Image: Dear All, These are unsettling times. In the midst of the disquiet, one of the places to which I turn my thoughts is the treasured community we have created in the Institute for Women’s and Gender Studies over the years. I have learned so much from our talented, thoughtful students and colleagues over the years and am so lucky to be part of what we have built together. Our teaching and research remain as relevant as ever. You may have noticed our new name in the first paragraph. We are officially now the Institute for Women’s & Gender Studies, a name that more fully captures the breadth of what we do and the people in our community. The first event on our schedule for this year is the annual Fall Faculty Reception on September 3 at 11:30 am in the Special Collections Library event room. I am delighted to announce that this year’s honorees are all Women’s & Gender Studies core and affiliate faculty members. We need each other now more than ever, and we want to recognize the work we do to make UGA a welcoming and inclusive space, the essential scholarship we produce, and the deep connections we build with students and in cross-campus interdisciplinary labs and working groups. We continue to do the work! And we celebrate our courage and creativity as we do it. As usual, we extend a special welcome to new faculty at the reception. This year that group includes Dr. Amna Qayyum, who is joining UGA as an Assistant Professor of History and Women’s & Gender Studies. Dr. Qayyum comes to us from the Global Health Institute at Georgetown University. Her expertise on gender, health, religion, and global governance will be integral to building WGS’s strengths in the area of gender and health. You can learn more about Dr. Qayyum on page 6 of this newsletter. We are eagerly anticipating the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of WGS in spring 2027. We are planning a number of opportunities for alumni, student, faculty, and community member participation that year. Please contact Program Director Elise Robinson at elise.robinson@uga.edu if you would like to participate in any way. I have enjoyed touching base with some of the early founders of the women’s studies program over the past year or so. Their memories remind me that we stand on the shoulders of giants. We wouldn’t exist without their (and your) persistence and wherewithal. As part of the celebration, we have kicked off a major fundraising campaign that will allow us to continue doing meaningful work that resonates throughout the university and community. The name of each donor to the fund will be embroidered on a leaf of a willow tree on a quilt being made especially for the occasion. The quilt will feature a quotation from abolitionist and suffragist Lucy Stone: “Henceforth the leaves of the tree of knowledge were for women, and for the healing of the nations.” For more about the campaign and a sneak peek of the quilt, see the last page of this newsletter. Investments in WGS have ripple effects across the college and university, as our 100+ affiliates and our students—most of whom are also pursuing degrees in other disciplines—have access to our programming and are eligible for small grant support from our Women and Girls in Georgia fund, funds donated by emeritus professor Dr. Patricia Bell-Scott, and a multi-year grant from the Mellon Foundation. Through these sources, we have given about $65,000 in small grants to over 55 students and faculty members from more than 15 departments over the past two years. These grants have resulted in a wealth of creative and scholarly productivity, including publication in academic journals, national and international conference presentations, dramatic performances and art installations. Your support will enable us to continue this vital work even after our Mellon Grant ends in 2026. Community is what makes it possible to carry on, especially in challenging times. I send my deepest gratitude to our community—faculty, students, emerita, alumni, parents, donors, and others—for existing and for making our work here in the Institute possible and worthwhile. Please reach out and let us know what you are up to. We always love hearing from you. Patricia Richards Director, Institute for Women’s and Gender Studies PS – Alumni: If you haven’t already, please check out the Alumni page on our website and send us your updates! Click here
