Rachel Lindsay, best known for her role on ABC's "The Bachelorette" as the first African-American lead in the franchise’s history, will visit Penn State Berks to present a free, public lecture on March 23, 2022.
Upcoming events for Women's History Month to be held during the second half of March include the following in-person and virtual events, and more -- check the individual entries in the schedule below for more information on how to attend:
Penn State University Park events include:
- Pride in Your Ride Night: Women and Queer Night at the Bike Den — March 23, 5:30–7 p.m.
- "Yoke: My Yoga of Self-Acceptance" Book Discussion with Jessamyn Stanley — Thursday, March 24, 6–7 p.m.
- Wikipedia Editathon: Native American Women Activists — Tuesday, March 29, 10 a.m–3 p.m., virtual.
- EmpowHERment Summit — Thursday, March 31, virtual
- Keynote speaker Dr. Shelia Patel: "Shifting the Paradigm: Providing Hope and Healing through the Integration Allopathic and Complementary Medicinal Practices" — Thursday, March 31, 7 p.m., virtual.
In addition, Penn State Altoona, Berks, Brandywine, Lehigh Valley, and Scranton offer events. More details are available below.
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Editor's note: These events have been updated as of March 15.
Penn State student organizations and units at campuses across the commonwealth will be holding events in honor of National Women’s History Month. Here’s a look at some of the events taking place at the University’s campuses during the month of March. This list will be updated as events are added throughout the month.
According to the National Women's History Alliance, the theme of National Women's History Month this year is "Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope," which is both a tribute to the ceaseless work of caregivers and front-line workers during the ongoing pandemic and also a recognition of the thousands of ways that women of all cultures have provided both healing and hope throughout history.
Penn State University Park
IST Identity Talks: Women in Tech — Feb. 28, 6-7 p.m., online. Members of the Penn State community are invited to join alumnae of the College of Information Sciences and Technology as they provide their unique perspectives as women working in a male-dominated industry. Panelists include Janay Coles, senior cyber analyst at Textron; Shelly Gasperine, consulting solutions transformation director, technology sector at PwC; Angela Govila, executive director, product lead for embedded banking at J.P. Morgan Payments; and Neha Sharma, senior consultant at IBM. Learn more here and register here.
Love Your Body Yoga class with Jessamyn Stanley — Tuesday, March 1, 4–5 p.m., IM Building, Gym 3. This yoga session is for all body sizes and types as well as attendees of all skill levels. Stanley is an internationally acclaimed leading voice in wellness whose work focuses on 21st-century yoga and intersectional identity. Stanley, a self-described “fat-femme” working to break stereotypes, has written two books and is a regular contributor for SELF Magazine. Registration is required at this link.
"Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope:" Q&A and book-signing with Jessamyn Stanley — Tuesday, March 1, 6:30–7:30 p.m., Freeman Auditorium: HUB-Robeson Center. Jessamyn Stanley is an author, podcaster, yoga teacher, entrepreneur and advocate, and an internationally acclaimed leading voice in wellness whose work focuses on 21st-century yoga and intersectional identity. Stanley, a self-described “fat-femme” working to break stereotypes, has written two books and is a regular contributor for SELF Magazine. Join the livestream link here.
In addition, join us after the talk for a moderated Q&A where we will discuss hope, healing, yoga, self-acceptance and more, pulling from the themes from Stanley's book "Yoke: My Yoga of Self-Acceptance." After the discussion, in partnership with the Penn State Campus Bookstore, a book signing will be held where copies of the book will be available to purchase and be signed by Stanley.
Theatrical Performance: “Waitress” — March 3, 7:30 p.m., Eisenhower Auditorium. Touring Broadway returns to the Center for the Performing Arts with the debut of the hilarious, empowering hit. Jenna is a waitress and expert pie-maker who dreams of a way out of her small town and rocky marriage. When a baking contest in a nearby county shows her a chance at a fresh start, she must find the courage to seize it. “Waitress” is the first Broadway musical in history to have four women in the four top creative team spots — with a book by Jessie Nelson, a score by Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles, choreography by Lorin Latarro and direction by Tony Award winner Diane Paulus. Visit “Waitress” for information and to purchase tickets.
Menstrual Health Expo — March 16, 5:30–8 pm., Flex Theater, HUB-Robeson Center. This event is a collaborative effort to bring awareness and attention to menstrual health. Students will be able to drop in at any point in the evening and learn about contemporary topics regarding menstruation such as sustainable options, disparities in access, reproductive coercion and inclusive language. Open to both menstruators and non-menstruators, we hope to engage the Penn State campus in a robust share of knowledge, activities, and resources aiming to erase the shame and stigma around menstruation.
"Human Trafficking Awareness" with Professor Glenn Sterner — Thursday, March 17, 5-6 p.m., Freeman Auditorium. Many people attribute human trafficking to movies like "Taken," however it can occur everywhere, even in our own community. Sign up for this event hosted by Hope Here, Hope Now; Unicef; the Student Programming Association; and the Penn State Gender Equity Center. Glenn Sterner, Penn State assistant professor of criminal justice, will discuss digitally exploitative trafficking practices and what people can do to help prevent it. This talk is free and open to the public. Register here.
Zine Workshop for Self-Acceptance — Thursday, March 17, 6–7 p.m., Pattee Library W315 (Arts and Humanities Library, third floor West Pattee Library). Join University Libraries for a zine workshop all about self-acceptance. Zines are independently published, homemade publications devoted to specialized or unconventional topics designed for knowledge creation and to leverage under-represented voices, and as such are perfect conduits for promoting hope and healing. Following a moderation discussion with Jessamyn Stanley, this workshop will lead participants through the steps to create a zine focused on developing acceptance of all parts of oneself. All supplies will be provided for this free workshop. Registration is required to attend.
Pride in Your Ride Night: Women and Queer Night at the Bike Den — March 23, 5:30–7 p.m., Penn State Bike Den at the ground level of the West Parking Deck. Join the Gender Equity Center, the Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity, and the Bike Den for a night celebrating women, femmes, non-binary, and queer LGBTQ+ folks, an opportunity to learn about cycling, fixing your bike, bike maintenance, and/or a positive space to just hang out. Cyclists of all levels and experiences are welcome. The Bike Den will lead discussions on Bicycle Safety 101 and host a discussion, “Ride or Die: The Forgotten History of Bicycles and Feminism.” Learn more about Women and Queer Night at the Bike Den here.
On Thursday, March 24, the University Libraries in collaboration with the Gender Equity Center will host a book discussion of Jessamyn Stanley’s "Yoke: My Yoga of Self-Acceptance," at 6–7 p.m., in Pattee Library W315 (Arts and Humanities Library, third floor West Pattee Library). Registration is required to attend.
"Yoke: My Yoga of Self-Acceptance" Book Discussion with Jessamyn Stanley — Thursday, March 24, 6–7 p.m., Pattee Library W315 (Arts and Humanities Library, third floor West Pattee Library). The University Libraries in collaboration with the Gender Equity Center will host a book discussion of Jessamyn Stanley’s "Yoke: My Yoga of Self-Acceptance." Delving deeper into this anthology of deeply personal essays by Stanley, participants will discuss themes of self-love, authenticity, hope and healing, along with discussing the issues of cultural appropriation, racism, materialism, sizeism, fat shaming, and decolonizing wellness practices. The Libraries has a limited number of copies available to check-out for this discussion. Registration is required to attend.
Wikipedia Editathon: Native American Women Activists — Tuesday, March 29, 10 a.m–3 p.m., virtual. Penn State University Libraries will host a virtual Wikipedia editathon focusing on Native American women activists. Participants can drop in at any time during the event. We will provide suggestions of articles to edit and references to use. First-time Wikipedia editors are welcome; experienced editors will be on-hand to answer your questions. A week earlier on Tuesday, March 22, from 10:35 to 11:50 a.m., professors Julie Reed and Cathleen Cahill and Libraries Support employee Lily Murray will provide a training on Zoom for editathon participants. The training will cover best practices for writing about Indigenous people and reading and using sources, as well as the basics of Wikipedia editing. Instructions for joining the training will be sent to editathon registrants in advance of the training. Please register for the editathon on Zoom. Contact Ana Enriquez ([email protected]) with questions.
EmpowHERment Summit — Thursday, March 31, Virtual on Whova Event Platform. Join World Campus Penn State for this day-long summit to amplify women’s voices and push the borders of what the stereotypical woman looks like, says and does. This event is not exclusive to women — it's open to anyone who supports the growth and empowerment of women. With conversations around business, investment, sexual violence, gender norms, sexual pleasure, and holistic healing and medicine, you will not want to miss this opportunity to learn how to empower yourself and/or the women in your life and be an ally to gender equity issues. The summit will culminate in the final keynote for Women’s History Month led by Dr. Sheila Patel. Check out the agenda and register here.
Keynote speaker Dr. Shelia Patel: "Shifting the Paradigm: Providing Hope and Healing through the Integration Allopathic and Complementary Medicinal Practices" — Thursday, March 31, 7 p.m., Zoom. Join Outreach and Online Education, Penn State World Campus, the Penn State Gender Equity Center, and the College of Health and Human Development for a keynote and conversation with Dr. Shelia Patel, chief medical officer for Chopra and a board-certified family physician who is passionate about bringing holistic healing practices into the Western medical system. Patel will discuss her journey to medicine and healing, her perspective as a woman in the medical field, how she embraces her culture within her work, the benefits of mindfulness, and more. With a moderated Q&A being hosted by Joyce Hopson King, assistant dean for diversity and inclusion for the College of Health and Human Development, this can’t-miss conversation aims to expand how we view our social constructions of gender, medicine and healing. Registration is required.
Penn State Altoona
Notorious RBG Kahoot! Trivia — March 15, 8 p.m., online. Compete against students from campuses all over the U.S. for your chance to win Amazon e-gift cards and test your knowledge. We will discuss Ruth Bader Ginsburg, her life and legacy, and the causes most important to her: inclusion and equality for all. Register here.
Women's History Bingo — March 30, 1 p.m., online. Participants will have an opportunity to win Amazon e-gift cards while we celebrate and learn all about 75 amazing and influential women for Women’s History Month. Host Justine Shuey will share more about who these women are, some of the events and movements over time, and how they shaped Women’s History. Register here.
Penn State Berks
Penn State Berks Arts & Lecture Series Presents: Rachel Lindsay — March 23, 7 p.m., Perkins Student Center Auditorium. Rachel Lindsay, best known for her role on ABC's "The Bachelorette" as the first African-American lead in the franchise’s history, and as a contestant on "The Bachelor," will visit Penn State Berks to present a free, public lecture. Lindsay also is the host of MTV's "Ghosted: Love Gone Missing," host of ESPN Radio's "Game Night," host of the Bachelor Happy Hour podcast. Lindsay also is an attorney, media host and podcaster. With a bachelor's degree from University of Texas and a law degree from Marquette University Law School, Lindsay has worked at the prestigious law firm, Cooper & Scully P.C. in Dallas. This event is sponsored by the Penn State Berks Arts and Lecture series.
Penn State Brandywine
Triciana Graves: Don’t Call Me a “B” — Empowherment for Women’s History Month and Every Month — March 23, noon, Student Union 114-117. This program provides a critical interactive opportunity for women and men to create more equality on campus and in the world at large. Open to Penn State students, faculty and staff. Sponsored by Student Engagement and the Chancellor’s Commission on Empowering Women.
Women's History Month Trivia — March 25, noon, Parsons Hall. Game show with prizes to the winners. Open to Penn State students, faculty and staff. Sponsored by Student Engagement.
Her Story The Musical — March 29, noon, Student Union 114-117. A live concert multimedia presentation of Women's History. Open to Penn State students, faculty and staff. Sponsored by Student Engagement.
Penn State Lehigh Valley
Nittany Station Café: Women’s History Month trivia with a guest host from Neon Entertainment — Wednesday, March 2, 12:15 p.m. This group joined us for Black History Month trivia and the session was both fun and educational. Prizes are given to students but all are welcome to participate!
Spoken Word Artist, Roxy Azari — Tuesday March 15, 12:15 pm, 2nd Floor Student Lounge. Azari is an Iranian-American spoken word poet, performer and educator. Her performances focus on social justice issues such as gender, race and privilege.
Women of Color Panel Discussion — Wed March 30, 12:15 pm, Room 135. This discussion will feature Lehigh Valley campus Chancellor Tina Richardson; Lizbeth Johnson, director of information technology and virtual education; and students Rebecca Ganthier and Ja’Najah Thomas, president and vice-president of the Black Student Union.
Penn State Scranton
International Women’s History Kick-off Event — March 21, noon to 1:30 p.m., The View Café. The week kicks off with a week-long clothing drive in partnership with Dress for Success, and will showcase businesses representing a diverse community of women leaders who are contributing to community wellness. Business owners and student leaders at Penn State Scranton will speak, exploring topics of multiculturalism, professionalism, and challenges women face as global citizens in today’s socio-political climate. This event is free and open to the public.
Women’s History Month Bingo Night — March 22, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., The View Café. Join Student Affairs for a Women’s History Month-themed Bingo Night and play for a chance to win prizes and learn about prominent female figures in history. Open to Penn State Scranton students only.
Encanto Movie Screening! — March 22, 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., The Sherbine Lounge. Join the Student Organization of Latinos for a night with the Madrigal family in Colombia as we watch Mirabel Madrigal try to save her family and her magical house with the determination and strength she possesses as an independent woman! Free popcorn will be available to attendees. Open to the public.
Front-line Worker Panel — March 23, Noon to 1 p.m., The Sherbine Lounge. Penn State Scranton welcomes women front-line workers from the external surrounding community to speak on their experiences and challenges they have faced during the pandemic as they engage participants in a dialogue that will allow the community to reflect on action steps we can take as a collective nation moving forward in participating in women's solidarity. A Q+A with the panel will follow, featuring panelists will include Nuris Perdomo (Women’s Resource Center), Jasmine Berrocal (state trooper), Casey Lewis (state trooper), Marybeth Mecca (Nursing Department), Options Women’s Center, and the Fire Department. Additional webinar information coming soon. This event is open to the public.
United Nations Multicultural Fashion Show — March 24, Noon to 1 p.m., The Sherbine Lounge. The Student Government Association’s U.N. Red Carpet Multicultural Fashion Show featuring our very own students, faculty and staff as catwalk participants, will model attire from their own heritages and ethnic backgrounds, accompanied by brief remarks. Come experience our wonderful women ambassadors of Penn State Scranton in this multicultural event. Free food and giveaways will be provided. This event is open to Penn State Scranton students only.
Movie Night: "Hidden Figures" and Diana Iracheta, A Night with Women in STEM — March 25, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., The Sherbine Lounge. Diana Iracheta, founder of the non-profit organization Latina Engineer, is special guest for this special screening of “Hidden Figures” and panel presentation discussing the challenges women face in STEM fields. She will also give a brief overview of her seminal work as an engineer, programs she runs, and services she offers through her non-profit foundation. In addition, Penn State’s Engineering Club will feature some of their own students’ projects on display in a gallery format in the lounge. This event is open to the public.
Walk a Mile in Her Shoes Event and Baseball Games — March 26, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., SLC Patio, Matt McGloin Baseball Field. Walk a Mile in Her Shoes is a nationwide event that aims to raise awareness and show solidarity for women who have experienced sexualized violence. Penn State Scranton’s baseball team is partnering with student clubs, faculty/staff and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion office to lead the 2022 Walk a Mile in Her Shoes campaign on campus, starting at the Study Learning Center Patio and ending at the baseball field. This event is open to the public. Two games are scheduled that day, at noon and 2 p.m.
Penn State Shenango
Film Screening: "Iron Jawed Angels" (2004, 123 min.) — Thursday, March 10, noon, Sharon Hall 105. The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee’s film series continues with a historical drama that depicts the movement for women to win the right to vote in America. Associate Professor Phil Nash will welcome viewers and provide commentary before screening.
