By Karen Chambless

On Wednesday, March 16, Lee University held a student poster session and a reception to honor outstanding female faculty and staff as part of its events to celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD).

During the poster session, which was open to the community, more than 30 students presented research on topics from a wide range of fields including education, political science, anthropology, biology, communication, English, and mathematics. This was the second student poster session for IWD.

“I was very impressed with the quality of posters this year and with the relevance of the themes and subjects they brought to our attention,” said Dr. Ana Alves, chair of the IWD subcommittee. “My desire is that for next year more students can join in the conversation, either by presenting papers or by attending the poster session to dialogue with participants. A huge part of Lee’s mission is to train our students to integrate their faith and vocation through the practice of ethical action, redemptive service and responsible citizenship in the church, the community and the world. The International Women’s Week Poster Session is an integral part of this mission as students are called to unveil inequality and injustice towards women within and/or through the lenses of their disciplines.”

Several members of the faculty served as judges for the poster session, awarding prizes based on relevance, poster aesthetics, content, and verbal presentation.

First prize went to Kaylah Cutshaw, a biological science major and TESOL minor, for her presentation “Lowering Neonatal Abstinence Rates in Tennessee,” which investigated whether the co-administration of opiates and dextromethorphan in opioid-addicted pregnant women results in lowered Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome rates.

Second prize went to Modupe Omotajo, who is pursuing a master’s degree in higher education administration, for her presentation “A Seat at the Table: Women Leaders in Higher Education.” This project examined the causes of the underrepresentation of women in middle and senior leadership positions in American higher education.

Third prize went to Cailey Gino, a communications major, for her presentation on “1934 Vintage Crazy Quilt’s Unfinished Story.” Her quilt and accompanying poster presents the story of a crazy patchwork quilt that was started in the mid-1930s with salvaged materials and was not finished until 2016. The story of the quilt reflects the historical role of quilting in creating social circles among women.

“It was exciting and mind-opening to be able to present my research to people who were interested in learning about the topic,” said Gino. “Not many understand the significance that quilting provided to our nation’s history and women’s rights. Being recognized has made me feel bolder about discussing my project and interest in the social aspects of quilting.”

The reception for faculty and staff honored 14 women at Lee who were nominated for excellent work, character, and service to the Lee community and beyond. Faculty, staff, and administrators from across campus were in attendance to honor the women’s achievements.

Dr. Sara Ortega-Higgs, associate professor of French and Spanish, announced the names of the women to be honored, which included Lena Barber, Counseling Center; Bobbie Bischoff, Physical Plant; Michaelia Black, Business and Finance; Michelle Bostic, Campus Ministries; Kim Brooks, Special Events; Carolyn Carroll, University Relations; Kimberly Cordell, College of Arts and Sciences; Tracey Davi, Department of Business; Marian Dill, Financial Aid; Crystal Keeter, College of Education; Angeline McMullin, Global Perspectives; Davonna Parker, Division of Adult Learning; Beth Seymour, Business and Finance; and Jill Welborn, Student Development.