The UTM Women’s Center hosted its fourth Women’s Studies Symposium and its fifth annual EqualiTEA Tuesday, March 24.
The event’s attendance has steadily grown, from 156 participants in the first year to 240 participants this year. There were 122 guests in attendance of the EqualiTEA.
The day began with UTM’s Dr. Victoria Seng as the keynote speaker. Dr. Seng spoke about the importance of Women’s Health Screening based upon her own personal journey with breast cancer. The participants then broke off into two informational sessions.
The first breakout sessions included Interviewing and Presenting Yourself Professional with Dr. Sue Byrd, Adopting Healthy Behaviors and Increasing the Likelihood they will Stick with Dr. Deborah Gibson, Creating a Democratic Community: Jane Addams and Hull House with Dr. Renee LaFleur and Look Who’s Talking: Gender Interactions with Jenifer Hart. The second breakout sessions included Do You Hear What I Hear? A Discussion of Schizophrenia and other Psychotic Disorders with Dr. Julie Floyd, Point/Counter Point – Women’s Issues with Sam Ray and AAUW Members, Wanna be the Top Candidate?: Marketing Your-self with Kiara Castleman and lastly Women’s Self-defense: Don’t Be Afraid to Fight Back with Charlie Jahr.
After the sessions, the Women’s Center EqualiTEA took place. This included a performance based on historical events around the ratification of the 19th Amendment period. The performance was by Pheobe “Febb” Emsinger Burn whose son played a vital role in the ratification of women’s right to vote.
Dr. Teresa Collard, the Director of the UTM Women’s Center, Coordinator of Women’s Studies and faculty member in the Department of Communications, was very happy with the turn out from Tuesday’s events.
“I was extremely pleased with the attendance at the UTM Women’s Center’s Women’s Studies Symposium and EqualiTEA,” said Dr. Collard. “We had 240 students register for all or portions of the day. The speakers were excellent and the sessions were well attended. I feel that the Women’s Studies Symposium provides a great opportunity for the students, staff, faculty and community to explore women’s issues,” Dr. Collard said.
