Menu
Women's Studies Mission | A Growing Field | Transferability | Contact | "Not for Ourselves Alone"
Women's Studies Mission
Women’s Studies is a rigorous interdisciplinary field of study that has applications in a wide variety of majors and the careers growing from them. At GRCC, our courses investigate the shaping of gender roles, behaviors, and expectations as evidenced in literature, social sciences, natural sciences, religion and philosophy. The curriculum enhances students’ critical awareness of how gender operates in institutional and cultural contexts and in their own lives. Our formal goals include:
-
To provide students with a strong foundation in interdisciplinary and activist scholar- ship on women, the shaping of gender, and the evolution of women’s roles in society.
-
To introduce students to the wide variety of contributions women have made and are making to the societies in which they live.
-
To provide students with an open forum for exploration of their own gendered experience within the context of a rigorous and cohesive curriculum.
-
To explore the complexities of diversity in women’s lives, in both national and international contexts.
-
To lay the foundations for a variety of challenging and stimulating careers that grow from Women’s Studies; to prepare students for just empowerment.
-
To model a compassionate practice including holistic approaches to teaching and learning, and to explore strategies for social justice and greater awareness in local, national, and international communities.
A Growing Field
The GRCC Women’s Studies Initiative has worked for two years to develop courses and programs for the college. Our efforts now include a core course, WST 200 (Introduction to Women’s Studies) and two cognates (EN 278, Women’s Literature, and COM 235, Gender and Communication). Several other courses are in the process of development, and we are hoping to expand our efforts, working cooperatively with other colleges in the West Michigan Women’s Studies Council and with local agencies so that our students may in the future do hands-on work on behalf of women throughout the community. The future is bright and our progress has been steady and continuous. Watch us grow!
Our courses are designed so that they will readily transfer to other colleges and universities when our students matriculate to their four-year institution. WST 200 will transfer as a Women’s Studies course, while our other courses may transfer either as a course within the individual discipline to which they belong, or as a Women’s Studies course. For example, En 278 could transfer as an English or as a Women’s Studies course. Further, you are encouraged to explore the wide variety of career fields to which our courses may apply, increasing your knowledge in your chosen field and giving you a broader conception of its parameters: see the FAQ links on the website.
At present, our initiative does not have a program coordinator, but you may contact any of the following professors with your questions about courses or advice on the program:
| Professor Sharon Wynkoop Email: swynkoop@grcc.edu Telephone: 234 4357 |
Professor Katie Kalisz Email: kkalisz@grcc.edu Telephone: 234 4386 Course: En 278 (Women’s Literature) |
| Professor Mary Lucas Email: mlucas@grcc.edu Telephone: 234 3604 Course: Sc 234 (Sex and Gender) |
Professor David Cope Email: dcope@grcc.edu Telephone: 234 4359 Acting Secretary to Women’s Studies |
“Not for Ourselves Alone”
Thanks to all those who have participated in the past two years of discussions or helped via their expertise, all contributing to the formation of Women’s Studies at Grand Rapids Community College:
| Donna Ainsworth | U of Michigan, Women’s Studies |
| Ann Alexander | Business |
| Javonna Allen | Student activist |
| Chris Arnold | Woodrick Diversity Learning Center |
| Jean Reed Bahle | Playwright, director, actor |
| Mary Bayer | English, Multicultural Children’s Literature |
| Kathryn Beam | U of Michigan, Curator of Special Collections |
| Susan Bergin | Library Director |
| Gail Brown | Secretary, English Department |
| Katie Budden | Art |
| Laurie Chesley | Assistant Dean, Arts and Sciences |
| Frank Conner | Institute for Faculty Research on Teaching and Learning |
| Rebecca Coogan | Aquinas, Women’s Studies |
| Anita Cook | Library |
| Vikki Cooper | English, reading |
| David Cope | English, Shakespeare and creative writing |
| Jane Cope | Student, U of Michigan |
| Derek Devries | Webmaster |
| Laurie Foster | Assistant Provost |
| Carmella Gill | Student Activist |
| Susan Haworth-Hoeppner | Aquinas, Women’s Studies |
| Vicki Hudson | Communications |
| Pat Ingersoll | Research Librarian |
| Judy Jankowski | Psychology |
| Katie Kalisz | English, Women’s Literature |
| Mike Klawitter | Library Archivist |
| Klaas Kwant | Videorecording |
| Judith Larsen | Grants |
| Harold Lee | Humanities, Philosophy |
| Mike Light | History |
| Mary Lucas | Language & Thought, Sex and Gender |
| Katherine Marty | Student, poet |
| Mursalata Muhammad | English, Service Learning |
| Kathleen Owens | Counseling |
| Janet Paasche | English Department Chair |
| Penny Porcelli | English, Adjunct |
| Gretchen Robinson | Advisor, WIN |
| Kathleen Russell | Director, Northoek Academy |
| Mary Scanlan | Music |
| Mike Schuler | Learning Academy |
| Jennifer Smith | Diversity Center |
| Mary Catherine Stoddard | Former Student, Activist |
| Ellen Stuart | Nursing |
| Miriam Thompson | Library |
| Patti Trepkowski | Provost |
| Carol VanRandwyk | Music |
| Penni Verica | Interdisciplinary Studies, Secretary |
| Kim Wyngarden | English, Russian Literature |
| Sharon Wynkoop | English, poetry |
| Linda Wyskochil | Library |
1303 page hits and 1227 unique visits since 02-19-07
Updated on 28-FEB-07
Edit this page
| View text only version