University to celebrate Women's History Month

Published

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette will host three events in conjunction with Women’s History Month.

On tap are an annual conference, a documentary screening and a symposium.

UL Lafayette’s annual Women’s Conference will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, March 9, at the Cajundome Convention Center.

Presentations will be held throughout the day. Speakers from UL Lafayette, government and business, and law enforcement will discuss topics that include finances, health and fitness, leadership, and self-defense.

Dr. Kim Hunter-Reed, keynote speaker, will discuss “Working to Form a More Perfect Union: Honoring Women in Public Service and Government,” which is the theme of this year’s National Women’s History Month observance and the Women’s Conference.

“In keeping with the theme of this year’s conference, she will draw on her extensive experience in public service and higher education,” said Dr. Taniecea Arceneaux Mallery, director of UL Lafayette’s Office for Campus Diversity.

Hunter-Reed is a principal at HCM Strategists, a public policy and consulting firm in Washington, D.C. She recently led Gov. John Bel Edwards’ higher education transition team. She was formerly the Louisiana Board of Regents chief of staff and the University of Louisiana System executive vice president.

The conference is open to the public. Cost is $50. Students can attend for $25.

Learn more about the conference here.
Online registration is available here.

A screening of the documentary film, “She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry,” will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 13, in Oliver Hall auditorium. It will be followed by a panel discussion.

The award-winning 2014 film chronicles the history of the modern women’s movement in the United States from 1966-1971. 

Panelists are: Sarah Brabant, UL Lafayette professor emerita; Dr. Janet Allured, a professor of history at McNeese State University; and Mag Ritchey, a Lafayette attorney.

The free screening and panel discussion are open to the public.

They are hosted by UL Lafayette’s College of Liberal Arts; the Friends of the Humanities, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting humanities curricula and faculty at the University; and Students for the Advancement of Women at UL Lafayette.

The University’s Center for Louisiana Studies will host “LA Femme/Women of Louisiana: A Symposium” on Wednesday, March 16.

The event will be held at the Paul and LuLu Hilliard University Art Museum’s A. Hays Town Building. The free, daylong symposium is open to the public.

Panel discussions will examine women’s issues in Louisiana and address topics such as health care, domestic violence, campus culture and gender issues, such as inclusivity.

Sessions will include UL Lafayette faculty members and students, and community members.

Allured will lead a brown bag lunch talk that will focus on her forthcoming book, “Remapping Second-Wave Feminism: The Long Women’s Rights Movement in Louisiana, 1950-1997.”

The symposium will conclude with an evening book launch of “Louisiana Women: Their Lives and Times, Volume Two,” which is co-edited by Dr. Mary Farmer Kaiser, dean of UL Lafayette’s Graduate School.

Learn more about the symposium at http://louisianastudies.louisiana.edu, or contact the Center for Louisiana Studies at clspresents@louisiana.edu, or (337) 482-6027.