Women's History Month

The National Women’s History Month’s theme for 2024 celebrates “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.” The theme recognizes women throughout the country who understand that, for a positive future, we need to eliminate bias and discrimination entirely from our lives and institutions.

Women from every background have long realized that an uneven playing field will never bring equality or justice. Many feel the critical need to speak up and work harder for fairness in our institutions and social interactions.

During 2024, we recognize the example of women who are committed to embracing everyone and excluding no one in our common quest for freedom and opportunity. They know that people change with the help of families, teachers and friends, and that young people in particular need to learn the value of hearing from different voices with different points of view as they grow up.

Today, equity, diversity and inclusion are powerful driving forces that are having a wide-ranging impact on our country. As members of families, civic and community groups, businesses and legislative bodies, women are in the forefront of reevaluating the status quo. They are looking anew at what harmful social policies and behaviors exist and, often subtly, determine our future. In response, women in communities across the nation are helping to develop innovative programs and projects within corporations, the military, federal agencies and educational organizations to address these injustices.

It takes courage for women to advocate for practical goals like equity, diversity and inclusion when established forces aim to misinterpret, exploit or discredit them. Throughout 2024, we honor local women from the past and present who have taken the lead to show the importance of change and to establish firmer safeguards, practices and legislation reflecting these values. Following decades of discrimination, we are proud to celebrate women who work for basic inclusion, equality and fairness.

Who are the women in your community or organization that you will honor? 

St. Mary’s University is committed to creating inclusive and accessible events. If you need accommodation, please contact us at accessibility@stmarytx.edu or (210) 436-3135. All requests must be made at least 72 hours before the event date.

February 2024

• Professional Clothing Thrift Pop-Up - Wednesday, February 7, noon to 3 p.m., University Center, Conference Room A. Career and Professional Development Center, Women's Affairs Council, ECO Club, Student Health and Wellness Programs, and Office of Community Engagement. (Taylor White)
• Galentines! - Tuesday, February 13, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., University Center, Conference Room C. Women's Affairs Council (Elizabeth Santos)

March 2024

• Alice Wright Franzke Feminist Award Reception - Friday, March 1, 4 to 5:30 p.m., Law Administration Building, Atrium. (Sue Nash, Ph.D.)
• America's Shame: The Silent Tragedy of Indigenous Women - Monday, March 4, 10:20 to 11:10 a.m., University Center, Conference Room A. Communication Studies and Compassionate San Antonio (Kathe Lehman-Meyer). Award-winning journalist and Sul Ross University graduate student, Brooke Manuel, who has been outspoken about murdered and missing indigenous women, will bring an awareness campaign and call to action to StMU. 
• Merienda Marianista - Wednesday, March 6, 3:30 to 5 p.m., Contreras Lounge. Center for Catholic Studies. (Julieta Sanchez). Join us for Merienda Marianista during Women's History Month! We invite the St. Mary's Community to build fellowship and take a snack break to celebrate our Marianist family spirit. All are welcome to stop by and enjoy pan dulce and coffee. The Merienda Tradition is a time to relax and enjoy the company of family and friends. Merienda is a common term in Europe and Latin America that refers to an afternoon snack or a simple bocadillo, fruit, yogurt or some sort of sweet bread or pastry.
• Women in STEM Luncheon - Thursday, March 7, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., University Center, Conference Room A. School of Science, Engineering and Technology (Margarita Alarilla)
• Can We Talk? About the Future of Public Education - Wednesday, March 13, 5 to 8:30 p.m., Off campus: San Antonio Water System (SAWS), 2800 US Hwy 281 North, San Antonio, TX 78212. Sixty women's organizations in San Antonio (Diana Alcocer). When we talk about education of the next generation, we want to know what's on the horizon. Come hear some of the experts at the front lines and see what is happening. Panelists: Marisa Perez-Diaz, State Board of Education (SBOE) Member, District 3; Jessica Weaver, CEO, Communities in Schools - San Antonio; Wanda Longoria, President, Northside AFT; Moderator: Leigh Munsil, Editor in Chief, San Antonio Report. Register at Eventbrite or see registration form below.
• How to Survive in Ancient Israel: The Biblical Rahab and Resolviendo - Tuesday, March 19, 2 to 3:15 p.m., University Center, Conference Room C. Theology Department. (Sara Ronis, Ph.D.)
• Dolores: A Champion for Equity and Social Justice: A Viewing of the Documentary and Discussion - Wednesday, March 20, 3:15 to 4:30 p.m., St. Louis Hall 330. Political Science Department & the Mexican American Studies Program. (Sonia Garcia, Ph.D.)
• Merienda Marianista - Wednesday, March 20, 3:30 to 5 p.m., Contreras Lounge. Center for Catholic Studies. (Julieta Sanchez). See March 6 description.
• Women in Law Leadership Awards - Wednesday, March 20, 4:30 p.m., Sarita Kenedy East Law Library, Alumni Room. School of Law, 4th Court of Appeals. (Sr. Grace Walle, F.M.I., D.Min.)
• Women, Faith, and Leadership - Wednesday, March 20, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Alkek Atrium. Center for Catholic Studies and Theology Department. (Xavier Montecel, Ph.D. and Julieta Sanchez). A conversation with Maria Antonietta Berriozabal, the first Hispanic woman City Council member in San Antonio, and Sr. Jane Ann Slater, CDP, the first woman Chancellor of the Archdiocese of San Antonio.
• Blood Drive - Thursday, March 21, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Chaminade Field. Office of Community Engagement. (Angela Zavala)
• Women of Wall Street Series: "Hetty Green and the 'Value' of Financial History" - Thursday, March 21, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., Alkek Atrium. Scholars of Capital Markets & Greehey School of Business. (Valerie Ballesteros, D.B.A.). Guest lecturer, Mark J. Higgins, CFA, CFP and author of "A View of Financial History.” The book is scheduled for publication in February 2024. The event will include a high tea and free copies of the book for participants, underwritten by Merrill Lynch.
• Feminists of Color Appreciation Dinner - Thursday, March 21, 6 to 9 p.m., University Center, Alumni Room. Women's Affairs Council. (Elizabeth Santos)
• "Encountering Laudato Si' in a Marianist Spirit: Engaging Scientists, Faith Communities, and Students for Climate Justice" by Sr. Leanne Jablonski, Director at the Marianist Environmental Education Center, Dayton, OH - Jose Miguel Cimadevilla Memorial Seminar Series & Laudato Si' in Action Environmental Science Seminar Speaker - Friday, March 22, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m, Moody Life Science Center 101 (Vanessa Jimenez & Leia Lozano) 
• Blessing of the Women - Monday, March 25, 9:10 to 9:45 a.m., Barrett Memorial Bell Tower. Center for Catholic Studies, Marianist Sisters and University Ministry. (Sister Grace Walle, F.M.I., D.Min.) Breakfast tacos and refreshments will be served.
• EcoFeminism - Tuesday, March 26, 4 to 6 p.m., Alkek Plaza. ECO Club and Women's Affairs Council. (Elizabeth Santos)
• Vicki Ruiz, Ph.D., National Humanities Medal recipient lecture to International Economics class - Wednesday, March 27, 12:20 to 1:35 p.m., Alkek 103. Economics Department and Mexican American Studies Program (Belinda Román, Ph.D.). Open to the university community.
• Vicki Ruiz, Ph.D., National Humanities Medal recipient lecture to Oral History class - Wednesday, March 27, 3:15 to 4:30 p.m., Richter Math-Engineering 107. History Department (Lindsey Wieck, Ph.D. and Belinda Román, Ph.D.). Open to the university community.
• Honoring the Marianist Sisters - Wednesday, March 27, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., University Center, Conference Room A. Office of Inclusive Excellence (Stella Silva, Ph.D.). By invitation only.
• Diversity in Literature: Reimagining Shakespeare in the Borderlands - Thursday, March 28, 9:45 to 11 a.m., University Center, Conference Room B. (Margaret Cantú-Sánchez, Ph.D.) 

 

The 2024 St. Mary's University Women’s History Month Committee:

Faculty
Valerie Ballesteros, D.B.A.; Margaret Cantu-Sanchez, Ph.D.; Mallory Coley, Ph.D.; Prof. Diane Duesterhoeft; Todd Hanneken, Ph.D.; Celine Jacquemin, Ph.D.; Prof. Kathe Lehman-Meyer; Xavier Montecel, Ph.D.; Sue Nash, Ph.D.; Leona Pallansch, Ph.D.; Belinda Román, Ph.D.; Angeli Willson, Ph.D. (Coordinator)

Staff
Margarita Alarilla, Ed.D.; Jacqueline Flores; Jason King, Ph.D.; Julieta Sanchez; Stella Silva, Ph.D.; Sister Grace Walle, F.M.I., D.Min.; Angela Zavala

Students
Bianca Ramos; Elizabeth Santos

Community
Diana Alcocer; Richard Dancer; Chief Justice Rebeca Martinez

Affiliated Students, Faculty and Staff
Sonia Garcia, Ph.D.; Leia Lozano; Vanessa Jimenez; Lindsey Wieck, Ph.D.

Call for inclusive flash nonfiction and poetry! Deadline is April 15, 2024.

 

Flyers for March 4, 2024 program.

 

Flyer for March 6 and March 20, 2024 programs.

 

Flyer for March 7, 2024 Women in STEM luncheon.

 

Flyer for March 13, 2024 program.

 

Flyer for March 20, 2024 film screening and discussion.

 

Flyer for March 20, 2024 Women, Faith, and Leadership program.

 

Flyer for March 21, 2024 Feminists of Color Appreciation Dinner.

 

Flyer for March 22, 2024 program.

 

Information about Blessing of the Women on March 25, 2024.

Flyer for March 26, 2024 program.

 

Flyer for March 28, 2024 program.