This story will be updated throughout March.
Michigan State University annually celebrates Women’s History Month in March, per national tradition. This monthlong celebration honors women’s contributions to United States’ history and highlights the pivotal roles women have played here at MSU. Throughout the month, student organizations, offices and units will host events, conferences, activities and more in celebration of women and their legacies on campus and beyond!
This month welcomes the 30th annual Dia de la Mujer Conference, or DDLM, coordinated by the Office of Multicultural Enrichment and Advocacy, sponsored by Culturas de las Razas Unidas and organized by a planning committee consisting of community members from across the state. DDLM is the only conference of its kind in the state of Michigan and serves as the premier leader in enhancing the Latina/o community by celebrating and supporting Latina women to reach new levels of personal and professional success. This event has become a trusted source of education and development for the hundreds of attendees it attracts each year. The conference provides an environment for individuals to network and make connections for employment and educational opportunities. Every year, this conference is held in the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center and offers close to 30 workshops and hosts numerous exhibitors from the community to display resources, services and opportunities. Learn more about the conference in the lineup below.
Another key Women’s History Month program this year is the second annual HEAL Sexual Health Conference, hosted by Women*s Student Services. This year’s theme, “Embracing Diversity, Rewriting Narratives,” aims to encourage and raise awareness of sexual health research, advocacy and education. Through community engagement, discussion and a commitment to inspiring tangible action, the conference will highlight the work of leaders who have made advancements in these areas within our Michigan community and beyond. The theme will specifically target the intersectional realities that shape individuals’ experiences and the need to rewrite narratives that have long excluded or misrepresented marginalized voices. This conference is setting a new standard for addressing sexual health — one that is inclusive, equitable and reflective of the diverse world we live in.
In addition, MSU’s Womxn of Color Initiatives, or WOCI, will host a series of events aligned with its artist in residence program. This year’s featured guest is the city of Boston’s Poet Laureate Porsha Olayiwola! An experienced writer, performer, educator and curator, Olayiwola uses Afro-futurism and surrealism to examine historical and current issues in the Black, woman and queer diasporas. Refer to the event list below for the poetry workshop and keynote event.
Women’s History Month events
All events are listed in Eastern time.
All Month
empowHER donation fund
The empowHER Leadership Retreat was created to provide incoming fourth- through ninth-grade girls from diverse backgrounds with the tools to find confidence, passion and purpose in their lives. Learn more and donate.
Unconditional Love Fund
The Unconditional Love Fund was created to provide flexible and timely assistance to address extraordinary and unexpected financial hardships among students engaged with the Gender and Sexuality Campus Center’s programming and mission. Learn more and donate.
Monday, March 10
6 p.m. — From Startup . . . to Shelf
Join student organization, Women Impacting Supply Chain Excellence, in the Broad College Entrepreneurship Lab to hear from Alexa Ryan, an MSU supply chain alum and founder of BAKR Cookies, as she shares her journey from Proctor & Gamble to building a successful business. Participate in an interactive pitch session and get an opportunity to win a gift basket!
6 p.m. — Women’s History Month Community Dinner
This kickoff to the month will be DJ'd by Impact 8.9 FM. There will be catering from Woody's Oasis. There will be an opportunity to enter for your chance to win 1 of 3 gift baskets. Register here.
Friday, March 14
Noon — The Road to Rights: Domestic Workers and the New Labor Activism Since 1960
Taking Boston, Massachusetts, as a case study, Mia Michael unearths how supposedly “unorganizable” domestic workers and their allies blazed a trail toward systemic reform of household employment while influencing and exemplifying the broader revival of organized labor into the 21st century. Taking place at the MSU Library, the presentation will also be available to view live through Zoom. Visit the GenCen website for more information.
Wednesday, March 19
WBSA Annual Leadership Conference
Join the Women in Business Students’ Association for its Annual Leadership Conference. Stay tuned for more details to come on WBSA’s Instagram.
Thursday, March 20
6 p.m. — Her Sound, Her City: Detroit’s Women Shaping Electronic Music
Join the MSU Museum for an empowering conversation celebrating Detroit’s iconic female DJs and their profound influence on the electronic music scene. Featuring trailblazers Stacey “Hotwaxx” Hale, DJ Holographic, DJ Minx and DJ Le Femme, this panel will dive into their journeys, creative processes and the unique impact they’ve had on Detroit’s rich musical legacy. Visit the MSU Museum website to learn more and register.
6 p.m. — Frat Sorority Life Panel with Women's Student Services
Located in Bessey 108, there will be light snacks and refreshments while the panel dives through the history of their respective council. Participants will have a chance to hear first-hand from members on why they joined a sorority, how since joining they have felt supported regarding the different intersections of identities they hold, and the opportunities some organizations have given folks of marginalized genders a space to call home as well.
6 p.m. — Spill the Tea, Girl
UAB and other organizations have come together to host a tea party at the Union Ballroom featuring refreshments, games/activities, prizes/giveaways and roundtable-style discussion on important topics such as woman/girlhood, feminism, allyship and appreciation for influential women.
8 p.m. — Performance | Her Sound, Her City: Detroit’s Women Shaping Electronic Music
Following the enlightening panel discussion, Stacey “Hotwaxx” Hale will take the stage to deliver a dynamic DJ performance that reflects her deep roots in Detroit’s House and Techno scene. Learn more and register on the MSU Museum website.
Saturday, March 22
8 a.m. — Annual Dia de la Mujer Leadership and Empowerment Conference
The DDLM Conference is a statewide leadership and empowerment conference dedicated to advancing opportunities for women. This year’s keynote speaker is Mariana Atencio. DDLM is open to all and serves as a great cross-cultural development opportunity. Learn more on the OMEA website.
10 a.m. — Annual HEAL Sexual Health Conference
Join this year’s HEAL Sexual Health Conference, themed “Embracing Diversity, Rewriting Narratives,” in the MSU Union Ballroom for conversations and deeper community involvement through innovative formats. Learn more and register on Eventbrite.
Tuesday, March 25
5:30 p.m. — AAVE is Not Gen Z Slang
AAVE stand for African American Vernacular English and has been co-opted by non-black people which has been interpreted as Gen Z slang. Attend our workshop at the Union 2nd floor Mosaic Multipurpose room to find out why this can be problematic and the history of AAVE.
Wednesday, March 26
5 p.m. — 25th Annual William G. Anderson Lecture Series with Barbara Ross-Lee
Located in the Wharton Center Pasant Theatre, the interactive lecture will feature Barbara Ross-Lee, a physician and nationally recognized expert on health policy issues who serves as an advisor on primary care, medical education, minority health, women’s health and rural health care issues at the federal and state levels. Learn more about Ross-Lee and register on the Wharton Center website.
6 p.m. — Womxn of Color Initiatives Artist in Residence Poetry Workshop
Join the city of Boston’s Poet Laureate Porsha Olayiwola at the Department of African American and African Studies’ Student Cafe in North Kedzie Hall for a poetry writing workshop! Register here.
Thursday, March 27
Noon — Womxn of Color Initiatives Artist in Residence Luncheon
WOCI invites all womxn of color-identified graduate students and allies to meet with Porsha Olayiwola over lunch. This informal conversation provides graduate students with an intimate setting to engage our artist-in-residence. Register here.
5 p.m. — Women's History Month Keynote
Everyone is welcomed to join us in the Multicultural Center Multipurpose Room A to listen to Heather Ana Hathaway Miranda, a highly articulate servant and leader with a passion to empower communities and to eradicate inequities through education rooted in advocacy efforts to raise consciousness about multilayered issues locally, nationally and internationally. Heather will be sharing her experiences as a survivor of interpersonal violence and domestic violence while exploring how different fields made an impact on her journey.
6:30 p.m. — Womxn of Color Initiatives Artist in Residence Keynote
Join the city of Boston’s Poet Laureate Porsha Olayiwola at the MSU Library Green Room (4th floor) for her keynote performance! Register here.
Friday, March 28
10:45 a.m. — "Under the Skin": A conversation with Linda Villarosa
Linda Villarosa is an award-winning journalist, author, editor, novelist and educator. Her book "Under the Skin: The Hidden Toll of Racism on Health in America" is a landmark work that explores racial health disparities in America. It was a Pulitzer Prize finalist named one of the New York Times' top books of 2022. This event will feature Villarosa in conversation with James Madison College faculty. All are welcome to attend this free event, which will include brunch and a book signing immediately afterwards. Register to attend via Eventbrite.
2 p.m. — The Masks We Wear
Join Heather as she walks us through an interactive workshop in the Multicultural Center where participants are able to reflect on what expectations family, community, and society have and how that influences different masks we put on.
Michigan State is dedicated to recognizing the contributions and leadership of women in education. Students, staff and faculty can find support through various channels at MSU, including the Center for Gender in Global Context, Michigan American Council on Education Women’s Network, Gender and Sexuality Campus Center, Women of Color Community, Women*s Student Services, Womxn of Color Initiatives, Workforce Action Committee for Spartan Staff and more.
