Mission Statement: MTSU's National Women's History Month programming recognizes, promotes, and celebrates women's contributions and causes by providing education and entertainment from a feminist perspective that emphasizes cultural transformation to achieve social justice and women's empowerment.

The National Women's History Month Committee coordinates programming each academic year, including an opening ceremony, keynote speaker, and featured presentations

Events are held throughout the year and announced through the NWHM calendar and flyers posted on campus, though the majority are held in March and announced via our annual NWHM Calendar. To receive a copy of the calendar, contact the June Anderson Center office at jacwns@mtsu.edu or 615-898-5812.

2024 Theme 
"During 2024, we recognize the example of women who are committed to embracing everyone and excluding no one in our common quest for freedom and opportunity. We invite you all to 'B.E. True Blue'

(B stands for Belonging and E stands for Engagement)

Click Here for a PDF of our 2024 Calendar of events. Please note that this is a folded calendar, and the first page is upside down for that purpose.

Below is a list of individual events, as well as contact or registration information:

"Fireside Chat with Brandice Daniel"
Tuesday, February 27th  6:00 p.m.  Keathley University Center Theater (KUC)
Brandice Daniel is the founder of Harlem’s Fashion Row, where she has been instrumental in promoting inclusivity and representation in fashion and bridging the gap between brands and designers of color, who were historically overlooked by the industry.
For more info, contact nallen@mtsu.edu 

"Women of True Grit"
Tuesday, March 12th  1:00pm  Tucker Theater
This conference features groundbreaking women of strength and determination who were “firsts” in their respective fields.
For more info, contact beverly.keel@mtsu.edu

"National Women's History Month Opening Ceremony & Trailblazer Awards"
Tuesday, March 12th  2:00pm  Tucker Theater (combined with Women of True Grit)
Celebrate this year's NWHM with opening remarks for the month's festivities and annual Trailblazer Awards ceremony.
For more info, contact maigan.wipfli@mtsu.edu

"EmpowerHER Bingo Night"
March 13th  4:00-6:00pm  JUB Ballroom
Join the Pinnacle Nontraditional Student Honor Society for a night of family-friendly Bingo. Dress as your favorite female role model and enter to win door prizes.
For more info, contact cek2b@mtmail.mtsu.edu

"Lunch and Learn: 'B.E. True Blue'"
Tuesday, March 14th  NOON  STU 210
Join us for this month's Lunch and Learn with special guest Dr. Monica Smith as we learn more about how to "B.E. True Blue" through the words belong and engage.
Lunch provided by Aramark and JAC.
For more info, contact maigan.wipfli@mtsu.edu

"Restorative Justice: Thinking about Belonging and Engaging
with our Criminal Justice System"
Friday, March 15th  9:00-10:00am  Honors 107
Our three speakers examine criminal justice from a variety of perspectives that challenge us to think about the system we have now and whether it serves our purposes as a society. If not, how might we reimagine and reform it? These are the questions and perspectives that this panel discussion will tackle.
For more info, contact amy.sayward@mtsu.edu

"Closing the Gender Negotiations Gap: The Power of Entitlements"
Friday, March 15th  12:30pm  BAS N127
Women are less likely to negotiate than men, a finding linked to gaps in economic outcomes, such as the gender wage gap. Learn more about this research and the potential of transparent and meritbased recruitment practices to eliminate gender disparities within labor market outcomes.
For more info, contact daniel.smith@mtsu.edu

"Writing HerStory"
Saturday, March 16th  11:00am-3:00pm  STU 2nd Floor Conference Room
“Writing HerStory” is a creative and therapeutic event designed to help individuals explore and express their thoughts, feelings, and experiences through the power of storytelling. This event provides a safe and supportive space for participants to use writing as a tool for self-reflection, healing, and personal growth.
For more info or to register for this event, contact christina.cobb@mtsu.edu 

"Craft Nite: Board and Brush"
Pick up kits: March 18th, 19th, 20th 9:00-11:00am OR 1:00-3:00pm  STU 330
Pick up a kit and craft with us! We will be painting kits from Murfreesboro Board and Brush. Optional Zoom to craft together Wednesday, March 20, at 8:00 p.m.
Zoom link will be provided at kit pick up.
For more info, contact maigan.wipfli@mtsu.edu

"In Conversation with Writer Danielle Chapman"
Tuesday, March 19th  4:30pm  Ingram MT Center
The MTSU Center for Historic Preservation welcomes Danielle Chapman to campus to talk with students, faculty, and the public about her books, creative writing, and growing up in rural Tennessee. Chapman is a poet and writer who spent her summers as a child in Bedford County, living in her family’s historic home, which she now owns. A lecturer in English at Yale University, Chapman recently published Holler: A Poet Among Patriots, a memoir. Boxed Juice, her second book of poems, will be released in 2024. At MTSU, Chapman will read from Holler and discuss the art of nonfiction writing with Dr. Fred Arroyo, MTSU Associate Professor of English. The audience will then have the opportunity to ask questions. Cookies and beverages will be served, and books will be available for purchase.
For more info, contact antoinette.vanzelm@mtsu.edu 

"Human Trafficking - The Classroom Experience"
Wednesday, March 20th  12:40-2:05pm  ACB 110/112 and Zoom
Guest speaker Dr. Celia Williamson will discuss differences between trauma-responsive and trauma-informed work and provide ways that professional helpers and community can both identify victims and support them to reclaim their power and move from survivors to thrivers.
Zoom https://mtsu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcuc-6uqTguH9ThQP8PfIXrtsBh14mF2YnV
For more info, contact violet.coxwingo@mtsu.edu

"Human Trafficking - Putting a Name to My Face"
Wednesday, March 20th  6:00-8:00pm  Doors 5:30pm  ACB 104
Guest speaker Dr. Celia Williamson will discuss differences between trauma-responsive and trauma-informed work and provide ways that professional helpers and community can both identify victims and support them to reclaim their power and move from survivors to thrivers. Co-sponsored by the Distinguished Lecturer Fund, College of Behavioral and Health Sciences, and the National Women’s Health Committee
For more info, contact violet.coxwingo@mtsu.edu

"Movie Night"
Thursday, March 21st & Friday, March 22nd  5:00pm & 8:00pm  STU Theater
Join SPARE for a movie night that celebrates women, engagement, and belongingness.
Title TBA at mtsu.edu/campuslife.
For more info, contact films@mtsu.edu 

"TXMD Women's Panel"
Thursday, March 21st  6:00pm  LRC 221
Join us for a panel of women local to MTSU and the community who work in the fashion industry.
For more info, contact nallen@mtsu.edu

"MTSU Women and Friends Idea Sharing Session"
Friday, March 22nd  3:00pm  MEC 2nd Floor Meeting Room
We invite all women and allies to a meeting to share ideas about how to improve the lives of women on campus. Sponsored by the Women’s History Collective and the June Anderson Center for Women and Nontraditional Students.
For more info, contact martha.norkunas@mtsu.edu

"NWHM Keynote Speaker: Rebekah Taussig"
Thursday, March 28th  6:00pm  STU Ballroom
Cosponsored by The Distinguished Lecture Fund and the Disability and Access Center
Rebekah Taussig will challenge everything you think you know about disability as she invites us into her experience of living in a body that looks and moves differently than most. She is a fighter on a mission to show that disabled people have incredible value; as she argues, a more inclusive world is a sturdier, kinder, more imaginative world for all of us. Closed captioning and ASL interpretation provided.
For more info, contact maigan.wipfli@mtsu.edu 

"Advocate for Women in Stem: Dr. Freneka Minter"
Monday, April 1st  6:00pm  SCI 1006
Gender diversity in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields brings diverse perspectives to the STEM-based workforce. As girls typically lose interest in science and math throughout their education, increasing the availability of science, technology, and math classes promotes girls in the STEM field. As an African American woman, I attribute my career path to a STEM foundation through such efforts I experienced when I was young, which is why I advocate for Women in STEM.
For more info, contact judith.iriarte-gross@mtsu.edu 

"My Beautiful Black Hair: 101 Natural Hair Stories from the Sisterhood"
Saturday, April 6th  10:45am  STU Ballroom
My Beautiful Black Hair is a book about Black women’s embracing their natural hair. One hundred and one Black women share their stories of learning to love their natural hair and the immense power in that self-love. St. Clair Detrick-Jules was inspired to write
the book when her little sister, Khloe, came home from preschool where a classmate had told her that her hair was ugly. St. Clair wanted to send a message to Khloe and young Black women everywhere that their hair is beautiful just the way it is. Cosponsored by the Distinguished Lecture Fund and the Intercultural and Diversity Affairs Center, presented in conjunction with the LGBT Plus College Conference.
For more info, contact william.langston@mtsu.edu 

 

Click here for our 2023 Opening Ceremony Kickoff Video 

 

Submit an event to be considered for the calendar (closed for 2024)

In addition to programming the Committee organizes, we welcome proposals for co-sponsored NWHM events or requests to add events to our Calendar.

Submit a Funding Co-Sponsorship Proposal (closed for 2024)

In addition to programming the Committee organizes, we welcome proposals for co-sponsored NWHM events or requests to add events to our Calendar. To submit a proposal, please complete a NWHM Proposal Form. Proposals are evaluated in the order received, based upon their adherence to the NWHM mission statement, their contribution to the diversity of programming, and the availability of funds. The Co-Sponsorship Subcommittee meets to review proposals. 

Previous NWHM Button Honorees and Keynote Speakers

Year	Button Honoree	Keynote Speaker
2008	Angela Davis	Rebecca Walker
2009	Shirley Chisholm	bell hooks
2010	Gloria Steinem	Gloria Steinem
2011	Frida Kahlo
2012	Annie Sullivan	Marlee Matlin
2013	Sally Ride	Sheril Kirshenbaum
2014	Sojourner Truth	Soledad O'Brien
2015	Maya Angelou	Lisa Ling
2016	Benazir Bhutto	Judy A. Smith
2017	Madam C.J. Walker	Laila Ali
2018	Pat Summitt	Shalon D. Pillow & Tiffany Woosley
2019	Aretha Franklin	Julie Cohen
2020 & 2021	Mary Eliza Church Terrell Ida B. Wells Barnett Alice Paul	Dr. Mary Frances Berry
2022	bell hooks	Dr. Jacqueline Walters
2023	Toni Morrison	Nancy Giles
2024	Ruth Bader Ginsburg	Rebekah Taussig

 

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Committee Chair and NWHM Coordinator

Dr. Maigan Wipfli
June Anderson Center for Women & Nontraditional Students
Maigan.Wipfli@mtsu.edu 
Phone: 615-898-2193

Associate Chair

Dr. Vicky MacLean
Director of Women's Studies
Vicky.Maclean@mtsu.edu
Phone: 615-898-5961