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This month, the Boston College Women’s Resource Center (WRC) is marking both Women’s History Month and the center’s 40th anniversary, with a series of events to celebrate and discuss the women of today and yesterday. The WRC, an advocacy collaborative focused on women and gender issues, provides the University community with a forum to discuss contemporary social topics through educational programs, peer-to-peer support groups and outreach awareness campaigns.
The dual celebration kicked off Tuesday with a keynote address by Grace Simmons ’05, who served as president of the Undergraduate Government of Boston College during her senior year and is now vice president for strategic initiatives for Chobani. Prior to her talk, Simmons met privately with a select group of 18 female undergraduates considered future leaders. The evening also included a screening of the Council for Women of Boston College’s documentary “Making Our Place.”
On March 20, the WRC will host the panel discussion “Balancing Act” at noon in the Corcoran Commons Heights Room. The panelists will talk about work/life integration. Danielle Hartmann of the Center for Work and Family and Susan Fonseca of the Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations, representing the Women’s Collaborative, are organizers of the event.
The following day will be the WRC’s signature anniversary event, “Still Fighting the Good Fight: Feminism, Then and Now,” with a panel on feminism comprised of prominent past and present contributors to the WRC. Slated panelists are: Newton College Alumnae Professor Emerita Judith Wilt, a founding member of the Women’s and Gender Studies program; Sheila McMahon, former director of the WRC; Assistant Professor of History Arissa Oh; former WRC student staff member and current Harvard Law School student Rachel Lamorte ’10; and Colby Campbell ’14, the only male member of the WRC student staff. Vice Provost for Faculties Patricia DeLeeuw will serve as moderator.
This event will take place in Stokes Hall 195S at 6 p.m. A reception will follow.
In addition to celebrating the center’s proud history and accomplished alumnae, WRC Director Katie Dalton says she hopes these events serve as “an impetus to encourage current students to recognize their potential and harness their power to be successful in their post-graduate pursuits. We’re here to support, educate and empower all students. We want them to know there is a place here for them.”
Coinciding with the WRC’s anniversary is “Reflections through Time: A Celebration of Women’s Accomplishments at Boston College and Beyond,” an exhibition on display now through August 30 in the Level Three Gallery of O’Neill Library. Co-sponsored by the WRC and Boston College Libraries, “Reflections through Time” focuses on the accomplishments of alumnae Molly Schaus ’11, Jenniffer Castillo ’08, Mary Tomer Byun ’03, and Terri Trespicio ’95 as well as seniors Lyz Alexandre, Allison Stasiuk, Jennifer Wanandi, Krystle Higgins, Nicole Mollica and Franca Godenzi.
For more on Women’s Resource Center events and activities, see www.bc.edu/wrc.