SUNY Empire State College students and faculty gathered for the on-site meeting of the Women's and Gender Studies Residency. The residency consisted of five studies designed specifically for this year’s theme, “Gender Roles and Identities: Evolution and Revolution.”

Seventeen students enrolled across five studies were enthusiastic about the heavy course reading lists, discussions, individual research projects, group activities and community-building.

SUNY Empire undergraduate residencies are unique opportunities for students to study and engage in experiential learning through hands-on, face-to-face workshops and travel, which are incorporated into students’ degree program.

The studies for “Gender Roles and Identities: Evolution and Revolution” were:

• “Crossing Boundaries: Space, Place and Identity in Black Women’s Writings,” a course designed and taught by Associate Professor Nadine Wedderburn
• “Culture, Gender and Suicidal Behavior,” a course designed and taught by Assistant Professor Debra Kram-Fernandez
• “Gender, Health and Technologies,” a course designed and taught by adjunct faculty member and lecturer AnaMaria Ross
• “Identity, Self and Gender in Literature and Film,” a course designed and taught by Visiting Assistant Professor Connelly Akstens
• “Mad Men, Mad Women: A History of Women in the 1960s,” a course designed and taught by Kate Dermody.

The on-site component for the residency took place Friday-Saturday, March 2-3, at the college location at 113 West Ave., Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

In addition to the specific studies, Assistant Professor Himanee Gupta-Carlson, a recipient of a grant from the college’s Scholars Across the College program, presented “Farming like a Girl: Using Gender to Re-think Home Economics, Animal Husbandry and Heavy Lifting.”

Attendees learned about the gendered history and practice of graffiti arts-and designed their own graffiti “tags”- from Maryann  Borden, an adjunct member of the faculty and lecturer with the college.

All logistics planning and execution were carried out by Lori McCaffrey, college residency specialist, with behind-the-scenes organizing by Professor Karen Garner.

“This was a great learning experience for all involved and I congratulate everyone for all their hard work,” said David Bejou, SUNY Empire’s provost and executive vice president for academic affairs.

Graduate students also have the opportunity to engage in residencies. More information about graduate residencies is available online at Graduate Residency Information.

A complete list of residency studies and other special learning opportunities is available in the college’s Annual Learning Opportunities Inventory (until Fall 2018) and the Course Catalog.