2023 Women's History Month Celebration

March 2, 2023

Friends,

As this month of March begins, it is my distinct privilege to take a few moments to formally recognize and honor Women’s History Month.

This annual recognition of women’s history formally got its start in 1980 as Women’s History Week, and was introduced through a proclamation by President Jimmy Carter.

Since 1995, women’s history is now recognized and honored through a month-long celebration. Women’s History Month offers an annual opportunity for all of us to remember that the achievements, leadership, courage, strength and love of the women who built America were, in the words of President Carter, “as vital as that of the men whose names we know so well.”

As we celebrate Women’s History Month this year, we recognize President Carter and continue to keep him and his family in prayer as he has recently transitioned into hospice care.

The National Women’s History Alliance (NWHA) has chosen the theme of “Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories” for 2023.

“Throughout 2023, the NWHA will encourage recognition of women, past and present, who have been active in all forms of media and storytelling including print, radio, TV, stage, screen, blogs, podcasts, and more. The timely theme honors women in every community who have devoted their lives and talents to producing art, pursuing truth, and reflecting the human condition decade after decade.”

As we recognize the significant achievements of women throughout the world and history here on our Andrews University campus, the Women’s Empowerment Association of Andrews University (WEAAU) has chosen the campus theme of “Phenomenal Women.” for this year’s celebrations.

Here are some events that WEAAU have planned for the month ahead:

Service Sabbath
March 4, 2:30 p.m.
Center for Faith Engagement Office 

WEAAU is collaborating with the Center for Faith Engagement to host a Service Sabbath to create care packages for a local women's shelter! Make sure to reserve your spot on the UFaith app ahead of time. Cocurricular credit will be available!

Cocurricular Series
Department of History & Political Science Lobby, BUL136

March 7, 11:30 a.m.
Stacie Hatfield, assistant professor of anthropology, will kick off Women’s History Month with the story of how the American women’s movement began in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She will highlight both the goals and accomplishments of this early political period and also the movement’s shortcomings, which necessitated subsequent movements.

March 14, 11:30 a.m.
In this talk, Kristen Witzel, assistant professor of sociology, continues our discussion of the history of the women’s movement into the 1960s and 70s. She’ll share how women of this time tackled issues like women’s bodily autonomy and equal opportunities in jobs and education.

March 28, 11:30 a.m.
Concluding Women’s History Month, Vanessa Corredera, associate professor and chair of English, will present the era of the women’s movement which began in the 90s and emphasized intersectionality and reproductive rights. She’ll trace the legacy of this wave into our current socio-political moment in what some call Fourth-Wave Feminism.

New Life Fellowship
March 4 and 11, 11:45 a.m.
Howard Performing Arts Center

New Life Fellowship will be honoring specific women employees from throughout our Andrews University community to commemorate their Women’s History Month Celebration.

The Women’s Empowerment Association of Andrews University (WEAAU) will be announcing these and additional events on their Instagram account throughout the month with additional details. You can find their Instagram page @we.aau here. You can also keep an eye on the New Life Fellowship Instagram page here.

As I close this note, I would like to take the opportunity to specifically thank all of the incredible women that continue to make Andrews such a great place to work, learn, worship, and commune.

I would especially be remiss if I did not take the time to celebrate and honor our own president, Andrea Luxton, as this will be her last Women’s History Month as our leader. Her powerful example of Christ-centered, other-focused leadership has been a huge source of inspiration to me and so many others here on our campus.

In the spirit of WEAAU’s theme for this year, we want to affirm President Luxton for being the phenomenal woman that she is! We specifically want to honor and celebrate the history you have made as you have led our campus these past seven years.

Grace and peace,

Michael Nixon
Vice President for University Culture & Inclusion