Herstory: Women scholars propel Centenary forward
Over the past year, Centenary College faculty have demonstrated their expertise and innovation through their teaching and scholarship in ways never seen at the College before. Of note are the leadership, scholarship, and outreach exhibited by Centenary’s women faculty. From across disciplines and across ranks, these women faculty produced exceptional programming and opportunities for Centenary students and community members in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Natural Science faculty members Dr. Rebecca Murphy, Associate Professor of Biology, and Dr. Kathrine Weeks, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, were instrumental in educating students and the campus about the COVID-19 virus through social media and webinars. Dr. Murphy served a vital role on a COVID-19 panel which educated the Shreveport-Bossier community about the facts and misperceptions around the COVID-19 vaccines. New to Centenary this year, Assistant Professor of History Dr. Jama Grove immersed herself in the College’s history and worked with archivist Mr. Chris Brown to research and present a timely and unique Founders’ Day convocation around race, specifically the Black and African American experience on campus.
A number of Centenary women faculty including Dr. Andia Augustin-Billy, Associate Professor of French and Francophone Studies; Dr. Jama Grove; Dr. Mandi Donahoe, Assistant Professor of Political Science; Dr. Jeanne Hamming, Professor of English; and Dr. Michelle Wolkomir, Professor of Sociology, came together to plan Women’s History Month activities, creating a rich trove of material showcasing women scholars at Centenary and beyond.
The Future of Feminism (March 4, 2021) - Drs. Andia Augustin-Billy, Mandi Donahoe, Jeanne Hamming, and Michelle Wolkomir will discuss the evolutions, transformations, and possibilities of feminism(s).
Romantic Love: Challenges, Consequences, and Revisions (March 9, 2021) – Presented by Dr. Michelle Wolkomir as part of the American Colleges of the South (ACS) Convocation Series.
Conversations about and within the African Diaspora (March 16, 2021) - Presented by Dr. Caree Banton, Associate Professor of Afro-Caribbean History and Director of the African and African American Studies Program at the University of Arkansas, and Dr. Andia Augustin-Billy, Assistant Professor of French and Francophone Studies.
Conducting Research in Masculine Spaces (March 23, 2021) - Presented by Dr. Ashley Lemke, Assistant Professor at the University of Texas in Arlington and Chair of the Advisory Council on Underwater Archaeology.
Pursuing Feminist Peace: The Work of Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (March 30, 2021) - Presented by Dr. Catia Confortini, Associate Professor and Co-Director of Peace and Justice Studies at Wellesley College.
In April, the kickoff to Centenary’s annual Student Research Conference was an exclusive online screening of the acclaimed documentary Picture A Scientist, chronicling the groundswell of researchers who are writing a new chapter for women scientists, followed by a virtual panel discussion featuring three women academics working in STEM.
Centenary students and community members responded enthusiastically to and benefitted from the leadership and mentorship of these women faculty. As one example, student Marissa Lally, who completed research with Dr. Michelle Wolkomir, won the Outstanding Undergraduate Paper Award at the 2021 Southwestern Sociological Association Conference held in New Orleans this spring. Based on their research for Founders’ Day, Dr. Jama Grove and Mr. Chris Brown created a May Term class titled “Archival Explorations: Black Freedom Struggles” for current Centenary undergraduate students.
Centenary is proud of our women faculty who demonstrate vision and expertise, who inspire our students and community, and who are helping to lead the College forward, forward!
- Dr. Karen Soul, Provost of the College