Women's & Gender Studies Caucus

The NeMLA Women’s and Gender Studies Caucus welcomes members interested in feminist scholarship, women’s and gender studies, and the status of women in the profession at all stages of their careers. The Caucus organizes panels, promotes publication, and fosters the establishment of networks linking senior and junior faculty including graduate students.

On this page:

Women's and Gender Studies Essay Award

The NeMLA Women’s and Gender Studies Caucus invites submissions for the “Best Essay in Women’s and Gender Studies Award” given for a paper presented at the previous two sessions of the NeMLA Convention using women and/or gender-centered approaches. This essay may not be submitted to another contest for the duration of the award’s deliberation. Essays must be submitted in English.

  • Send entries to the President of the NeMLA Women’s and Gender Studies Caucus as two separate Microsoft Word document files at wgsnemla@gmail.com by January 15:
    • a cover sheet with the title, author's name, address and academic affiliation
    • the essay submission
    • “NeMLA WGSC Essay Award Submission” in the subject line

Guidelines for all Caucus Essay Awards

  • Essays should be between 6,000 and 9,000 words (there is a 10,000-word limit, notes and works cited included). 
  • Submissions should be unpublished manuscripts revised and expanded from original papers presented at previous NeMLA convention(s).
  • Submissions should be written in or translated into English.
  • Current NeMLA membership is required to be considered eligible.
  • Each Caucus Essay Award winner will be awarded a $100 prize that will be handed out at the membership brunch, and their essays will automatically be considered for publication by Modern Language Studies. All essays are subject to MLS's double-blind review.

WGS Mentorship Program

The NeMLA WGS Caucus operates an interdisciplinary mentoring program, which pairs senior faculty mentors with junior faculty and doctoral students. The application process for mentees is now open. Mentees may apply through our online application. For more information or to volunteer to serve as a mentor please contact us at wgsnemla@gmail.com with the subject "WGS Mentorship Program."

Business Meeting

At its annual meeting held at the NeMLA Convention hotel site, the Women’s and Gender Studies Caucus takes nominations for new officers and invites suggestions for speakers and topics for future NeMLA Conferences.

Past Caucus-sponsored Speakers

The Women’s and Gender Studies Caucus sponsors a speaker at the annual NeMLA convention.

Membership

You can join the NeMLA Women’s and Gender Studies Caucus by indicating your interest on the registration form when you join NeMLA or renew your NeMLA membership.

Membership Rates

Faculty at Four-year Institutions

$20.00
Visting Faculty and Full-time Lecturers/Instructors $10.00
Contingent Faculty $10.00
Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Fellows $10.00
Independent Scholars $10.00
High School Teachers $10.00
Librarians and Academic Staff $10.00
Administrators $30.00
Undergraduate Students $5.00

Joint memberships are also available. Add $5 to the higher paying member’s dues.

Officer Descriptions and Duties

Duties for the Secretary position 

This is a rolling position. Duties include:

  • recording all minutes of WGSC meetings and submitting them for approval 
  • corresponding with all current members about upcoming elections
  • creating and holding online elections
  • acting as a liaison between the Women’s and Gender Studies Caucus and the webmaster to maintain accurate and up-to-date caucus information on the website 
  • overseeing the selection and submission of the caucus-sponsored sessions for the next convention 
  • supporting the Vice President with the WGS Mentorship Program 
  • drafting pre- and post-convention newsletters 

Duties for the Vice President position

Duties include:

  • promoting and managing the Mentorship Program 
  • working with the President to organize and cover convention events, particularly with Mentorship Program events 
  • organizing coverage of the Caucus table at the spring convention

Duties for the President position

Duties include:

  • overseeing annual Essay Award
  • managing and organizing all special events, including inviting a speaker, for the annual convention
  • running the Business meeting at the Convention and implementing requested changes
  • assisting other board members with any tasks

Duties for the Board Representative position 

This is a three-year position. The Board rep acts as the liaison between the Caucus and the Board, and NeMLA's administrative staff when required. The Board rep works closely with the other Board members to ensure that the Caucus and the organization as a whole both contribute to and benefit from the other's strengths.

As a member of the NeMLA board, the Board Representative:

  • manages WGS Caucus panels including overseeing approval and rejection of all panels, publicizing the CFP for panels and then for papers and informing chairs of important information 
  • attends the Fall and Spring meetings of the NeMLA Board, and prepares the Caucus Board Reports for these meetings
  • contacts the NeMLA webmaster for website changes related to the CFP and NeMLA Board related information, and as needed
  • provides information for the caucus newsletters and for Modern Language Studies, NeMLA's peer reviewed journal 
  • provides the materials for the caucus table at the convention 
  • has opportunities to read for the Book Prize and the Summer Fellowships 
  • is part of NeMLA decision-making

Current Officers

President 

Fernanda Righi
Roger Williams University
frighi@rwu.edu

Vice President

Callie Ingram
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
callieingr@gmail.com

Secretary

Tiffany Bailey
Northeastern University
t.bailey@northeastern.edu

Past President

Lisa Propst
Clarkson University
lpropst@clarkson.edu

Representative to the NeMLA Board

Maria Rovito
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
maria.rovito@acphs.edu

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