March is Women’s History Month, and Mississippi University for Women is celebrating with a slate of events.

“Women’s History Month is an opportunity not only to uncover women’s historic contributions to our world, but also to highlight the ways in which women are making history in the here and now,” said Dr. Chanley Rainey, associate professor of political science and director of the Center for Women’s Research and Public Policy at The W. “It’s no surprise that the nation’s first public college for women has an amazing lineup of opportunities to do both. “

According to Rainey, this year’s calendar of events has something for everyone: not one, but two art exhibits, a music festival, and a film screening; academic lectures and book talks on a range of subjects.

“Even a career trip to one of the region’s largest employers will be held as part of Women’s History Month to examine women’s professional leadership in regional manufacturing,” said Rainey.

The annual Music by Women Festival will be featured again this year. The festival welcomes performers from all over the world to campus to perform compositions by female composers, as well as offering academic presentations and lecture-recitals.

The W will also welcome Alejandra Campoverdi, author of “First Gen: A Memoir,” to campus, Thursday, March 20 at 6 p.m., in Poindexter Hall on The W’s campus.

The book was the 2024-25 Community Read selection. The Community Read program seeks to bring The W and the Columbus community together for a shared learning experience. A book is selected and events are hosted throughout the year, beginning in the fall.

Campoverdi will give a presentation as well as participate in a discussion. The event is sponsored by the Mississippi Humanities Council and the Columbus Community Read Partners.

View the entire lineup of events at https://www.muw.edu/womenscenter/womenshistorymonth/.

About the Center for Women’s Research and Public Policy

The Center for Women’s Research and Public Policy is located in McDevitt Hall and provides programming and opportunities for multidisciplinary exploration of women’s lives, interests, and experiences. To learn more, please visit muw.edu/womenscenter/.

On March 30, the Martha Swain Speaker Series welcomes Dr. Anastasia C. Curwood, professor of history and director of African American and Africana studies at the University of Kentucky, to campus to highlight the life and legacy of Shirley Chisholm—who made history as the first black woman elected to the US Congress (1968) and the first black candidate to seek a major party’s presidential nomination (1972)—for Women’s History Month 2023.

Curwood will discuss her new biography of Chisholm, Shirley Chisholm: Champion of Black Feminist Power Politics (2023), which “interweaves Chisholm’s public image, political commitments, and private experiences to create a definitive account of a consequential life. In doing so, Curwood suggests new truths for understanding the social movements of Chisholm’s time and the opportunities she forged for herself through multicultural, multigenerational, and cross-gender coalition building” (UNC Press). A book-signing will take place from 3-4 PM at Friendly City Books, and Curwood’s lecture will follow in Nissan Auditorium at 7 PM.

Dr. Curwood’s scholarship focuses on the interface between private life and historical context for black Americans in the twentieth century. In particular, she studies the workings of gender in African Americans’ social, cultural/intellectual, and political history. Her first book explored marriages between middle-class African Americans in the era of the New Negro and the Great Depression.

The Swain Series brings a distinguished person to campus to speak every March as part of Women’s History Month and features issues important to women’s interests, lives, and experiences. The series was established to honor the career of Dr. Martha Swain, a women’s historian who published widely on women’s lives and politics in Mississippi, including the biography Lucy Somerville Howorth: New Deal Lawyer, Politician, and Feminist from the South and edited the two-volume set Mississippi Women: Their Histories, Their Lives.

MARCH 30, 2023

3-4 PM Book Signing at Friendly City Books
7-8 PM Lecture in Nissan Auditorium

Every year the MUW Alumni Association and the MUW Star and Scepter Chapter of Mortar Board conduct a campus-wide election to select MUW’s Faculty Member of the Year.

This Award, which is announced at graduation and includes a $1000 grant from the MUW Alumni Association, is highly coveted. It honors those faculty members who exhibit excellence in teaching, advising, and professional activities, in particular those who go beyond all expectations to support MUW’s students and academic programs.

Who’s Eligible?

Only full-time MUW faculty members are eligible and must be nominated by one other full-time faculty member and three currently enrolled, full-time students.

Faculty who have received the award in the previous DECADE are not eligible, including Ms. Janice Giallourakis (2013), Ms. Mary Jo Kirkpatrick (2014), Dr. Kim Whitehead (2015), Ms. Tammie McCoy (2016), Dr. Erin Kempker (2017), Dr. Sheila Adams (2018), Dr. Meagan Wood (2019), Dr. Kelly Bennett (2020), Dr. Donna Williams (2021), and Ms. Ashley Chisholm, Esq. (2022).

How Do I Submit a Nomination?

Nominations will be accepted through Friday, April , 2023 and may be submitted electronically or in person.

HARD COPY SUBMISSIONS. If you prefer to print a nomination form and coordinate with others to nominate a candidate, you may download the hard copy form below. You must collect all nominators’ original signatures and submit the form to Mortar Board Sponsor Chanley Rainey via campus mail (MUW Box #1634) or by slipping the form under her office door (Room #212c, Painter Hall). Completed hard copy forms may also be scanned and sent as an email attachment to Dr. Chanley Rainey at cerainey@muw.edu. 

As part of the next steps of its naming process, Mississippi University for Women has shared findings based on data gathered in an open community survey.

Over 4,300 people completed the survey created by Love Communications based out of Salt Lake City. The greatest participation was from alumni, and the lowest participation was from prospective students (high school and community college students).

W President Nora Miller said, “Although the survey did not generate the distribution of participants we hoped for, particularly with prospective students, we value the input those who participated have given. We will continue our research to get a more balanced view of all our constituencies.

“The survey also provided an opportunity for open participation in the process, for eliciting suggestions for possible names from those who participated and for gathering information about some characteristics people value when selecting a name. Not surprisingly, the focus group results aligned with the findings of the survey,” Miller added.

The survey results linked here are divided into five segments: Alumni, MUW Faculty and Staff, MUW Students, Prospective Students and Community. The number of participants in each category is provided on the cover of each segmented report. As individuals were able to choose more than one category, such as alumni who are also MUW employees, the total number when adding the categories is greater than the total number of survey participants. You may review the survey results for all five segments at this link: https://www.muw.edu/name/.

Miller said, “Thanks to all who have participated so far in the naming process at MUW by providing suggestions through the naming email address, in listening sessions, by taking the survey conducted by MUW and Love Communications, and/or by participating in their focus groups. Your participation has generated excellent ideas and important information as the Task Force continues its research toward recommending a name or names for final consideration.”

The Task Force will post periodic updates on the university’s website until its work has been completed.

Individuals also may continue to provide input into the process through the dedicated email address, NameChange@muw.edu.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 13, 2023
Contact: Anika Mitchell Perkins
(662) 329-7124
amperkins@muw.edu

The Center for Women’s Research & Public Policy (CWRPP) at Mississippi University for Women has announced the inaugural NEW MS Legislative Fellowship which creates the next step toward political leadership for NEW MS alumni.

“The fellowship offers these college students and early professionals the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of politics, public policy and public service at the state level. Fellows will learn how legislation gets made in Jackson firsthand from a bipartisan group of lawmakers and will receive support and mentorship through biweekly leadership workshops,” said Dr. Chanley Rainey, director of NEW Leadership ® Mississippi and assistant professor of political science at The W.

Representing the Center for Women’s Research & Public Policy (CWRPP) at Mississippi University for Women, fellows will serve as legislative aides to the bipartisan Mississippi Senate Study Group on Women, Children, and Families. The fellowship will begin Monday, Nov. 14 and will end Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023 (deadline for legislative committees to report general bills and constitutional amendments originating in their chamber). Fellows will receive a stipend of $3,000 and a travel allowance of up to $2,000.

Rainey said the fellowship is also designed to be accessible because the center prioritizes socioeconomic diversity in its cultivation of tomorrow’s political leadership. Much of the work will be remote, and fellows are supported with a generous stipend and travel allowance, making the fellowship much more widely accessible than the typical D.C. fellowship.

Fellows will summarize and synthesize public comments and submissions received during the Mississippi Senate Study Group on Women, Children, and Families’ hearings and will conduct policy research on the needs of women, children and families in Mississippi. They will work with Senator Nicole Boyd—chair of the Senate Study Group—and the lieutenant governor’s legal staff to conduct their research and assist the Study Group in its efforts to improve various state policies.

Rainey added, “While working with legislators to improve policy for the benefit of women, children and families in Mississippi, fellows will develop a clearer vision of themselves as future lawmakers, putting them more firmly on the path to office.”

Any graduate of NEW (National Education for Women’s) Leadership ® Mississippi is eligible to apply. NEW Leadership ® Mississippi (NEW MS) is an annual summer institute designed to increase women’s political representation by gathering college students from across Mississippi to meet women leaders, learn about women in American politics and develop and practice leadership skills through panel discussions, workshops and hands-on projects. The CWRPP has offered the program since 2013.

The Fellowship is funded through the Ascend Fund, an initiative of Panorama Global dedicated to accelerating the pace of change toward gender parity in U.S. politics. The collaborative fund pools philanthropic capital to support nonpartisan, nonprofit organizations that are working to ensure women have access to the resources and support they need to run for office, and that are breaking down the barriers that prevent women from running and winning. The Center for Women’s Research & Public Policy was awarded a $50,000 grant in 2021 to deepen and expand its programming aimed at educating and empowering Mississippi’s college women to become politically active and to take on leadership roles in politics and public service.

The Center for Women’s Research & Public Policy is a multidisciplinary center established in 2005 for the study of Southern women in both traditional and nontraditional roles. The CWRPP promotes research and programming centered on Southern women’s lives—both past and present—with a focus on increasing their representation in all areas of leadership, advancing their interests in public policy, and continuing The W’s legacy of expanding women’s education and professional opportunities.

Mississippi University for Women’s Department of Health and Kinesiology will host a series of events on mental and physical health for Women’s Health Awareness Week Oct. 11-13.

“Sometimes we approach our striving for fitness and health in a frantic manner. This Women’s Health Awareness Week let us consider ‘the pause,’” said Dr. Irene Pintado, chair of the Department of Health and Kinesiology at The W.

Richard Morgan, public health instructor, will begin the series with “Walking your way to better physical and mental health” Tuesday, Oct. 11 at noon. There will be a brief presentation in the Pohl building lobby followed by a walk around campus.

Baptist Memorial Hospital – Golden Triangle Rheumatologist Dr. Ocheowelle Okeke will be the guest speaker for the Women’s Health Awareness Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12 in the Pope Banquet Hall on the campus of The W. Originally from Jackson, Okeke is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Pediatrics. The luncheon is held in conjunction with the Department of Health & Kinesiology and with the support of Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle.

On Thursday, Oct. 13 at 10:30 a.m., Dr. Kim Shaw, associate professor of Kinesiology, will present “When exercise hurts: Prevention and care of common leg and foot injuries.”  This presentation will take place in the Pohl building in Room 206.  

Pintado added, “Go for outdoor walks, not just for the aerobic benefits but because it can boost mood and increase blood flow and circulation to the brain. Pause and take the time to attend a luncheon, enjoy the company of others, and learn about our bodies. Listen to a talk about prevention and care of injuries and learn about the importance of pausing and caring for ourselves. We are fortunate to have Baptist hospital in our community, providing healthcare and education and this wonderful opportunity to pause.”

For more information and to reserve tickets for the luncheon, please contact the Department of Health and Kinesiology at (662) 329-7225.

Sonya Kovalevsky High School Mathematics Day returns to the Mississippi University for Women campus on Monday, Oct. 3, in Nissan Auditorium in Parkinson Hall.

The event, which was started more than 20 years ago by Jane Wenstrom and supported in part by a grant from the Association of Women in Mathematics, honors Kovalevsky, an outstanding 19th century mathematician and the first woman to receive a doctoral degree in mathematics. It brings together high school girls and their teachers (male or female) to engage in mathematics activities. There will be a competition exam (no calculators allowed) followed by a keynote speaker, small breakout sessions, lunch, small group sessions and a closing session.

Dr. Joshua Hanes, an associate professor of mathematics at The W, has been involved in the event for more than a decade. He said he is eager to welcome students and teachers back to campus after COVID-19 forced the in-person event to be canceled the last two years.

“This is a chance for us to show the high school girls some of the fun and interesting parts of mathematics,” Hanes said. “We hope the scholarship offers will encourage students to join us here at The W.”

Hanes said the all of the mathematics faculty members at The W play pivotal roles in the organization and planning of the event. He said he handles the advertising, communication with schools and collection of registration forms, Dr. Dorothy Kerzel handles the competition exams, Dr. Bonnie Oppenheimer arranges for the scholarships to the exam winners and coordinates door prizes with Texas Instruments.

“Everyone will do a small group session in an area of their interest appropriate for high school students, including games, puzzles and hands-on activities,” Hanes said. “Our keynote speakers spark interest in mathematics by choosing topics that interest high school students. This year, former W mathematics faculty member Clifton Wingard will present The Fibonacci numbers, which are commonly denoted Fₙ. These numbers form a sequence, the Fibonacci sequence, in which each number is the sum of the two preceding ones. The sequence commonly starts from 0 and 1.

Hanes said Sonya Kovalevsky High School Mathematics Day plays an important role in educating students and parents about the possible career opportunities in mathematics. He said Oppenheimer, the department chair and professor of mathematics, has a story he believes some parents might relate to.

“My own parents had no clue what I might do with a mathematics degree,” Oppenheimer said. “They snuck out of the house, went to a local college recruiting event and found a mathematics professor to ask about whether girls could get jobs with mathematics degrees. They came home and announced I would be allowed to declare a mathematics major if I wanted to do so. I can only believe many parents also wonder what their daughters might do in mathematics.”

Hanes echoed Oppenheimer’s feelings and said Sonya Kovalevsky High School Mathematics Day is less about raising awareness of the opportunities and more about understanding a career in mathematics isn’t just about “doing math.”

“It’s about making the world around you easier to understand,” Hanes said. “By studying mathematics, students develop the mental discipline to focus on abstract concepts, manipulate them in their heads, and use these skills to solve problems quickly and efficiently.

“Having a strong foundation in mathematics also makes it easier to transition into any STEM field. Over the course of study of mathematics, students develop transportable skills that they can use not only in the pursuit of pure mathematics, but also mathematics-adjacent careers and graduate studies such as engineering, physics, computer programming, and chemistry.”

The program begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 2:30 p.m. Registered participants may check in between 8 and 8:30 a.m. in the lobby of Parkinson Hall at The W. Lunch will be provided for free for the first 100 participants to register.

Prizes will be awarded to individuals with the highest scores on the mathematics competition exam, which in the past have included W scholarships awardable to first-time, full-time freshmen.

Maggie Ellis needed a broader historical context.

Working to complete a bachelor’s degree in History, Ellis opted to take Dr. Erin Kempker’s Women in American History class because they felt it would help the research they were doing for their capstone project that was focused on 19^th-century women’s history.

That’s when Ellis was introduced to the Where Women Made History project. Started by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the initiative is designed to tell the full history of women gaining the right to vote in the United States.

Kempker’s class gave Ellis and fellow classmates an opportunity to learn and educate others about the history of Mississippi University for Women. In all, Ellis and the class submitted two entries about The W that can be seen at https://savingplaces.org/where-women-made-history#.Yw4MKX3MKUk. The entries, which focused on the “founding mothers” of Mississippi Industrial Institute and College for the Education of White Girls and the desegregation of The W, were limited to 1,000 characters, so the students had to be succinct when detailing their research.

“We went back and forth for several weeks about the best verbiage to get the most impact with the least characters possible,” said Ellis, who is from Forest and earned a degree from The W in May 2022. Currently, Ellis is working as a graduate assistant at the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection at the University of Southern Mississippi. Audrey Littlejohn, a senior Interdisciplinary Studies student, agreed: “With so little space, we really had to narrow it down—we had so much more to say, too.”

Kempker, a professor of History in the Department of History, Political Science, and Geography, said her students had a lot of great essays and scholarship to draw on thanks to the work done by Drs. Bridget and Steve Pieschel and the students who researched desegregation in 2016. They then had to practice condensing their stories by focusing on the most essential elements.

“Any writer can tell you it is so much harder to write with fewer words than with many, so students really had to write, edit and then edit a whole lot more so that the narratives they created told the historical significance of the place but within the text limits of the project,” Kempker said. “It was a task to be sure, and students debated every word in those narratives.”

Kempker said students voted on which destinations/places to submit and there was a real consensus around doing the “founding mothers” of The W and the civil rights pioneers, who desegregated The W. She said students worked in two teams to get the submission images and narratives completed. 

“As a result, our historic campus is well represented in this project that aims to tell the story of American women across the nation and prove that women make history in their local communities and their contributions, though too often unnoticed, need to be celebrated,” Kempker said. “We were proud to put W women on this map.”

Ellis said their group primarily utilized the book “Loyal Daughters: One Hundred Years at Mississippi University for Women, 1884-1984” by the Pieschels because everyone felt the research was substantiated and the book could lead them to other sources. She said she enjoyed working on the project and has plans to keep working on several research projects started as an undergraduate in 2021 and to seek publication for them.

“The process was intriguing as we had to focus on how we were utilizing our words, but Audrey and I spent an afternoon early on in the project laughing and cracking jokes as we dug through historic campus photographs in the archives to try and find one that represented our work the best,” Ellis said.