women in Parliament," Robbins said.

Equal Voice is a multi-partisan group that offers support and advice to women who want to enter politics.

Robbins’s announcement comes just a couple of weeks after the New Brunswick chapter of Equal Voice opened.

Lisa Merrithew, a Progressive Conservative insider who set up the New Brunswick chapter of Equal Voice, applauded Robbins’s decision to get politically involved.

Female reps wanted

"There’s a huge issue in terms of female representation in New Brunswick, at all levels in New Brunswick," Merrithew said. "So I think it’s fantastic that the first person for the Liberals out of the gate is Wendy."

In the New Brunswick legislature, women hold seven of the 55 seats. Tory Tilly O'Neill Gordon (Miramichi) is the only woman among the province's 10 MPs.

The New Brunswick Advisory Council on the Status of Women has been holding workshops for women interested in running for office.

"Groups like this signal to women that there’s a support network, as well, that’s a non-partisan, multi-partisan group of women. I hope Wendy will call on the group to provide support," Merrithew said.

Robbins, an English professor, co-founded the Women's Studies program at UNB in 1986.

In 2007, she was awarded the Governor General’s Award in Commemoration of the Persons Case.

The Persons Award is given to candidates for a lifetime of achievement in advancing the cause of equality for girls and women and for enriching their communities in significant and substantial ways.