Illuminating Issues Around Women, Gender and Social Justice to be Explored at Women’s Conference During National Women’s History Month
Friday, March 9, 2018
This year’s keynote speaker will be Camille Nelson, LL.B, LL.M., dean and professor of law at American University, Washington College of Law. Her presentation will focus on the effects of racism, sexism, mental health, and policing that remain underexplored today. She is a noted expert on the intersection of critical race theory and cultural studies with particular emphasis on criminal law and procedure, health law, and comparative law.
The conference provides a venue to discuss contemporary and historical issues involving women and gender. Expert presenters reflect the dynamic, productive diversity of perspectives and approaches shaping current conversations about women and about gender.
"The conference provides a place where people can share and encounter critical thinking about issues that shape our experience from the level of everyday life to global affairs. The work done in colleges and universities in fields like Women's Studies and Gender Studies is illuminating and useful for navigating a complicated world, and for taking a leadership position in the fight for social justice—two key components of the Seton Hall mission.," said Conference Co-Chairs and Co-Directors of the Women and Gender Studies Program Karen Gevirtz, Ph.D. professor of English, and Vanessa May, Ph.D. associate professor of History.
More than a dozen workshops will be available over the course of three sessions, providing a broad range of topics including women and the Digital Humanities; the U.N.'s efforts in achieving gender equality and women's empowerment in Bangladesh; gender identity in American and British literature, and the 50th anniversary of women at Seton Hall.
Camille Nelson, Keynote Speaker
The keynote speaker, Dean Nelson, has been recognized with numerous awards and appointments. Lawyers Weekly named her one of the "Top Women in Law" in 2013 and she was identified as one of the Power 100: Most Influential Black Lawyers in the United States. Her achievements include the Paul Robeson Distinguished Alumni Award (Black Law School Students Association, Columbia University School of Law), the Trailblazer Award (Black Law Students' Association, Suffolk University), the Malcolm Donahue Award (Suffolk University), the Ida B. Wells Award (Massachusetts Black Women Lawyers), and both Faculty Member of the Year and the Faculty Excellence Award at Washington University in St. Louis. She has served as a Board Member of the Boston Bar Association and on the Senator Warren and Senator Markey Advisory Committee on Massachusetts Judicial Nominations, and currently serves on the Governing Council of the American Bar Association Center for Innovation and the Executive Committee of the Association of American Law Schools.
Karen Van Norman, Emma G Quartaro Woman of the Year
The Emma G. Quartaro Woman of the Year Award will be presented to this year's recipient, Associate Vice President and Dean of Students, Karen Van Norman, during the conference. The award, previously named Woman of the Year Award, is sponsored by the Provost's Office, and recognizes and honors outstanding woman leaders at Seton Hall who have made significant contributions to the success of women at the University. The award acknowledges the accomplishments of the late Emma Quartaro, D.S.W. professor of Social Work, and coordinator in the Multidisciplinary Certificate Program in Gerontology in the Department of Sociology Anthropology and Social Work.
"Dr. Quartaro was a long serving member of the faculty, and highly regarded for her work in the state. She was instrumental in the creation of this award, and ensured that it happened year in and year out. She passed away last spring very suddenly, and we thought it only appropriate to rename this award in her honor, as this award is presented to those who have a strong identity as a woman leader, which she exemplified so clearly in her life," said Joan Guetti, senior associate provost.
In addition to being strong leaders focused on service to or research in support of the advancement of women, the recipients of this award reflect and promote the important contributions of women at Seton Hall and demonstrate commitment to women's issues, growth and empowerment.
Walk-in registration is also available the day of the event in the Main Lounge of the Bishop Dougherty University Center.
