Calendar Events

Toward a Universal Suffrage: African American Women in Iowa and the Vote for All

Date: February 21, 2022 to March 7, 2022
Location: Cowles Library, Reading Room

In honor of Black history month and women’s history month, Cowles Library will host the exhibit, Toward a Universal Suffrage: African American Women in Iowa and the Vote for All, from February 21 to March 7, 2022. The exhibit will be on display in the Cowles Library Reading Room.

The exhibit highlights key moments in the African American suffrage struggle and commemorates some of Iowa’s African American women leaders.

Toward a Universal Suffrage: Lecture and Reception

Date: Tuesday, February 22, 2022
Location: Cowles Library, Reading Room
Time: 5:00pm to 7:00pm

Central Iowa Community Museum founder and exhibit co-creator Eric Morse will share research exploring connections between the African American women’s suffrage struggle, the national women’s suffrage movement, and current issues of African American representation and voting access.  His talk will feature several biographies of Iowa’s African American women suffrage leaders. He will also tell us about the creation of the exhibit and mission of the Central Iowa Community Museum.

Let’s Talk About It! Women & Suffrage Book Discussion Series
March/April 2022
Location: Cowles Library, Reading Room
Time: Events take place at 5:30pm

Cowles Library is one of 25 libraries nationwide selected to participate in Let’s Talk About It (LTAI): Women’s Suffrage, a grant designed to spark conversations about American history and culture through an examination of the women’s suffrage movement.

Women & Leadership Retreat

Date: September 30, 2022
Location: Raccoon River Nature Lodge
Time: 12pm-4pm

The 2nd Women & Leadership Retreat will be held on September 30, 2022 from 12:00pm- 4:00pm at Raccoon River Nature Lodge in West Des Moines. This half-day workshop and professional development opportunity, is led by Dr. Catalina D’Archiardi-Ressler and builds on the ideas from Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead (2018) book. This event is triple co-sponsored by the Provost’s Office, College of Arts & Sciences Dean’s Office, and Women’s and Gender Studies Program.

• Registration: Opens August 1, 2022 (via Eventbrite) and will be limited to 20 participants.
• Registration for the event includes workshop materials (including a copy of the book and accompanying workbook), leadership pre-assessment, catered lunch, and half-day event stipend.

National Women's Studies Association 2022

Date: Nov 10-13
Location: Minneapolis, MN

The National Women’s Studies Association’s 2022 annual meeting will be held on November 10-13, 2022 in Minneapolis, MN. If you are interested in attending the 2022 NWSA Conference, we are pleased to offer a limited number of internal grants for WGS faculty, staff, and students to cover the cost of attendance.

 We are envisioning this as a program-building and momentum-generating opportunity for faculty/staff and as a professional development/networking opportunity for students!

• NWSA 2022 Faculty Applications (priority for applications received by April 15, 2022): https://drake.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bBMm75kUgugHVqe
• NWSA 2022 Student Applications: will be announced at the start of fall semester.