On Thursday, September 21, 2017, BYU’s Women in Politics conducted their opening social in the Tanner Building, with refreshments, a slide presentation, and many enthusiastic participants. Then on October 19 at 6 PM, the BYU Women in Politics club and organization met for a “Ted-Talk” style presentation with five female BYU professors offering fascinating lectures. They met in the beautiful seventh-floor conference room in the Tanner Building, Room 710 TNRB, which was full with over 100 people. Each professor gave summaries of their recent research related to women in the world today: participants included Dr. Celeste Beesley, Political Science; Dr. Stacey Shaw, Social Work; Dr. Diana Duan, History; Professor D. Carolina Nunez, JD, Law; and Professor Carrie Moore, News Media. Conducted by current WIP President Eliza Riley, and past WIP President Rachel Finlayson, Women in Politics is an amazing organization that inspires BYU students to become involved, both here on campus and in their future lives. Congratulations to the leaders and members of BYU Women in Politics.
Dr. Beesley spoke about her research examining Federal Direct Investment and job security of female sweatshop workers in India.
Dr. Duan shared her experience growing up in China during the Cultural Revolution and how her life experiences have taught her to find her political voice because politics affects all aspects of life.
Dr. Nunez from BYU Law dispelled immigration myths that have been propagated from politicians from both sides of the political spectrum. Dr. Shaw shared her research on working with refugees and other vulnerable populations, drawing on her experiences with the IRC at Columbia and in Malaysia.
Finally, last but not least, Dr. Carrie Moore from the Communications Dept. and News Media at BYU shared her insights on and encouragement for more qualified women (and men of course) to enter the news media and political arena and find their voices.
Afterwards, WIP sold/distributed T-shirts and mingled/networked with professors.
These female professors are inherently inspiring to students because they are living proof that we can hope to serve our national and international communities on a broader scale. It helped students discover that “If you can see it, you can be it.”
