March marks Women’s History Month, which highlights women’s contributions to American society, both past and present victories.
Two women, of course, wanted to do more than to celebrate as they began HERstory to shed more light on Women’s History Month at the University of New Mexico Gallup in March 2017.
The two women are HERstory organizers are assistant professors at UNM-Gallup. Dr. Tracy Lassiter, an English professor, and Shirley Heying, an anthropology professor, came up with the idea for the month-long series of events event to highlight women’s contributions and sacrifices to American society.
Heying conveyed the purpose behind the ongoing events at the college.
“It’s about unity, bringing people together, spirit of collaboration of support, encouragement, empowerment,” she said. “And really celebrating the achievements and contributions that women have made to society in the past, the present and the future.”
Lassiter said that idea became the operative theme along the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, also known as STEM careers.
“We are honoring the past, but we are helping to show how women can lead the way into the future,” Lassiter said. “And how we can grow women’s opportunities in some of these other fields that they have been unrepresentative for a long time.”
Lassiter, originally from Cleveland, has been teaching for around 20 years, and began working at UNM-Gallup in August 2016. Heying, originally from Minnesota, has been teaching for around nine years, starting at UNM-Gallup in August 2015.
After Lassiter and Heying started HERstory at UNM-Gallup, they joined together with the American Association of University Women in New Mexico.
The AAUW is a non-profit organization that expands across equality for women and girls through advocacy, education and research.
Lassiter mentioned that some of their aid comes from UNM-Gallup itself to host and plan events for the students, the community and other organizations. She also mentioned that some of their other aid comes from “in-house,” meaning from their own pocket.
HER STORY COMMEMORATION
Lassiter and Heying hope that at next year’s HERstory commemoration there will be even greater numbers of students, community members, speakers and other organizations present to come together to learn.
“We really look forward to celebration, community, bringing people together and having those conversations and hearing those voices,” Heying said.
EVENTS
Students and the community can engage with the HERstory commemoration through a series of films about women in STEM fields, which will be playing throughout the month of March in the Ingham Chapman art gallery at the UNM-Gallup campus.
All events will take place at UNM-Gallup campus.
For more information, visit: https://www.facebook.com/unmgallup/
Women’s History Month Events
Films include:
March 19: Outlawed in Pakistan
March 20: Pocahontas Revealed
March 21: DNA Secret of Photo 51
March 22: American Revolutionary – The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs
March 23: Kind Hearted Women Kind Hearted Women
March 26: Silent Spring
March 27-30: A Series of Ted Talks on Rotation
Screenings are scheduled Monday through Friday from 10 am to 5 pm.
Live presentations:
March 21: Women’s Resource Fair – Over 25 local non-profit communities, health, service and educational organizations will present information in their programs and services.
March 22: Self-defense demonstration class.
March 27: Allies Panelist Presenters – Men who wish to speak out and show how they are allies,
helping to change the conversation about how women are treated and viewed in society.
March 29: In hopes of hosting a vigil for the Missing Indigenous Men and Women.
By Boderra Joe
Sun Correspondent
