Honoring Women's History Month 2025

In February of 1980, then President Jimmy Carter recognized the week of March 8th as National Women’s History Week and stated in his proclamation that, “Too often, the women [of our history] were unsung and sometimes their contributions went unnoticed. But the achievements, leadership, courage, strength, and love of the women who built America was as vital as that of the men whose names we know so well.”  In 1987, that week became a month, and thus the month of March was established as our National Women’s History Month, a time to recognize the depth and breadth of the contributions of women to U.S. history, culture, and strength.

This year’s Women’s History Month theme is "Moving Forward Together. Women Educating & Inspiring Generations," and the International Women’s Day (March 8) theme is, “For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.” The ideas at the center of those themes: “Forward Together,” “Educating,” “For All,” and “Empowerment” I believe are critical to honoring our history and using this present moment to prepare for our future.

Across time we have witnessed women working together - in communities and across communities - to empower through education, to liberate by fighting for justice, and elevate humanity by raising the voices of the unheard. We stand on a historical legacy that we must bring into today to work towards a richer tomorrow. In the words of Toni Morrison, “I know the world is bruised and bleeding, and though it is important not to ignore its pain, it is also critical to refuse to succumb to its malevolence. Like failure, chaos contains information that can lead to knowledge — even wisdom.”

I invite us to learn from our past, and use that knowledge to educate, empower, and move forward together.

Join the campus community in celebrating Women’s History Month through the myriad of events offered this month including, the Gender Equity Center (GEC) and Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi American (APIDA) Center’s State of Womxn student panel event in Chumash Auditorium on Monday, March 2 from 4:30 to 6:00 pm.

Dr. Denise Isom,
Interim Vice President, Diversity & Inclusion / Senior Diversity Officer