The Department of Residence Life plans to develop a Women’s Leadership program in O’Brien House, beginning in the fall of 2001. Vice President for Student Development Kathy Humphrey said that many of the details are still to be worked out.
Approximately 18 students will have the opportunity to live in this focus house.
The new residents of O’Brien House will participate in discussions and other activities relevant to women in leadership positions, according to information distributed to Women’s Studies students.
The Women’s Studies Program, while not playing a role in the formation of the house, is planning to offer a year-long “Women’s Leadership” course beginning in 2002-2003.
“The focus of O’Brien House [has served as] the impetus for starting a new course in the Women’s Studies program,” said Georgia Johnston, Ph.D., co-director of the Women’s Studies program.
This three-credit course would consist of reading texts about leadership with the Women’s Studies faculty in the fall and taking knowledge into the community as activists and volunteers in the spring, according to Johnston. The course would meet intermittently.
Women residing in O’Brien House will not be required to take any specific classes. Even though the residency program will be separate from the courses offered by Women’s Studies, Johnston believes that through the focus house, students will become more aware of the Women’s Studies program and its cross-listed courses.
The Women’s Studies program currently sponsors two courses and cross-lists about 20 courses every term. “Cross-listed courses represent a number of departments, and we continually try to expand the diversity of these courses,” Johnston said.
“We want to support and encourage any program that supports education about gender and gender issues, particularly as they related to women,” she said. “We know that the Women in Leadership residency program will do this.”
The Women’s Studies program currently has 28 students seeking a certificate and three students working toward a contract major.
