Ethnic Studies and Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies

Faculty & Committee Members

Abigail Cahill, Associate Professor and Co-Chair
B.A., Colgate University; Ph.D., Stony Brook University. Appointed 2016.

Eric Hill, Associate Professor and Co-Chair
B.A., Oglethorpe University; Ph.D., Arizona State University. Appointed 2010.

Trisha Franzen, Professor, Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies
B.A., State University of New York, Buffalo; M.A., Ph.D., University of New Mexico. Appointed 2003.

Lucia Soriano, Assistant Professor, Ethnic Studies and Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies
B.A., California Polytechnic University; M.A., Claremont Graduate University; Ph.D., Washington State University. Appointed 2021.

Elizabeth Barrios, Associate Professor, Modern Languages & Cultures
B.A., Knox College; Ph.D., University of Michigan. Appointed 2016.

Bradley Chase, Professor, Anthropology and Sociology
B.A., Northwestern University; M.S., Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison. Appointed 2008.

Nels Christensen, Associate Professor, English
A.B., California State University, Chico; M.A., Ph.D., Michigan State University. Appointed 2006.

Rivkah Gamble, Associate Director, Office of Belonging

Ari McCaskill, Executive Director of Special Programs, James L. Curtis Institute for Social Change, Build Albion
B.B.A., Felician University, M.A., Eastern Michigan University

Scott A. Melzer, Professor
B.A., University of Florida; M.A., Ph.D., University of California, Riverside. Appointed 2004.

Kalli Onai, Social Media and Content Strategist, Office of Marketing and Communication

Krista Quesenberry, Associate Professor, English
B.A., Ball State University; M.A. and Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University. Appointed 2018.

Jessica Roberts, Professor, English
A.B., Dartmouth College; M.A., Ph.D., University of Michigan. Appointed 2005.

Kyle Shanton, Professor, Education
B.A., University of Iowa; M.A., Ph.D., University of Arizona. Appointed 2007.

Bille Wickre, Professor, Art History
B.S., Dakota State University; M.A., University of Iowa; Ph.D., University of Michigan. Appointed 1992.

Lisa Winchell-Caldwell, Director, Anna Howard Shaw Center for Gender Equity and Victim Advocacy

Ethnic Studies and Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies (WGSS) are interdisciplinary programs at Albion College.

Ethnic Studies is both the comparative study of ethnicity and the study of the culture and history of particular ethnic groups within the United States and other countries. As the study of ethnicity, ethnic studies examines factors that account for the creation and maintenance of ethnic identity, the development of ethnic stereotypes and prejudice, and the quality of ethnic relations. In regard to particular ethnic groups, ethnic studies encourages the exploration of the specific histories, values and contributions of the country’s many constituent groups. Ethnic studies also provides the means to identify the prejudices and assumptions that have shaped traditional scholarship in the academic disciplines and to correct these biases.

WGSS examines the role of gender in the construction of lives, cultures, community norms, meaning systems, and systems of representation. All of the areas of study within the program use cross-cultural or multicultural investigations to understand the dynamics and differences in the operation of gender. Within specific contexts but also across differences, the program also focuses on the lives of women–on women’s past and present active involvement in the making of the world. Each of the areas of study emphasizes the ongoing interplay of theory and practice.

The department houses majors in Ethnic Studies and Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies, with minors in Ethnic Studies, Gender Studies, and Sexuality Studies.

Career Opportunities

Knowledge of ethnic traditions, ethnic relations, gender roles, etc. is sought after in many fields including but not limited to politics, social services, business, law, medicine and psychology-related careers. This demand recognizes both that America is an increasingly multicultural society and professionals in many fields need to know these multiple groups in order to serve them better.

Student Learning Outcomes for the Ethnic Studies Major

Structural Inequality: Students will be able to describe the ways in which institutions impact opportunities available to people in different racial and ethnic groups

Diversity: Students will be able to describe key aspects of the culture, history, contributions, and identities of several ethnic groups

Social Inequality: Students will be able to explain how race, gender, ethnicity, and sexuality are interconnected and constructed in ways that perpetuate inequality, discrimination, and stereotypes

Theory: Students will be able to apply Ethnic Studies theories to analyze social phenomena and institutions

Research Methods: Students will be able to design and carry out data collection, analysis, and presentation of findings focused on race, ethnicity, nationalism, migration, or transnationalism within a local and global perspective.

Student Learning Outcomes for the Ethnic Studies Minor

Structural Inequality: Students will be able to describe the ways in which institutions impact opportunities available to people in different racial and ethnic groups

Diversity: Students will be able to describe key aspects of the culture, history, contributions, and identities of several ethnic groups

Student Learning Outcomes for the Women’s Gender, & Sexuality Studies Major

Students will be able to identify key concepts and scholarship in women’s, gender and sexuality (WGS) studies. Key Concepts: the social construction of gender, privilege and oppression, intersectionality, feminist praxis.

Students will be able to describe intersectional identities.
Students will be able to apply intersectional feminist theory to evaluate representations of people of diverse genders and sexualities.
Students will be able to identify feminist perspectives in multiple disciplines.
Students will be able to critically evaluate WGS theory and scholarship.
Students will formulate questions leading to feminist scholarship or projects to address local or global problems.

Student Learning Outcomes for the Gender Studies Minor

Students will be able to identify key concepts and scholarship in gender studies.
Students will be able to describe intersectional identities.
Students will be able to apply intersectional feminist theory to evaluate representations of people of diverse genders.

Student Learning Outcomes for the Sexuality Studies Minor

Students will be able to identify key concepts and scholarship in sexuality studies.
Students will be able to describe intersectional identities.
Students will be able to apply intersectional feminist theory to evaluate representations of people of diverse sexualities.

Programs

Major

Ethnic Studies, B.A.

Minor

Ethnic Studies Minor