Women's History Month at UNI
March 2023
Why we celebrate
Each March, we celebrate the accomplishments and contributions made by women around the world. The month-long celebration/observation began in Santa Rosa, Calif., in 1978, when the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women planned a week-long event to recognize women. Their event was to correspond with March 8 which was known as International Women’s Day.
It didn’t take long for the concept to spread, and local women’s groups came together to lobby for a national day of recognition. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued a proclamation declaring the week of March 8 as National Women’s History Week. Such proclamations continued until 1987. That’s when Congress passed legislation that designated the entire month of March as Women’s History Month.
Information sourced from multiple locations.
How we'll celebrate at UNI
- March 1 "Travelers, Trade and Transportation: The Trials of Mary Squires, Susanne Wells and Elizabeth Canning"
- March 1-5 TheatreUNI to present “Radium Girls”
- March 8 International Women's Day
- March 8 Women's History Month Discussion
- March 9 UNI Women in Business - 2023 Young Women in Leadership Conference
- March 20 Women's History Month Panel & Luncheon - Maucker Union Ballrooms
Women’s & Gender Studies
The University of Northern Iowa has been home to a Women’s Studies program (now the Department of Women’s & Gender Studies) since the late ‘70s when a minor was established. Eventually, a master’s program was developed in the ‘90s, and in 2000 was awarded a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to fund programming that would reduce violence against women. A full history, including a timeline of directors, can be found on the Women’s & Gender Studies homepage.
Women's & Gender Studies at UNI
Additional Resources
- All-women team produces the North American Review for the first time in its history
- Two UNI alums featured in national 2022 Women in STEM exhibit
- Program Highlight: Women's & Gender Studies, MA
Who can tell you more?
- Dr. Wendy Hoofnagle, Interim Associate Dean, Graduate College
- Dr. Susan Hill, Director, Philosophy and World Religions
- Dr. Danielle McGeough, Interim Director, Women's and Gender Studies