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Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies History

Our Mission

The mission of the Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies (WGSS) program at South Dakota State University is to educate our university and the public on issues related to gender and sexuality, through innovative curricula, research and outreach.

Our History

The Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies program was developed by a dedicated and concerned group of faculty at South Dakota State University, which dates back to 1980.

DateEvent
1980
  • The Women's Studies minor is offered for the first time.
1980-1984
  • Dr. Ruth Alexander (English) serves as program coordinator.
1984-1993
  • Dr. Eleanor Schwab (Political Science) serves as program coordinator.
1993-2000 
  • Dr. Virginia Norris (Psychology) serves as program coordinator of Women's Studies, now a 50%-50% split position shared between Women's Studies and the disciplinary home of the coordinator.
  • Women's Studies 101 (Introduction to Women's Studies), Women's Studies 491 (Capstone/Independent Study) and Women's Studies 392 (Topics in Women's Studies) are developed.
2000-2009
  • Dr. April Brooks (History) serves as program coordinator of Women’s Studies.
2009-2010
  • Dr. Christine Stewart-Nuñez (English) serves as interim program coordinator of Women's Studies.
2010-2011
  • Dr. Meredith Redlin (Sociology and Rural Studies) serves as program coordinator of Women's Studies.
2011-2018
  • Dr. Elizabeth Tolman (Communication Studies) serves as program coordinator of Women's Studies, and then Women's and Gender Studies.
2016
  • The program name of Women's Studies is changed to Women's and Gender Studies.
2019
  • The program name of Women's and Gender Studies is changed to Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies.
2019-present
  • Dr. Becky Kuehl (School of Communication and Journalism) serves as program coordinator of Women's and Gender Studies, and then Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies.
2022
  • The Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies minor is moved to the School of English and Interdisciplinary Studies.