Keynotes, Plenary, and Session Details

Friday, March 25th,  12:15-1:45

LGBTQ Conference Plenary and PB Poorman Awards Luncheon

Lowell Hall Dining Room, 610 Langdon Street

Anti-LGBTQ Bullying, Harassment, & Cyber Bullying - National Issues and Local Responses
A panel of LGBTQ resource professionals convenes to discuss the pervasive challenges of anti-LGBTQ bullying, harassment, and cyber bullying. In the beginning of this academic year a number instances of anti-LGBTQ bullying and harassment brought renewed attention to these long-standing problems. The presenters will discuss how we can act in our state, campus, and local contexts to create change, foster inclusive environments, and challenge hate. Jennifer Murray, Director, UW-Milwaukee LGBT Resource Center; Liz Cannon, Director, UW-Oshkosh LGBTQ Resource Center;  Willem Van Roosenbeek, Director, UW-La Crosse Pride Center;  Robin Matthies, Interim Director, UW-Madison LGBT Campus Center & Library; Ashley Olson,  Sociocultural Coordinator, UW-River Falls; Ana Guerriero, Director, UW-Parkside LGBT Resource Center; and Julie Miller, LGBTQ Program Coordinator, UW-Stout

Friday, March 25th, 5:30
35th Anniversary Reception

Department of Gender and Women’s Studies, 3rd floor, Sterling Hall, 475 N. Charter Street, UW-Madison

Join us in celebrating the shared 35th anniversary of the Wisconsin Women's Studies Conference.  All conference participants are invited to the reception which will be held in the new facilities of the UW-Madison Department of Gender and Women’s Studies.  Festivities will include an art exhibition.

Saturday, March 26th, 11:00-1:00
Outstanding Women of Color in Education Awards Speaker

Lowell Hall Dining Room, 610 Langdon Street

Vicki Washington is the Associate Vice President for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at UW System Administration.  In that position Ms. Washington has oversight for the UW Systems most important efforts and initiatives focused on equity and diversity, including but not limited to the System’s adoption of Inclusive Excellence, the Equity Scorecard Project, the UWSA President's Council on Diversity, as well preparation of policy options and reports, policy analysis, and advising the Senior Vice President about trends affecting diversity, and multicultural and disadvantaged programs and policies.  Vicki has extensive experience in civil rights, diversity and multicultural change, facilitation, conflict resolution, and employee relations and human resources. Vicki was honored with the 2000 YWCA Women of Distinction Award for her outstanding contributions toward promoting women, diversity, and tolerance in our community. She was recognized for her work and contributions to the City and the Madison Equal Opportunities Commission by the City of Madison when it awarded her with the 1999 Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award. She was also recognized twice with the UW System Outstanding Woman of Color Award, by UW-Extension in 1997 and by UW System Administration in 2006. Vicki received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, her law degree from North Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina, and has many certifications in her fields.

Saturday, March 26th, 3:30-4:30
Conference Keynote

Pyle Center

Barbara Ransby is an acclaimed biographer and Professor of Gender and Women’s Studies, History and African-American Studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago.  She is a writer, historian and longtime activist and author of the award winning book ‘Ella Baker and the Black Radical Tradition,’ (University of North Carolina Press, 2003), about one of the most important African American leaders of the twentieth century and perhaps the most influential woman in the civil rights movement. She has worked with the Black Radical Congress, Progressive Media Project, Crossroads Fund, Public Square, African American Women in Defense of Ourselves and other activist organizations. Ransby is also a founder of the activist group Ella’s Daughters, a network of artists, scholars and writers working in the activist tradition of Ella Baker.  More about the work of Ella’s Daughters can be found here:  http://www.ellasdaughters.org/home