The Women and Gender Studies program at George Mason University hosted the fourth annual Gender Research Conference Monday, May 9.
The conference is a showcase of undergraduate and graduate research and dialogue on gender studies. In all, 12 students were selected from a highly competitive field of applicants to present alongside the three students from the Gender Research Project course. In past conferences, only students from the course presented their research.
Christine Hernandez, program coordinator for Women and Gender Studies, wanted to expand the conference to reach student researchers from other disciplines and programs.
“This is such a great way to showcase our students as scholars and highlight the research taking place throughout the campus,” said Hernandez, who drafted and distributed a call for papers, reviewed submissions and oversaw the promotion of the conference. “I also think it is an excellent opportunity for students to get presentation experience and to build a sense of community.”
Suzanne Scott, director of Women and Gender Studies, said the decision to expand beyond the methods course made this an excellent conference.
“I'm particularly pleased about this conference,” Scott said. “It is an example of the Women and Gender Studies staff increasing the scholarly and activist slant of our regular co-curricular events and extending and enhancing the work of our classrooms.”
Next year, the plan is to expand the call beyond the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and Mason.
“We already have plans to put out the call for abstracts in the fall so that students can plan in advance for next year's conference, which will include a call to regional universities as well,” Scott said.
For a complete rundown of Monday’s conference, please check out the event page.
May 05, 2011
