Women’s and Ethnic Studies

Director: Becky Thompson Columbine Hall
Room 1025
(719) 255-4762

Program Administrator: Jane Muller
Columbine Hall
Room 1025
(719) 255-4553

Faculty

Professors: Abby Ferber, Andrea Herrera, and Becky Thompson; Assistant Professors: Janice Gould, Aditi Mitra, and Carole Woodall; Senior Instructor: Dena Samuels; Instructor: Abeer Ibrahim.

The Women’s and Ethnic Studies Program (WEST) is an interdisciplinary course of study that includes a major and a minor . Both the major and minor center on the experiences and cultural expressions of women and/or racial and ethnic groups in the United States and globally. Our theoretical framework focuses on how race, gender, class, nationality, sexuality and other hierarchies influence people’s life chances and alliances. The WEST Program emphasizes analytical sophistication, cross-disciplinary thinking, creative and innovative teaching, community engagement, and local and global awareness. WEST promotes curricular and faculty development and sponsors a variety of cultural programming in collaboration with the Multicultural Office for Student Access, Inclusiveness, and Community (MOSAIC), and the Matrix Center for the Advancement of Social Equity and Inclusion. By teaching and modeling ways to work effectively with women and men from various classes, racial/ethnic, religious, sexual, and national backgrounds, the degree prepares students for work in a range of fields (health care, social justice work, global education, creative and performing arts, education, etc.) and advanced masters and doctoral work in several disciplines.