Dear Gender Institute Community,
On the eve of the centennial of the ratification of the 19^th Amendment (August 26^th), and less than three months until the US presidential election, it is important to recognize the progress that women—in all of our diversity and complexity— have made in many aspects of life, while at the same time acknowledging the deeply embedded obstacles that still face us.  This summer, in the midst of a pandemic, there has been a historic reckoning with the racial and economic injustices that continue to plague our nation. The spirit of public protest and the suffragist call to “make noise” continue to shape the ongoing struggle for equal rights and to inform the work of the Gender Institute.

This semester, the UB Gender Institute will continue the conversation begun at our symposium last March on “Legacies of Suffrage: Women’s Activism Then and Now,” with virtual programming for all of our events. 

We are also kicking off a year-long virtual Black Lives Matter Book Club, featuring recent work by black feminists. This is a graduate student led series, initiated by our Graduate Assistant Hilary Vandenbark and our Dissertation Fellow Dana Venerable, together with Visiting Assistant Professor Mope Ogunbowale. If you are interested in joining this reading and discussion series—and all are welcome---please contact Hilary directly at hilaryva@buffalo.edu

We are looking forward to sustaining our UB Gender Institute Community virtually this semester and hope to “see” you at one of our events.

In solidarity,
Carrie

Dear Gender Institute Community,

I write to you today to share my sadness, anger, and grief over the events of the past few days. The brutal killings of George Floyd in Minnesota, Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia, Breonna Taylor in Kentucky, and Tony McDade in Florida, together with the blatant act of racism against Christian Cooper in New York City, all point to the fact that we have a long way to go before we become a truly inclusive and progressive nation.

These recent killings also point to the intersectionality of hate, where racism against African Americans is coupled with misogynoir (Breonna Taylor) and transphobia (Tony McDade).

This injustice is further highlighted by the fact that COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted communities of color in the US, especially in our own state of New York. This global pandemic has exposed the persistent racial, social, and economic inequities that continue to exist in our city, our state, and our nation.

Angela Davis once said “I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.” With those words in mind, let us all take this opportunity to recommit ourselves to the struggle for justice in all its forms.

Despite recent events, I am hopeful about our future as I see the younger generation—the generation of our students and soon-to-be students-- peacefully protesting against injustice in truly diverse and inclusive groups. I share their outrage and their hope for a more democratic future.

In the spirit of hope, I share with you a painting that my fifteen-year old daughter completed last night.
In solidarity,
Carrie

Professor and Associate Dean for Faculty Development
School of Social Work.

Thursday, November 12, 2020
12:00 - 1:30 pm 
Zoom Platform

To register to receive a link, please go to: 
https://bit.ly/GI-FRA

"Agency Through Thick and Thin: How Girls Exercise Sexual Agency Amid Social Injustice"
I will offer a critical analysis of how common conceptions and depictions of “sexual agency” simultaneously overestimate the power of agency and underestimate the ways in which it is exercised and by whom. Drawing on one of my current studies (supported by the Gender Institute), I will spotlight how Martha Nussbaum’s Capabilities Approach offers a different orientation to girls’ sexualities and to systems’ obligations.

Dr. Laina Y. Bay-Cheng is Professor and Associate Dean for Faculty Development at the University at Buffalo School of Social Work. Since the beginning of her career, Bay-Cheng has concentrated her research on the imprint of social forces and material conditions on young women’s sexual lives. She combines empirical and conceptual analyses to shift attention away from individual-focused models of sexual risk and toward the systemic roots of girls’ and women’s sexual vulnerability: interlocked gender, class, race, and age-based inequalities and the ideologies that perpetuate them.

Wednesday, November 11, 2020    4:30 pm  - Zoom Platform

 - Set up a Wikipedia account

 - Edit existing pages

 - Use reliable sources and digital archives

No experience necessary!     

Cosponsored by the Women in STEM Cooperative

To register, please go to: https://bit.ly/STEMWikipedia

OCTOBER 22, 2020   12:00-1:30 pm  EST
Webinar Platform: Zoom

"BURNOUT AND WELLNESS (WORK-LIFE BALANCE) IN COVID"

This year’s theme is Supporting Women in STEM in 2020.  The result of the onset of the COVID-19 virus has affected us in many different ways.  We will explore these topics and ways to support, encourage and build community to move forward. Those who register will receive a recording. 

For more information: 
http://womeninstem.buffalo.edu/events/online-series/index.php

Thursday, October 22, 2020
7:00 PM 
Zoom Platform

In this lecture, Lisa Downing will discuss the key themes of her book, Selfish Women. The book offers a provocative rejoinder to many dominant ideas in mainstream culture, as well as in much feminist thinking, about the ethical character of women and the female proclivity to care, to be for the other.  For an excerpt, please click here.

Selfish Women asks why difficult, unpalatable — selfish — women are treated with such ambivalent fascination and demonization. Focusing on controversial and influential figures who have espoused philosophies and politics of selfishness, including Ayn Rand and Margaret Thatcher, it asks whether their ideas of self-interest might, counterintuitively and used against the grain, lend something valuable to feminist politics — and, more broadly, whether progressive politics might be missing a trick in rejecting the notion of "self-interest."

I have known Barbara since her tenure party. This world-shaking event celebrated the awarding of tenure to THREE women at the same time, one of whom was Mary Bisson my colleague and the reason for my presence at the party. Barbara and I stayed in touch.  In addition to Shakespeare (after Jim and family) she was passionately devoted to teaching, especially undergraduates, sometimes to the detriment of her career....She was devoted to them and they were devoted to her.
We wish her a happy, healthy retirement. UB needs faculty who truly care about students and she will be missed."
    -- Gail Willsky, Biochemistry, Professor Emeritus

For the full faculty tribute and a brief biography of Professor Bono, please click here.

"I will always remember Arabella Lyon as the colleague who, when other faculty may have had questions about how best to help a struggling graduate student, got the latter to write, finish, and defend a thoroughly researched and well-written dissertation in what felt like no time. I never quite knew how she did it, but I suspect that her no-nonsense, encouraging yet firm, step-by-step and erudite approach to scholarship and the profession have a lot to do with her remarkable mentoring skills. 
She has also always been as generous with her younger colleagues as she is with students, and I for one am someone who has benefited the most from her savoir faire, other-directedness, and commonsense. 
Arabella is a public humanist who values disagreement, democratic deliberation, and brainstorming as basic conditions of a healthy community, and community is always what she strives to facilitate and model."
--Carine Mardorossian, Professor of English

For the full faculty tribute and a brief biography of Professor Lyon, please click here.

Susan has always been passionate about supporting the careers of other women in science. She has organized the Women Faculty lunches that have been very useful for establishing connections among UB women faculty who, because of our unfortunate geographical distribution, would otherwise not be likely to encounter each other. 

Susan’s efforts on behalf of women have been very much appreciated, and I hope her involvement will continue after her retirement. Finally, Susan and I became friends, getting together many times over the years for meals, concerts, plays etc. (remember those?). Since she is planning to stay in Buffalo these of course will continue-once we are allowed to return to the world.

--Joan S. Baizer, Associate Professor of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine

For the full faculty tribute and a brief biography of Professor Udin, please click here.

May 13, 2020
"Graduate students in STEM"
1:00 - 2:00 pm  EST (note updated time)
Webinar Platform: Zoom

This year’s theme is Adult Learning Pathways.  The demographics of our students are changing, the avenues that they travel are many and varied.  We will explore these pathways and the various ways these students needs can be met to help them succeed and achieve their goals. Those who register will receive a recording. 

For more information: 
http://womeninstem.buffalo.edu/events/online-series/index.php.

Wednesday, April 22
2:00 - 3:00 pm   Zoom webinar

Kari Winter, Professor
Global Gender Sexuality Studies

Hilary Vandenbark, PhD Candidate (GGSS)
Gender Institute Graduate Assistant

Please join Professor Kari Winter and GGSS  Doctoral candidate/Gender Institute GA, Hilary Vandenbark for an informal Zoom discussion of Vandenbark's doctoral work on sexual violence, as well as sex education reform and domestic violence.

Vandenbark's dissertation analyzes how different components of government respond to sexual violence (the legislature, bureaucracy, and the criminal justice system) and the role of activists, advocacy organizations, and social movements in shaping government policy at the state and federal level.  

Open to all UB students, faculty and staff.

 
   March 4, 2020

   8:30 am Registration 
   Program begins at 9 am.

   9:00 am - 2:00 pm

   To register, please go to:
    http://bit.ly/wisc-summit-2020

Discover what’s current in mentorship, science and policy with local thought leaders who are building solutions and influencing change. Meet organizations that support diversity and inclusion initiatives at our Information Fair. Don’t miss this opportunity to be inspired, grow and connect with us!

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Tonya Matthews, Director of STEM Learning Innovation, Associate Provost for Inclusive Workforce Development, Wayne State University 

Dr. Matthews is part of the WSU leadership team setting a vision to address the challenge of an inclusive STEM student success pipeline and pathway from “preK-to-Gray.” Matthews is responsible for implementing the vision of the STEM Innovation Learning Center as an interdisciplinary learning center for WSU undergraduate and graduate students, as well as a hub for WSU K-12 outreach.

According to Matthews, “STEM is about science, technology, engineering, math – and any other letters we need to activate the curiosity and genius of all of our students and our entire workforce to drive innovation, spark invention, and create a world in which we all thrive.” 

Prior to joining the WSU community, Matthews served as President and CEO of the Michigan Science Center (MiSci), leading its journey to reclaim Detroit’s science center legacy and become a STEM Hub for the state of Michigan. While at MiSci, Matthews founded The STEMinista Project, an international initiative that encourages and supports middle school girls’ interest in STEM and STEM careers.  

Known as a thought-leader STEM equity, education, and employability, Matthews has been recognized as one of the Most Influential Women in Michigan by Crain’s Business (2016) and honored as a Trailblazer by Career Mastered Magazine (2017).    

Dr. Matthews received her Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from Johns Hopkins University and her B.S.E. in biomedical and electrical engineering from Duke University. Matthews is a board member of the National Academy of Sciences Board on Science Education. She is currently serving her second term on the National Assessment Governing Board as its Vice-Chair.

Feb 13, 2020
1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
509 O’Brien Hall
UB North Campus

Nwando Achebe details her personal journey into becoming an Africanist and gender historian. Along the way, she considers questions relating to the ownership and production of Africanist knowledge; while highlighting several influential interpretive voices that have shaped received canon in ways that are at best, problematic; and at worst, Eurocentric. These voices have worked to interrupt and/or disrupt true understanding and knowing about African women and gender. She ends by offering up her own African- and gender-centered intervention into existing discourse and production of history. Reception will follow lecture.
Cosponsored by the UB Department of History, Gender Institute, School of Law and the Office of the Vice Provost for Inclusive Excellence.