Our Program History

Chronology of Key Events

Program Highlights

1981 - Women’s Studies began operation through College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

1981 – 83 Barbara Bate, Half-time Women’s Studies Coordinator

1980 Fall - Women’s Studies minor implemented

1982 May - First Women’s Studies Minor Completed

Patricia Fertig graduated w/major in In. and T Graphic Arts

1986 - First Self-Designed Women’s Studies Major Completed

Ronda K. Rueff, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, 1986

1989 - Graduate Certificate in Women's Studies Approved

1989 - Board of Regents approved Graduate Studies Minor

1992 - First Graduate Certificate in Women’s Studies Completed

Madelyn Anderson, Lori Halverson-Wente, and Kathryn Ranieri

1994 - Pilot Course on LGBT Studies

A pilot course (a survey of LGBT studies across a variety of disciplines) was successfully offered three times between 1994-1997, twice through the Honors Program and once through the Women’s Studies Program.

1996 - First Conference for Young Women

2003 - LGBT Studies began operation through the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

2004 - First LGBT Studies Certificate Courses Offered

2004 - Mother's Memorial Scholarship

The Women's Studies Program endowed its first scholarship, the Mother's Memorial Scholarship Fund. Scholarships were first made available in Spring 2005.

2005 - First Undergraduate Certificate in LGBT Studies Completed

Jay Wartenberg and Jennifer M. Hubbard

2006 - First Graduate Certificate in LGBT Studies Completed

Jeff D. Gillette and Cortney Kintz

2009 - Austin Sawicki Memorial Scholarship

The first Austin Sawicki Memorial Scholarship was awarded, in honor of the death of graduate student and former teaching assistant, Austin Sawicki.

2012 - Graduate Certificate in Law and Women's Studies Approved

2013 - Women's Studies & LGBT Studies Programs Merged

LGBT Studies officially merged with Women's Studies (they remained distinct programs with separate offerings, but were housed in the same office under the same administration and support staff)

2014 - Minor in LGBT Studies Implemented

2014 - Undergraduate Certificate in Women’s and Gender Studies Approved

2015 - Center for the Study of Women, Gender and Sexuality

The Illinois Board of Higher Education approved the formation of the Center for the Study of Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies, which includes the LGBT Studies Program and the Women’s & Gender Studies Program.

2019 – B.A./B.S. in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Implemented

2022 – Dr. Lois Self fund for the Study of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Established

Changes in Administration

1979-81, Faculty Coordinating Committee for Women’s Studies

1981-83, Barbara Bate, Half-time Women’s Studies Coordinator, Served the program on release time from department faculty position

1983-86, Marilyn Skinner, Half-time Women’s Studies Coordinator

1995-2012, Amy Levin, Full-time Women’s Studies Director (1995: Position changed to full-time faculty administration)

2003-2004, Diana Swanson and Bradley Peters, LGBT Studies Co-Coordinators

2005-2006, Diana Swanson, LGBT Studies Coordinator

2007-2008, Diana Swanson and Sally Conklin, LGBT Studies Co-Coordinators

2009-2010, Diana Swanson, LGBT Studies Coordinator (one course release granted by Provost)

2010, Kristen Myers and Francesca Giordano, LGBT Studies Co-Coordinator

2011-2012, Kristen Myers, LGBT Studies Coordinator

2012-2014, Robert Brookey, LGBT Studies Coordinator

2012-2014, Kristen Myers, Full-time Women’s Studies Director, and LGBT Studies Coordinator

2014-2019, Kristen Myers, Full-time Center for the Study of Women, Gender and Sexuality Director

2019 -2020, Kate Cady, Acting Director

2020-2021, Jessica Reyman, Acting Director

2021-2024, Jessica Reyman, Director

2024-present, Katy Jaekel, Director

Hiring of Joint Appointment Faculty

Diana Swanson, Women's Studies and English Department, (1991-2019)

Lynn Kamenitsa, Women's Studies and Political Science, (1993-2008)

Heather Hardy, Women's Studies and English Department (1993-97)

Amanda Littauer, Women's Studies and History (2009-present)

Courtney Gallaher, Women's Studies and Geography (2012-present)

Karla Padron, CSWGS and Communication (2019-present)

Canton Winer, CSWGS and Sociology, (2024-present)

Program Coordinator/Advisor Position

1996, Margaret M. Cook

2014, Rebekah L. Kohli (Program Coordinator position changed to full-time, 12-month position)

2018, Katie Heinekamp (position changed to Program Adviser)

Changes in Offices

Zulauf Hall (1980-81)

Wirtz House, 305 Normal Road (1981-89)

Reavis Hall, Rooms 107 and 108 (108 Reavis was TA's office) (1989-95)

Reavis Hall, Room 103 (1995-Present)

For more information on our history, see the archives in Founders Memorial Library, 4th floor