Distinguished Lecture Series

The Women’s Institute hosts guest speakers throughout the academic year who exemplify leadership in their fields, in their scholarship, and in the community. Guests often visit with students in classes, in small groups, and workshop settings. Lectures are free and open to the public.

2022-2023 Women’s Institute Distinguished Lecture Series

► Dr. Britney Brinkman and Dr. Deanna Hamilton, “Girls’ Identities and Experiences of Oppression in Schools: Resilience, Resistance, and Transformation”

► Catherine Raphael, “Journey to the Heart and Stone” book launch

► Dr. Candace Skibba, “Trauma-Informed Pedagogy: Addressing Gender Based Violence in the Classroom”

Past Speakers

Tiffany Gill, Historian, University of Delaware

Tera Hunter, Historian, Princeton University

Andrea Gibson, Spoken Word Artist and Poet

Joylette Portlock, Environmental Scientist

2020-2021 Distinguished Speakers

► Seeds of Change Conference Panels, Sponsored by CRAFT

► Dr. Sharon Higginbothan, Visiting Scholar, Women’s Institute, Chatham University

► Dr. Cheryl Hall-Russell, Visiting Scholar, Women’s Institute, Chatham University

► Dr. Vanessa Northington Gamble, The George Washington University, Sponsored by the Science Department

2019-2020 Distinguished Speakers

► ChutzPow!, The Art of Resistance, Volume IV Women Heroes of the Holocaust, Co-sponsored with the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh

► Nicole Elias, Visiting Scholar, Women’s Institute, Chatham University

► Njaimeh Njie, Artist-Scholar in Residence, Women’s Institute Chatham University, Installation and Exhibit Talk, Co-sponsored with Immersive Media

► Erin Tunney, Visiting Scholar, Women’s Institute, Chatham University

► Patricia Ulbrich, Director, InSisterhood Project, “Chatham’s Feminist Activists: 150 Year Anniversary Celebration”, Co-Sponsored with Alumni Relations

2018-2019 Distinguished Speakers

► Keisha Blain, Assistant Professor, History, University of Pittsburgh, “Set the World on Fire: Black Nationalist Women and the Global Struggle for Freedom”

► Magda Brown, Holocaust Survivor, Co-Sponsored with the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh

► Esa Davis, University of Pittsburgh, “Heather Disparities Related to Maternal Obesity”, Co-sponsored with the Science Department Lecture Series

► Judy Grahn, Poet, writer, activist, and cultural theorist, Co-sponsored with the Writing Program and Carlow University’s Madwomnen in the Attic

► Tina Lasisi, Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, The Richest Ornament of a Woman: Hair, Race, and the White Male Gaze in Human Evolutionary Theory”, Co-sponsored by the Science Department Lecture Series

► Patricia Ulbrich, Director, InSisterhood Project, “Chatham’s Feminist Activists: 150 Year Anniversary Celebration”, Co-Sponsored with Alumni Relations

► Leah Plunkett, University of New Hampshire, School of Law, “Women’s Reproductive Rights: Beyond Roe v. Wade”, Co-sponsored with the Science Department Lecture Series

► Emily Winerock, Visiting Scholar, Women’s Institute, Chatham University, “Mischief and Modesty in Measure: Making Much Ado About Movement”

2017-2018 Distinguished Speakers

► Ruth Nichole Brown, Associate Professor, Gender and Women’s Studies and Education Policy, Organization and Leadership, University of Illinois, “I Want You to Know and Remember: Praise-Play Rituals of Black Girlhood and the Life Affirming Promises of Black Girl Forevers”, Co-sponsored with Office of Multicultural Affairs and Gwen’s Girls

► Karen Faulk, Visiting Scholar, Women’s Institute, “Advocating for Women’s Rights in Childbirth”

► Tiffany Gill, Associate Professor, History, University of Delaware, “A Strange Place for a Revolution: The Politics of Beauty in an Era of Crisis”, Co-sponsored with the Office of Multicultural Affairs and BSU

► Niq Johnson, Visiting Scholar, Women’s Institute, “Race, Gender, and Pop Culture Feminism”

► Tera Hunter, Professor, History and Center for African American Studies, Princeton University, “Bound in Wedlock: Slave and Free Black Marriage in the Nineteenth Century”, Co-Sponsored with Heinz History Center, Women’s & Gender Studies, and BSU

► Sally Sherman, Associate Professor and yoga researcher, University of Pittsburgh, “Mind Over Matter: A Simple Path to Wellness”, Co-sponsored with the Science Department

► Kim Weichel, Center for Citizen Initiatives and Peace X Prize, “A Citizens Perspective on Russia, Putin, and Crimea”, Co-sponsored with the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom

2016-2017 Distinguished Speakers

► Cassandra Bartoch, Doctoral Student, Chatham University, “Butterfly Vagina Teeth”, Co-sponsored with the Science Department

► Mary Cronk Farrell, Children’s and Young Adult Author, “Fanny Never Flinched: One Woman’s Courage in the Struggle for American Labor Union Rights”, Co-Sponsored with The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

► Yona Harvey, Assistant Professor, University of Pittsburgh, “Marvelous Madness: My Comics Writing Adventure in 10 Short Messages”, Co-Sponsored with the Art, Film, English, and Creative Writing Departments, BSU, and the Creative Writing Club

► Donna Naples, Professor, University of Pittsburgh, “Underground Fundamental Physics via Identity-Changing Neutrinos”, Co-Sponsored with the Science Department

► Jolly Okot, Nobel Peace Prize Nominee; Founder, HEAL Organization, Co-sponsored with Mortar Board, Her Campus, Chatham Scholars, and F.A.C.E.

► Molly Rush, Lianne Norman, and Tammy Ryan, Civil and Women’s Rights Activist; Author, “Hammer of Justice”; Playwright, “Molly’s Hammer”, Co-sponsored with The Thomas Merton Center

2015-2016 Distinguished Speakers

► Arlene Blum, Chemist and Activist, “Chemistry, Mountain Climbing, and Social Change”, Co-sponsored with the School of Sustainability and the Green Building Alliance