Wilkes University to Hold 2026 Women’s and Gender Studies Conference on March 30 & 31

Wilkes University to Hold 2026 Women's and Gender Studies Conference on March 30 & 31

Wilkes University will collaborate with King's College to host the annual 2026 Women's and Gender Studies Conference on Mar. 30 and 31, on the Wilkes University campus in the Henry Student Center. The theme of this year's conference is "Gender and Citizenship: Past, Present, and Future." Lucia McMahon, professor in the Department of History, Philosophy and Liberal Studies at William Patterson University, will serve as this year's keynote speaker.

McMahon will open the conference with her talk "'An Equality of Mind': The Value of Women's Education in Early National America" at 7 p.m. on Monday, March 30, in the Jean and Paul Adams Commons, located on the second floor of the Henry Student Center. The keynote address is free and open to the public. No registration is required.

"In recognition of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, this year's keynote address explores the history of women's education in the early United States and encourages reflection on how debates about gender, equality and citizenship continue to shape our society today," says Jennifer Thomas, professor of psychology and director of women's and gender studies at Wilkes University.

McMahon's scholarship broadly focuses on women's intellectual and educational history, with a particular focus on the recovery of relatively "unknown" women's voices and experiences. She regularly teaches courses in historical methods, early national U.S. history, and women's history. She is also the author of several books and articles, including Mere Equals: The Paradox of Educated Women in the Early American Republic (Cornell University Press), and The Celebrated Elizabeth Smith: Crafting Genius and Transatlantic Fame in the Romantic Era (University of Virginia Press).

Community members as well as students and faculty from Wilkes University and King's College will present their research on the second floor of the Henry Student Center from 9:30 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Sessions for this year's conference include research presentations, panel discussions and creative writing readings. The conference is free and open to the public. A full session schedule, including room locations, can be found at wilkes.edu/wgs.

This year's conference marks the 15th year of collaboration between Wilkes University and King's College.

"One of the most meaningful aspects of this conference is the chance it creates for students, faculty and community members to come together to exchange ideas, engage in conversations about building a more just and equitable future, and celebrate the work being done across our campus and beyond," says Thomas. "Our 15-year partnership with King's College reminds us how valuable sustained collaborations are in creating spaces for learning, dialogue and meaningful civic engagement."

For more information, visit https://www.wilkes.edu/WGS.