Hilary Malatino, the assistant director of ETSU’s Women’s Studies Program, recently accepted a position at Pennsylvania State University, which they will begin in Fall of this year.

Not only did they accept a position as assistant professor in the Department of Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies, but they also accepted an affiliate faculty position with the Rock Ethics Institute, an organization that promotes several of Malatino’s professional goals.

“I’ll be working with the Department of WGSS and the Rock on issues specifically related to LGBTQ ethics, particularly around issues of gender identity, sexual violence, administrative violence and sexual pleasure/health,” Malatino said.

Malatino is excited to start this position and to begin university funded research on transgender and intersex issues.

Hilary Malatino (Photograph courtesy of ETSU)

“I’m very excited to mentor graduate and undergraduate students in WGSS; I’m also receiving generous research support from The Rock and the College of Liberal Arts at Penn State, which will enable me to research issues related to gender transition, trans and intersex advocacy, and the expanding pharmaceutical market in hormone therapy both nationally and internationally,” Malatino said.

These research areas form the main topics of Malatino’s debut book “Sexing the Monster: Intersexuality, Queer Embodiment and Becoming,” which will be released next year. Malatino will be giving a series of talks to promote their book once it is released. They also plan to begin a lecture series with the Rock Institute.

“At the Rock, I hope to put together a lecture series and conference on gender and administrative violence, in addition to developing courses on queer and trans ethics, embodiment, and experience,” Malatino said.

In the meantime, Malatino has already begun work on their second book and plans to maintain involvement with several organizations that promote their goals of helping the fields of trans studies and intersex studies grow.

“I’m hoping to complete a draft of my new book within the next three to four years and I’m going to continue working with the National Women’s Studies Association and the Southeastern Women’s Studies Association, and hope to become more deeply involved several other academic associations, particularly the Association for Feminist Ethics and Social Theory,” Malatino said.

While at ETSU, Malatino enjoyed seeing their students grow into more informed and impassioned individuals. To promote student involvement, Maltino took several talented undergraduates to the annual Southeastern Women’s Studies Association conference where students were able to present their own research. In addition to this, Maltino developed and taught their own course on Queer Studies as well as a course specifically for University Honors Scholars.

“Over the past four years, I’ve seen so many students become impassioned and effective advocates for social justice – for me, witnessing that process is so, so gratifying, and knowing my teaching and mentorship has contributed to that process is incredibly rewarding,” Malatino said.

Malatino has also been heavily involved in several student organizations at ETSU including Gender Equality Movement.

“I’ve been faculty advisor for GEM (Gender Equality Movement) at ETSU (formerly called the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance) for the past few years, and helped them plan and execute the first-ever (and second-ever) Sex Week at ETSU, which featured comprehensive and inclusive information about sexual health and pleasure,” Malatino said.

In looking back on their time at ETSU, Malatino noted their appreciation of their various colleagues, their hardworking students and their great fondness for the campus climbing wall.

“I was blessed to have excellent colleagues, particularly the best mentor and ‘boss’ I could ever possibly imagine in the amazing example of a feminist scholar and activist that is Dr. Phyllis Thompson, and most of all, working with so many dedicated, hard-working first-generation students (like myself!) who are committed to making our region – and Southern Appalachia more broadly – a more inclusive, just, and welcoming place to be for racial, sexual and gender minorities,” Malatino said.

“I’ll miss our beautiful campus in the mountains enormously, and will be back to visit often!”

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