Category: Uncategorized

GWS Affiliate Ethelene Whitmire’s new book featured in Inside UW

African American Studies professor Ethelene Whitmire‘s new book The Remarkable Life of Redd Peggram: The Man Who Stared Down World War II in the Name of Love was featured in Inside UW News. Dr. Whitmire is an affiliate with the Gender & Women’s Studies and German, Nordic, and Slavic departments. Her new book tells the …

The Scoop from Dr. Kate – Alumni Newsletter Spring 2026

Ahoy and happy spring dear GWS and LGBTQ+ Studies Community! I hope you are finding some sun and soaking up some joy in these trying times. Springtime is upon us! A time for growth! This season brings feelings of inspiration and renewal as the warm weather buzz returns and students and community alike converge on …

Letter from the Chair Nick Syrett – Alumni Newsletter Spring 2026

Dear GWS Alums and Friends, I write to you on a chilly February day during which I am starting to wonder if winter will ever end. While there is no snow on the ground, last week I was tricked by what I have heard described as “Fake Spring” and had started to get used to …

Alumni Spotlight – Grace Atherton, Class of 2013

Grace Atherton (she/her) is a Madison native and self-taught communications & marketing professional with a deep passion for gender equity, economic and social justice, and servant leadership. In her current job as Communications Director for the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association, she leads communications and marketing efforts on behalf of nearly 800 dairy manufacturers, processors, and …

Alumni Spotlight – Shannon Patterson, Class of 2010

Shannon Patterson, PhD (she/her), is a licensed psychologist specializing in eating disorders and health psychology, who graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2010 with degrees in Psychology and Sociology, along with certificates in Gender and Women’s Studies and Gerontology. Her clinical training focused on the intersection of physical and mental health, and she was …

Faculty Focus: Alexandra Kralick

The Department of Gender & Women’s Studies is so pleased to have Dr. Alexandra Kralick joining us as a Wittig Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Feminist Biology! To help you get to know her, we asked her some questions. Please read below to learn about Dr. Kralick! Name: Alexandra E. Kralick, Ph.D. Title: Wittig Postdoctoral Research …

GWS Faculty Shout Out – Leigh Senderowicz

Professor Leigh Senderowicz’s important new article – that was over a decade in the writing – has major impact! Professor Senderowicz explains the history and acheivement of her paper, co-authored with Dr. Rishita Nandagiri: I’m proud of publishing this overtly feminist work in a demography journal. The article urges demographers (and others) to reconsider the …

Faculty Focus: Hanan Al-Alawi

Visiting Assistant Professor Hanan Al-Alawi, who joined Gender and Women’s Studies in Fall 2024, is our March 2025 Faculty Focus! She is currently teaching GWS 101: Gender, Women, and Cultural Representation and GWS 345: Narrating Queer Lives. Name: Dr. Hanan Al-Alawi Title: Visiting Assistant Professor in Gender and Women’s Studies Hometown: Kuwait Educational/professional background: I have a …

Jordan Hatcher – Alumni Spotlight, Class of 2012

Jordan Hatcher (she/her) has stayed quite busy since graduating with her BA in 2012! Jordan applied her International Studies major and Certificate in Gender and Woman’s Studies in service as a community health volunteer with the Peace Corps in both Senegal and South Africa on HIV, malaria, and maternal health projects. From there, Jordan spent …

Aidan McDonough – Alumni Spotlight, Class of 2024

Aidan McDonough (he/they) graduated in May of 2024 with a B.A. in Psychology and a Certificate in Gender and Women’s Studies. Aidan is a first generation college student who recently finished his application for a Counseling M.S. program with UW–Madison. Aidan is a passionate consumer of movies and music and currently works as an Amazon …