Women Speak - The Ruthe Boyea Women's Center Newsletter

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WOMEN SPE A K RUTHE BOYEA WOMEN'S CENTER NEWSLETTER SPRING SEMESTER 2021

The Ruthe Boyea Women s Center exists to provide resources to advocate to inform and to support personal development The Center offers a variety of services for and about women We sponsor educational and cultural programs designed to promote gender equity knowledge of women s rights issues leadership and independence We encourage understanding and cooperation among women of varied socio economic groups cultures ethnic backgrounds races and sexual orientations We welcome all women and men who enter our doors

Mission Statement

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Contents: She Stood For Freedom: The Untold Story of a Civil Rights Hero

ElectHER: Building the Nation's Future Ambitious Women

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Reclaim Shame: Candid Conversations with activist Leah Juliett

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Greetings from the Women's Center...

We all can agree that this year, in reflection, people are experiencing unnecessary suffering due to their race, gender, religion, economics, and other intersectionality’s. We can all agree that leadership is relevant in all areas of our lives and the leadership can guide us to varying directions. It can guide us to a place of humanity or to a place of division. Our mental health was tested during this pandemic, we began to understand mental illness on a deeper level; recognizing the need to show empathy and compassion to others. We recognized that systematic racism, homophobia, xenophobia all needs to be examined on a critical level to change for the greater good of humanity. The foundation of humanity is to acknowledge, respect, and share space with individuals who need support, guidance, and altruism. Activism propels us and the “good trouble” can create waves of change.

The Women’s Center is committed to being active on campus and within the community. We may be a small center, but we are mighty because we believe an attack on one, is an attack on all.

The Women’s Center stands with you against all forms of injustice. A special congratulations to the Women's Center staff, all CCSU Graduates, and members of the CCSU community who have overcome so much adversity this year.

The Bro Code: How Men's Silence Affects Women and Men From Suffrage to Equality: Wendy Murphy Discusses Her Fight for Equal Rights

Take Back the Night: Shattering the Silence to Stop the Violence Racialized Misogyny and Women’s Experiences of Anti-Asian Racism During Covid-19 with Dr. Melissa Borja HIV Awareness Women's History Month Virtual Luncheon Discussion: Women's Suffrage Why You Should Participate in Our Women's Center Support Groups

Women's History Month Poster Series AAPI Heritage Month Poster Series

Female Leadership Spotlight Interview Tips & Tricks for Graduating Seniors Graphic Design Creations Ruthe Boyea Scholarship Information Summer Entertainment Bucket List Women's Sports Teams Grace Academy Partnership Women's Center Team

Director, Jacqueline Cobbina-Boivin

Welcome Dr. Miller Women of Color Graduation Ceremony Alumni News Social Media Recap

Newsletter coordinated by: Tiffany Trowbridge-Bernard

Crossword Puzzle

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WOMEN SPE A K RUTHE BOYEA WOMEN'S CENTER NEWSLETTER SPRING SEMESTER 2021

Fall Event Recap In the Fall the Women's Center placed emphasis on educating the campus on the Equal Rights Amendment, Racial Segregation, Racial Battle Fatigue and The Enye Project.

The Enye Project with Denise Soler Cox discussed how first-generation Latinx folx have a disconnect between their cultural roots and the American culture they were brought into.

These individuals, according to Ms. Cox can identify with being enye.

The Racial Battle Fatigue discussion was with Dr. Angel Jones. Dr. Jones made connections to the psychological consequences of racial microaggressions and coined the term racial battle fatigue.

Equal Means Equal was an event with producer/actress Kamala Lopez. Mrs. Lopez educated the campus about the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and how women are not equally protected under law without the passing of this amendment.

Racial Segregation with Dr. McRae educated about the history of feminism and the foundations of our politics being based in white supremacy. Dr. McRae helped educate our campus about how to be better allies and change our future to dismantle the white supremacist foundations.

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WOMEN SPE A K RUTHE BOYEA WOMEN'S CENTER NEWSLETTER SPRING SEMESTER 2021

Spring Events Recap She Stood For Freedom: The Untold Story of a Civil Rights Hero Joan Trumpauer Mulholland American civil rights activist joined us on February 9th in celebration and honor of Black History Month Ms Mulholland shared a courageous story about her activism in college and throughout her lifetime in support of civil rights Some notable moments in her iconic history is her involvement of the Freedom Riders Movement the Jackson Woolworth Sit in s March on Washington and the Selma to Montgomery March She was held for two months on death row in the Mississippi State Penitentiary for her involvement with the Freedom Rider protests This prison at the time had a reputation for violence and mistreatment of inmates At the time Mulholland was only 19 years old ,

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In college Mulholland was the first white student to attend Tougaloo College and to join the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority During her enrollment at Tougaloo College Mulholland participated in the Woolworth Sit in s This is known as one of the most violent sit ins of the Civil Rights Movement The sit in was quoted as the most signature event of the protest movement in Jackson the first one with real violence ,

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Although a white female Mullholland has earned her right to sit amongst the honored members of the Civil Rights Movement Through her activism and continued efforts Mulholland is honored in the Smithsonian Museum and the International Civil Rights Center and Museum ,

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ElectHER: Building the Nation's Future Ambitious Women Women make up half of the population but less than one in four elected leaders are women When women run they win at the same rates as men the problem is that there aren t enough women running Research shows that engaging women in politics in high school and college is key to increasing the number of women in public office More than 56 of Congresswomen got their start in student government ElectHER is a progressive women s political advancement organization bridging inequality gaps in democracy by advocating for and enabling women s leadership across appointive and elective office Through skill development participants were able to meet with Mayor Erin Stewart Council Woman Alma Nartatez Town Councilor JoAnn Angelico Stetson SGA Officials President Briana Kuo and Chair of External Affairs Stephanie Elissaint They were able to discuss network and develop their platforms for their future political and non political ambitions ,

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WOMEN SPE A K RUTHE BOYEA WOMEN'S CENTER NEWSLETTER SPRING SEMESTER 2021

Reclaim Shame: Candid Conversations with activist Leah Juliett Reclaim Shame with Leah Juliett was an engaging lecture and dialogue surrounding the issue of Revenge Porn Due to our virtual nature throughout the COVID pandemic the revival of Revenge Porn has become more pervasive Ms Juliett embraced the perspective that there should be no shame surrounding someone who is a victim of revenge porn and that the real shame lies upon the individual who posted the private images Revenge porn is cyber sexual harassment or in some cases cyberbullying Ms Juliett recapped the current statistics and laws surrounding the issue and how therein the term revenge porn is an issue 10 of women under 30 have been threatened to have their images intentionally distributed And 93 of victims reported experiencing psychological trauma As of 2019 only 41 states and the District of Columbia have specific laws outlawing the distribution of revenge porn Connecticut specifically has it deemed a Class A misdemeanor under the unlawful dissemination of an intimate image with intent to cause harm and without the victim s consent .

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Ms Juliett explained that this nonconsensual pornography is also frequently a form of domestic violence because abusers threaten to expose intimate pictures to prevent a partner from exiting a relationship reporting abuse or obtaining custody of children Ms Juliett highlighted their non profit called March Against Revenge Porn This non profit organization is dedicated to combatting tech based sexual abuse image abuse and child sexual abuse material through global organizing legislative action trauma informed programming media advocacy victim support services national protest marches universal storytelling and legal defense fund .

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WOMEN SPE A K RUTHE BOYEA WOMEN'S CENTER NEWSLETTER SPRING SEMESTER 2021

From Suffrage to Equality: Wendy Murphy Discusses Her Fight for Equal Rights

By Samantha Rojas

During Women s History Month there were women recognized for their devotion to the betterment of society and creating change through their careers and chosen fields of work Their contribution to Women s Rights and the Feminist Movement makes them worth aspiring to be The inspire individuals to create lasting change in society For those looking to get more involved in the legal side pertaining to Women s Rights look no further than to Professor and Attorney Wendy Murphy ’

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Wendy Murphy is a Professor at New England Law in Boston where she has been teaching about Sexual Violence and Law Reform for many years She co directs the Women s and Children s Advocacy Project under the Center for Law and Social Responsibility A program that runs the Judicial Language Project which teaches students to use sociolinguistic research to critique the language used in law and society to describe violence against women and children /

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If you are not familiar with Wendy Murthy through her time as a legal analyst on news outlets such as CNN Fox News MSNBC and others then she is likely known for her role in cases regarding the breaching of Title IX policies Particularly regarding Ivy League Schools such as Harvard and Yale University ,

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The Ruthe Boyea Women s Center was fortunate enough to have Wendy Murphy as a guest speaker on during Women s History Month Her Lecture From Suffrage to Equality Where are We Really highlighted where women stand today within the context of U S law She elaborated on the Equal Rights Amendment ERA which seeks to establish equal protection under the law regardless of gender In addition when it comes to the status under the law women face a Middle Tier Scrutiny due to their gender and legal illegitimacy Ultimately Mrs Murphy highlighted how the law and the language used has yet to properly protect women under law She stressed that Title IX on college campus has yet to fully help those who are victims of domestic violence and assault ’

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WOMEN SPE A K RUTHE BOYEA WOMEN'S CENTER NEWSLETTER SPRING SEMESTER 2021

The Bro Code: How Men's Silence Affects Women and Men

By Alisa Rodriguez

Dr Thomas Keith came to speak at a CCSU Ruthe Boyea Women s Center event on April 6th 2021 He is a filmmaker and teacher of philosophy and gender studies at California State Polytechnic University Pomona and Claremont Graduate University where he received his Ph D in 2001 Dr Keith specializes in American philosophy and pragmatism with an emphasis on issues of race class and gender Dr Keith wrote directed and produced the bestselling Media Education Foundation Films Generation M Misogyny in Media and Culture and The Bro Code How Contemporary Culture Creates Sexist Men and The Empathy Gap Masculinity and the Courage to Change During his event Dr Keith focused mainly on topics discussed in The Bro Code .

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One of the topics he specifically discussed is the music industry and it s relation to sexism Dr Keith was able to read to us some lyrics of very well known music artists which include references to rape violence against women and the portrayal of women as objects Another way that Dr Keith was able to draw a correlation to society and its influence on sexist men is through the usage of media He was able to show us the many different advertisements that companies have used from past to present these ads had a constant theme of sexualizing women or portraying domestic violence as a way to gain customers Dr Keith s talk was very eye opening and knowledgeable to many of his listeners ’

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WOMEN SPE A K RUTHE BOYEA WOMEN'S CENTER NEWSLETTER SPRING SEMESTER 2021

Take Back the Night: Shattering the Silence to Stop the Violence

By Alisa Rodriguez

Alisa coordinated Sexual Assault Awareness Month

The Central Connecticut State University s Ruthe Boyea Women s Center held our annual Take Back the Night event virtually on April 13th 2021 at 7 pm There were three parts of this years event we opened with information on campus local resources followed by speeches and stories from keynote speakers and ended with a speak out portion Our event consisted of two keynote speakers Katherine Scianneaux and Kayla Cotten Both of whom had stories that not only touched the hearts of all of our attendee s but were also able to help spread awareness on Sexual Assault ’

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Kat is a human trafficking survivor and mental health advocate She is currently working with humansave org in their middle high school program to educate about human trafficking She uses her social media platforms to spread awareness about her recovery as a survivor and to engage in candid conversations about her experiences with human trafficking .

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Kayla is a survivor and advocate for sexual assault victims She has testified in front of Senate about her experience and concerns about bills towards sexual offenders She uses her experience to help others on a broad range through news articles organizational work and social media .

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Throughout the night we had resources available for attendees which consisted of survivors and allies just in case anyone got overwhelmed We had Sgt Jerry Erwin from the CCSU Police Department Amanda Carrington from the New Britain YWCA Sexual Assault Crisis Services and Jazmynn Jakubczyk from Prudence Crandall Each of these resources shared about what their work entails and how they could be of service if anyone in attendance needed Sgt Erwin was able to go into detail about an incredible resource for CCSU students which is the LiveSafe App This event is unique because it was done virtually so throughout the duration of the event these resources put their contact information in the chat so that it would be easily accessible for the audience We were also honored to have CCSU s Vice President for Equity and Inclusion join us and emphasize the importance of the Take Back the Night program ,

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To conclude the event we had a Speak Out portion it was advertised to students as a time during the event where they could share their own personal stories As this portion of the event went on more and more brave survivors sent in stories for us to read out loud For many of them this was their first time sharing their story The purpose of Take Back the Night is to empower survivors to speak up and take their power back so seeing so many brave participants send in their stories felt inspiring for all of us We would like to extend a thank you to anyone that was brave enough to share their story with us as it made the event extremely impactful "

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WOMEN SPE A K RUTHE BOYEA WOMEN'S CENTER NEWSLETTER SPRING SEMESTER 2021

Racialized Misogyny and Women’s Experiences of Anti-Asian Racism During Covid-19 with Dr. Melissa Borja In response to the on going hate crimes toward the Asian American community the Ruthe Boyea Women s Center stands in solidarity with those that wish to eradicate all forms of racism within our society In acknowledgement of this Dr Melissa Borja researcher and educator joined us to discuss her studies on anti Asian rhetoric in today s society -

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Dr Borja discussed the broader context of the racialized misogyny experienced in Atlanta She offered an overview of the violence and racism experienced by Asian Americans specifically towards Asian American women She focused on her findings through her research at the Stop AAPI Hate and the Virulent Hate Project .

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Then Dr Borja discussed how the attacks were mainly towards Asian women and how they are leading the activism and calls for change at the local state and international level ,

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Dr Borja was enlightening and engaging on a subject that was not pervasively educated on prior to the anti Asian hate crimes associated with COVID Anti Asian hate crimes surged 145 during 2020 and within the past year there were 3 800 anti Asian racist incidents mostly against women There is an intersectional dynamic going on that others may perceive both Asians and women and Asian women as easier targets .

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WOMEN SPE A K RUTHE BOYEA WOMEN'S CENTER NEWSLETTER SPRING SEMESTER 2021

HIV Awareness In honor of HIV AIDs Awareness the Women s Center is co sponsored a panel discussion with the LGBTQ Center where the panelists discussed why advocacy HIV AIDs is still important to end the stigma World AIDS Day was first observed in 1988 Each year organizations and individuals across the world bring attention to the HIV epidemic endeavor to increase HIV awareness and knowledge speak out against HIV stigma and call for an increased response to move toward Ending the HIV /

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Epidemic: A Plan for America.

According to CDC in 2011 8 879 Americans between the ages of 15 24 were newly diagnosed with HIV Since college students traditionally fall in that age bracket encouraging them to get tested is important That is why the Women s Center joined up with CFHR The CT Center for Harm Reduction Through CFHR we are able to provide annual HIV Hep C Testing on campus to ensure students are getting tested and furthering the mission to end the stigmatization of AIDs testing ,

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WOMEN SPE A K RUTHE BOYEA WOMEN'S CENTER NEWSLETTER SPRING SEMESTER 2021

Women's History Month Virtual Luncheon Discussion In honor of Women s History Month the Women s Center co sponsored an event with the Committee on the Concerns of Women and the WGSS department This event was moderated by Endowed Vance Chair Carolyn Lumsden During the event participants were invited to view a short documentary on Women s Suffrage produced by Karyl Evans and engaged in conversation with her surrounding the perspective of the Women s Suffrage Movement The keynote speaker for this event was Dr Khalilah Brown Dean from Quinnipiac University Dr Brown Dean described her research surrounding women in society particularly women in reference to Kamala Harris who recently shattered a glass ceiling and became the first female Vice President '

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WOMEN SPE A K RUTHE BOYEA WOMEN'S CENTER NEWSLETTER SPRING SEMESTER 2021

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WOMEN SPE A K RUTHE BOYEA WOMEN'S CENTER NEWSLETTER SPRING SEMESTER 2021

WHY YOU SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN OUR WOMEN'S CENTER SUPPORT GROUPS Through our support groups at the Women s Center you will be able to further your personal development For example United Sisters aims to empower black women through discussion leadership development and group trainings Latina Leadership and Professional Development group LLPD aims to create a sisterhood environment that fosters personal growth through support and facilitation of trainings that individuals can effectively use to obtain educational career goals It Takes a Village is a group specifically for student parents that are learning a work life balance specifically during the struggles of COVID And Lose To Gain is a support group that seeks to build confidence in oneself through weight loss nutrition education goal achievement in order to become a healthier individual '

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Support Group Facilitator Paola Zayas Garcia :

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WOMEN SPE A K RUTHE BOYEA WOMEN'S CENTER NEWSLETTER SPRING SEMESTER 2021

Female Leadership Spotlight Our Featured Females This Semester

Interviewer Caitlin Murphy :

Roma McLaughlin Women's Soccer Team Captain

Grace Bisgyer

Briana Kuo

Dance Team Captain

SGA President

Pat Bingham

Claire Viola

LGBTQ+ Center UA

RecCentral

Amy Strickland Associate Athletic Director

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WOMEN SPE A K RUTHE BOYEA WOMEN'S CENTER NEWSLETTER SPRING SEMESTER 2021

INTERVIEWING TIPS & TRICKS FOR GRADUATING SENIORS

BY SAMANTHA ROJAS

Samantha was a student representative on two search committees

Aside from the Cover Letters Resumes References or other things given to employers prior to the interview the most important thing to land a job is the interview itself A Resume or Cover Letter can always get you an interview opportunity but it is the interview itself that lands your ideal job An interview gives an employer a sense of who you are as an individual and how your experience will benefit their company business or organization in the long run The prep work for the interview is just as important than the actual interview itself Here are some tips to remember 1 Practice potential interview questions before your interview This might seem a little obvious but it can never be stated too much how practicing something makes you better at it Interviews can be a little nerve racking no matter how experienced or qualified the person is for the job Practicing interview questions can release the nervous jitters and help you feel more prepared for your upcoming interview 2 Read the job description and make sure it fits in to the responses for your interview I think what most people tend to forget is that a potential employer is looking at how an individual will be an asset to them in their organization The individual can market themselves well but may forget to elaborate on some of the attributes that an employer is looking for during an interview Looking at the job description and highlighting your experience related to that can make you more appealing That and if any of your experience elaborated on the additional Preferred Qualifications then you can incorporate those experience into your responses 3 Practice standard interview questions and behavioral interview questions In my opinion a lot of people don t realize that there are 2 sets of interview questions The traditional interview questions and the behavioral interview questions It isn t guaranteed that the interview questions you practice with beforehand will be given during a job interview but knowing the general questions can give you an advantage Depending on the job you are applying for your more likely to get asked one of these sets But in the off chance you get asked one from each then your well prepared 4 Dress code Always dress your best for an interview That in itself can help to land you a job Your wardrobe can show the level of professionalism needed for the position and may even express how much you care about landing it Even if you feel overdressed for an interview it still better than being underdressed ,

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WOMEN SPE A K RUTHE BOYEA WOMEN'S CENTER NEWSLETTER SPRING SEMESTER 2021

WHAT HAVE OUR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS BEEN UP TO?

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WOMEN SPE A K RUTHE BOYEA WOMEN'S CENTER NEWSLETTER SPRING SEMESTER 2021

Ruthe Boyea Scholarship (2050) Provides support for a matriculated undergraduate or graduate student with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 and with promise of outstanding academic and career potential. Financial need may be considered at the direction of the committee. This years winners are Dawn Blizzard and Trinitee Williams.

Special Application Instructions: Applicants shall submit a statement indicating what they have done, or plan to do, for the enhancement of women.

Please inquire about other scholarships you may qualify for through the Ruthe Boyea Womens' Center Thanks for everyone applying!

Everyone's a winner!

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WOMEN SPE A K RUTHE BOYEA WOMEN'S CENTER NEWSLETTER SPRING SEMESTER 2021

Suggestions by Sydnie

Summer Entertainment BUCKET

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WOMEN SPE A K RUTHE BOYEA WOMEN'S CENTER NEWSLETTER SPRING SEMESTER 2021

Women's Sports

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WOMEN SPE A K RUTHE BOYEA WOMEN'S CENTER NEWSLETTER SPRING SEMESTER 2021

A note from Bethany Grupp, AmeriCorps Teaching Fellow

Grace Academy is a private, tuition free, not-for-profit school serving low income girls in the Hartford area. We strive to break the cycle of poverty through education. As a CCSU alum, I knew many amazing women who work there that could serve as role models for our youth. When my father who works at CCSU connected me with the Director of the Women's Center to ask about a speaking engagement in February for Black History Month, we started talking about the connection that Grace could have with the CCSU Women's Center. With Women's History Month taking place in March, I thought it would be a perfect time to invite the Women's Center to come and do a workshop with the students at Grace Academy. We collaborated on a workshop event and we hope to continue the partnership with CCSU. The workshop was focused on women who persevered in history. The girls were so engaged that we did not even have time to finish the workshop! The students at Grace loved meeting the CCSU students and getting to know them. They felt they could be open and honest with them about their experiences. We hope to continue events like this with CCSU in the future. We have a few Grace Academy alum who have gone on to attend CCSU and it would be a great opportunity to open up our middle school students to college mentors and strong female role models. Once Covid ends, I hope that the ladies of the Women Center can come visit us at Grace Academy!

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WOMEN SPE A K RUTHE BOYEA WOMEN'S CENTER NEWSLETTER SPRING SEMESTER 2021

Women's Center Team

Tiffany TrowbridgeBernard

Tess Atkinson

Sydnie Dorman

Mia Dorantes

Caitlin Murphy

Jubilee Perez

Alisa Rodriguez

Samantha Rojas

Not pictured: Luke Betseyt Olawunmi Sodipo Ruthe Boyea Women's Center Student Center - Room 215 Central Connecticut State University 1615 Stanley Street New Britain, CT 06050 Phone: 860-832-1655 Fax: 860-832-1677 Hours of Operation Monday - Friday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Trinitee Williams

Paola Zayas Garcia

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are operating a virtual Women's Center with events throughout the academic year. Our services of providing academic and personal support, resources and referrals are still available. You are also invited to contact us via email, Director Jacqueline Cobbina-Boivin, cobbina-boivinj@ccsu.edu or University Assistant Tiffany TrowbridgeBernard at t.trowbridge-bernard@ccsu.edu.

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WOMEN SPE A K RUTHE BOYEA WOMEN'S CENTER NEWSLETTER SPRING SEMESTER 2021

A Women's Center Welcome to, Dr. Stacey Miller

Dr. Stacey Miller serves as the inaugural Vice President for Equity and Inclusion and Director of the John Lewis Institute for Social Justice at Central Connecticut State University. Her current portfolio includes oversight of the Equity and Inclusion Office, the LBTQA Center and the Ruthe Boyea Women’s Center.

She formerly served as the Associate Provost for Inclusion and Equity at Valparaiso University in Northwest Indiana and the Director of Residential Life in the Division of Student Affairs at the University of Vermont; positions she held from 2003 to 2021. She is also the co-founder and managing partner for the Consortium for Inclusion and Equity (CIE), LLC, a small firm that specializes in integrated diversity education and consulting.

Over the course of her career, she has served as both an administrator in student affairs, and course instructor for the Higher Education and Student Affairs (HESA) program. She is nationally recognized for her work with affirmative recruitment of diverse staff, and educational training and workshops on diversity and inclusion. She is also sought out for her knowledge and growing expertise in the use of Restorative Practices in collegiate residential settings.

Dr. Miller received her Doctorate of Education in Leadership and Policy Studies from the College of Education and Social Services at the University of Vermont, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences and Masters of Arts in Liberal Studies from Stony Brook University. She also serves as the Chair to the Board of Trustees for the International Institute for Restorative Practices Graduate School in Bethlehem, PA.

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WOMEN SPE A K RUTHE BOYEA WOMEN'S CENTER NEWSLETTER SPRING SEMESTER 2021

Women of Color Graduation Ceremony The women of Color Award, White Rose Ceremony is to recognize leaders whose accomplishments advance the principles of racial and gender equality at CCSU. These award winners have specifically contributed to the advancement of women of color through their academic achievements, advocacy efforts, and/or service to the university.

Dr. Yan Liu is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership, Policy, and Instructional Technology at the Central Connecticut State University. She is originally from China, and is wife of a businessman and mom of a seven- year-old daughter. She strongly believes that social justice is for all people, no matter their backgrounds, to be appreciated and inspired in a society with equal opportunities. Yan teaches the Ed.D. and 6th-year programs with quantitative research methodology and leadership theory courses. Her research interests center around educational leadership and the impact of varied leadership practices on teaching and learning, through a comparative and international perspective.

Dr. Evelyn Newman Phillips is a professor in the Department of Anthropology. She has taught at Central Connecticut University since 1994 and filled many roles as a member of the campus. Formerly, she served as Co- Director of the Center for Africana Studies for several years. Additionally, she taught in the Department of Social Work. Dr. Newman Phillips holds a Masters of Social Work from Florida State University in Tallahassee and a Doctorate in Anthropology from the University of South Florida in Tampa. Prior to achieving her doctorate Dr. Newman Phillips, served as social worker in various cities throughout the United States. Additionally, she served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Tampa. Currently Dr. Newman Phillips’s research addresses issues of justice, ethnicity, and displacement of African Americans, and cultural preservation of African American heritage. Her publications address these issues. As an activist scholar, she seeks to help both communities and students reach fullest potential through social justice.

Dr. Olutayo Sogurno went to Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, CT where she graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and minor in Psychology in 2007. In college, Dr. Sogurno worked at the Women’s Center and was very active on campus with organizing events and club leadership. Her research interests in undergrad included the phylogenetic study of a lizard species using DNA PCR and gene sequencing techniques. After college, Dr. Sogurno worked in research and development for a large consumer goods company as a laboratory research technician working on surfactant conductivity while attending graduate school. She graduated from Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, CT with a Master’s degree in Biology in 2008. Dr. Sogurno then attended medical school at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM-Virginia) and graduated in 2012 with my medical degree, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, D.O. During medical school, she did research in the Finkelstein research lab at Virginia Polytechnic Institute working on cancer cell circadian rhythms. Once graduating medical school, she did her General Surgery residency training in Toledo, Ohio at Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center and completed my residency in 2017. As a board certified General Surgeon, Dr. Sogurno practiced general surgery in the community setting in Southwest Texas then relocated back home to CT, where she currently practices Acute Care and Trauma Surgery in Bridgeport, CT.

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WOMEN SPE A K RUTHE BOYEA WOMEN'S CENTER NEWSLETTER SPRING SEMESTER 2021

Alumni News Joining our alumni network as recent CCSU Graduates: Briana Kuo Juliana Soares Tess Atkinson Shannon Cisse Xandria Blair Announcements: Congratulations to Alison Chan-Rodriguez & Husband, Michael Rodriguez, who are expecting their first child Congratulations to Sahrash Chaudhary for her recent engagement with Michael Hanna Congratulations to Surline Jolicoeur on her marriage to Trendel Tuston Congratulations to Kadi-Ann Rose on her acceptance into University of Cincinnati's Medical School Congratulations to Regina Young on becoming a State Representative in Pennsylvania Congratulations to Jason Alvarez on his acceptance into Columbia University's School of Engineering Congratulations to Monique Daley on her new position as Diversity Officer at Wheeler Clinic Congratulations to Michelle Guerrero on her acceptance into Law School

If you are an alumni and wish to update the Women's Center with announcements please email: t.trowbridgebernard@ccsu.edu

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WOMEN SPE A K RUTHE BOYEA WOMEN'S CENTER NEWSLETTER SPRING SEMESTER 2021

Social Media Recap

Total Semester Posts: 153 Followers: 1,227

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WOMEN SPE A K RUTHE BOYEA WOMEN'S CENTER NEWSLETTER SPRING SEMESTER 2021

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1. Parks, helped initiate the civil rights movement in the US when she refused to give up her seat 4. Kahlo, Mexican painter known for her many portraits and works inspired by nature 9. Ocasio-Cortez, American politician serving as a US Representative for New York 11. Angelou, the black woman's poet laureate 12. Harris, first female Vice President of the US 13. Coleman, first African-American woman and first Native-American to hold a pilots license

1. Bader-Ginsburg, American lawyer and jurist who served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court 2. Truth, outspoken advocate for abolition, temperance, civil, and women's rights in 19th century 3. Dworkin, American racial feminist activist and writer 5. Frank, child posthumously famous for the publishing of her diary 6. Steinem, American feminist journalist and social political activist who became recognized as a leader of the feminist movement 7. Yousafzai, Pakistani activist for female education and youngest Nobel Prize laureate 8. Maathai, Kenyan social, environmental, and political activist and first African woman to win the Novel Peace Prize 10. Neale Hurston, most popular of her four novels is Their Eyes Were Watching God

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WOMEN SPE A K RUTHE BOYEA WOMEN'S CENTER NEWSLETTER SPRING SEMESTER 2021

ACROSS

DOWN

1. Parks, helped initiate the civil rights movement in the US when she refused to give up her seat 4. Kahlo, Mexican painter known for her many portraits and works inspired by nature 9. Ocasio-Cortez, American politician serving as a US Representative for New York 11. Angelou, the black woman's poet laureate 12. Harris, first female Vice President of the US 13. Coleman, first African-American woman and first Native-American to hold a pilots license

1. Bader-Ginsburg, American lawyer and jurist who served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court 2. Truth, outspoken advocate for abolition, temperance, civil, and women's rights in 19th century 3. Dworkin, American racial feminist activist and writer 5. Frank, child posthumously famous for the publishing of her diary 6. Steinem, American feminist journalist and social political activist who became recognized as a leader of the feminist movement 7. Yousafzai, Pakistani activist for female education and youngest Nobel Prize laureate 8. Maathai, Kenyan social, environmental, and political activist and first African woman to win the Novel Peace Prize 10. Neale Hurston, most popular of her four novels is Their Eyes Were Watching God