About the ISGC
The Isom Student Gender Conference (ISGC) hosted the first undergraduate research conference at the University of Mississippi in 2001. The conference provides student scholars from the University of Mississippi and other institutions of higher learning an invaluable opportunity for professional development. At the conference, students share their research with others and are able to connect to academic and artistic communities and build support networks.
The Isom Student Gender Conference is interdisciplinary and open to both undergraduate and graduate students. Students explore research projects in Sociology, Anthropology, English, Education, History, Southern Studies, Creative Writing and Poetry, and other disciplines. We encourage all interested students to come and share their research passions.
The annual Isom Student Gender Conference is held in spring. The conference includes presentations by graduate and undergraduate students as well as a featured keynote speaker.
About the Sarah Isom Center for Women and Gender Studies
History:
The Sarah Isom Center for Women and Gender Studies was established at The University of Mississippi in 1981 to address the changing roles and expectations of women students, faculty, and staff. The University has provided educational opportunities for women longer than any other state university in the South. When UM opened its doors to women in 1882, eleven women registered for classes; one of these became the valedictorian of her class.
In 1885, Professor Sarah McGehee Isom became the University's first female faculty member. Named in her honor, the Isom Center continues the tradition of promoting education and opportunities for women, who today constitute more than half of the UM student population.
Dr. Joanne V. Hawks served as the founding director of the Sarah Isom Center from 1981-1998. Since that time, the Center and academic program in gender studies have been led by faculty members across disciplines.
Who We Are:
The Sarah Isom Center performs both academic and service functions. It is dedicated to promoting research and scholarship about women and gender by developing
a multidisciplinary program of study that will help students appreciate the special concerns, contributions, and perspectives of people of all genders. These studies include an analysis of how gender intersects with other social categories, such as race, ethnicity, class, sexuality, age, nationality, and ability. The Center coordinates the undergraduate minor in gender studies and the Graduate Certificate in Gender Studies.
The Sarah Isom Center also expresses its commitment to gender and women’s studies by reaching out to the community through a variety of programs and services. These include brown bag talks and forums during the semester and the annual Lucy Somerville Howorth Lecture in Women’s Studies. The Center also sponsors an annual Sarahfest in the fall which highlights the contributions women have made to the arts and the Isom Student Gender Conference in the spring as well as events for Women’s History, LGBTQ+ History, and Sexual Assault Awareness Months.
Located in Suite D on the third floor of Lamar Hall, the Center offers students, faculty, staff, and visitors a gathering place, as well as an atmosphere of mutual encouragement and support for women of all ages and backgrounds and for organizations concerned with gender issues, equity, and justice.
Mission:
The Sarah Isom Center for Women and Gender Studies educates about issues of gender and sexuality, promotes interdisciplinary research, and advocates for diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Faculty and Staff:
Dr. Jaime Harker, Director & Professor of English
Dr. Theresa Starkey, Associate Director and Instructional Associate Professor of Gender Studies
Dr. Leslie Delassus, Instructional Assistant Professor of Gender Studies and Film Studies
Dr. Julie Enszer, Instructional Assistant Professor of Gender Studies
Dr. Pip Gordon, Visiting Assistant Professor of Gender Studies
Dr. Angela Lagrotteria, Instructional Assistant Professor of Gender Studies
Dr. Obianuju Njoku, Assistant Professor of Gender Studies and Ethnomusicology
Dr. Jennifer Venable, Instructional Assistant Professor of Gender Studies
Dr. Elizabeth Venell, Instructional Assistant Professor of Gender Studies
Dr. Nora Augustine, Adjunct Instructor of Gender Studies
Dr. Jaime Hovey, Adjunct Instructor of Gender Studies
Mr. Kevin Cozart, Operations Coordinator & Coordinator of Community Engaged Learning and Research
Ms. Georgia Bright, Graduate Assistant
Ms. Julia Kraus, Graduate Assistant
Ms. Madelyn Medlin, Graduate Assistant
Visit us online at sarahisomcenter.org.