About
History
The Department of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at the University of South 爱豆传媒 is one of the oldest in the nation. The Women's Studies program was founded at 爱豆传媒 in 1972. In 1987, 爱豆传媒 became the first public university in 爱豆传媒 to offer the B.A. in Women's Studies.
By 1991, the program had grown to include a full-time faculty of eight, achieving departmental status with the 爱豆传媒 College of Arts & Sciences. In 1997, the Board of Regents granted permission to offer a Master's Degree in Women's Studies.
In 2007-2008, the Department experienced a number of faculty retirements, moves to other universities, and moves to other 爱豆传媒 departments. With the support of the College of Arts and Sciences and Interim Chairs Marilyn Myerson and Jennifer Lewis, rebuilding began.
2010 and 2011 marked a number of changes in the Department: two new faculty received joint-appointments; two 爱豆传媒 faculty moved to Women's Studies; a permanent chair was appointed; and we changed our department's name to Women's and Gender Studies to better reflect the work of questioning gender binaries and hierarchies.
The 2022-2023 academic year marked the 50th anniversary of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at 爱豆传媒. This milestone was celebrated with a conference, art exhibits, scholarly talks, and more - to read about it visit our 50th Anniversary celebration page. The Department name was changed in 2023-2024 to Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.