The ETSU Women’s Studies program celebrated 25 years over Zoom on April 27.

“We originally planned our 25-year celebration as an open house in the Campus Center building with birthday cake,” said Phyllis Thompson, director of the Women’s Studies program.

Women’s Studies 25-anniversary celebration reviews previous Notable Women of ETSU Award Recipients. (Photograph by Abby Lewis/East Tennessean)

The virtual event, however, allowed a larger attendance, including virtual attendance from Katherine Weiss, former chair of the ETSU Department of Literature and Language, who is now associate dean at California State University.

The celebration featured highlights of the history, a video from former director Amber Kinser, stories shared from notable women involved in the program and an open mic, which allowed attendees to share their stories.

“The effort to develop a Women’s Studies curriculum began in the early 1990s following a gender and equities study at ETSU that identified sexed biases in the university’s curriculum, hiring practices and salary scales,” said Thompson.

The first steering committee was formed in 1991. The Women’s Studies minor was developed in 199, and Rebecca Tolley was the first to graduate with the minor the following spring in 1994.

“The culture of Women’s Studies is very positive and nurturing, and it’s just a safe place to be on campus,” said Tolley, who is now a professor at Sherrod Library and a member of the Women’s Studies steering committee

“I have not been a part of the Women’s Studies actual program or steering committee, but you have been in my heart for many, many, many years with all of the students that I have went through this program with. . . . I am proud to be a woman at ETSU at this time,” said Laura Terry, director of programming and outreach at the Multicultural Center.

ETSU assistant volleyball coach Marquis Clark also spoke about how the Women’s Studies program has changed his life.

“I didn’t really have a home anywhere, professionally or academically, until Phyllis and Heidi,” said Clark. “Thank you so much for being so welcoming and so accommodating.”

The Women’s Studies program will transition to a new title in the fall, called the Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies program.