Welcome to Gender & Sexuality Studies at NMSU - Building the Future Today

Dear learners, prospective students, community members, colleagues, and fellow women's, gender, and sexuality studies practitioners,

As the Academic Director of Gender & Sexuality Studies at New Mexico State University (NMSU), I am delighted to welcome you to our academic community. 

In Gender & Sexuality Studies at NMSU, we provide a range of academic opportunities that delve into the intricate discourses surrounding women, gender, queer, trans, feminist, and LGBTQIA+ studies. Our offerings include a BA, a minor, a graduate minor, an NMSU Global BA, and the opportunity for double major degrees, both on campus and through digital learning platforms. Our courses are designed to cultivate critical and innovative thinking. However, our goal extends beyond knowledge acquisition: we aim to inspire learners to apply theory in tangible ways, fostering actionable change and leadership.

Graduate students: We extend a special welcome to you. In our academic unit, you will find a supportive environment for advanced study. You'll have the opportunity to delve deeper into gender and sexuality studies topics, engage with faculty members about research and creative activity, and contribute your  perspectives and efforts to our academic community.

Our faculty research and creative activities are diverse, reflecting our commitment to academic enrichment and embodied forms of scholarship and difference. In tandem, our outreach initiatives, such as the Feminist Border Arts Film Festival and the Transnational Day of Solidarity, bridge our academic pursuits with tangible social impact.

Artists and contributors to the Feminist Border Arts Film Festival and SJZ: Social Justice Zine: We extend a warm welcome to you. Your creativity and imagination significantly enrich our community and the wider discourse on gender and sexuality. We eagerly anticipate your submissions and applaud your efforts in engaging with these crucial topics through your art. To all who attend our screenings and read our zine, we also extend our deepest appreciation. Your participation, whether by actively contributing or by lending an open and eager mind to the perspectives presented, is a vital part of our mission and impact.

We find ourselves in a time when the fight for reproductive rights has gained renewed urgency following the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and when laws targeting transgender individuals and the broader LGBTQIA+ community are increasingly prevalent. We unequivocally advocate for reproductive rights and stand in solidarity with these communities, extending our support not just academically, but also ethically, creatively, and personally. As practitioners of Gender & Sexuality Studies, we are at the forefront of these pressing issues. Our mission remains steadfast: we educate for growth and change. Our commitment to reproductive rights and trans and LGBTQIA+ communities is unwavering and central to our purpose. We are steadfast in our resolve to advocate for, effect change within, and dismantle systemic barriers affecting these communities, ensuring their voices are heard, their rights are upheld, and their individual and collective wellbeing is continually supported.

As an academic community deeply immersed in Borderlands issues and located near the US-Mexico border, we wholeheartedly care about and support migrants and mixed-status families, many of whom include our students. Migrant and mixed-status experiences and perspectives hold immeasurable value to us. We extend a warm welcome and are dedicated to providing a supportive environment. Together, we strive to create knowledge, raise awareness, and actively engage in efforts that contribute to a more inclusive and equitable society. 

Here are some ways you can engage with Gender & Sexuality Studies at NMSU:

1. Prospective students: We welcome you to explore our degree programs. From our undergraduate courses to our graduate minor, our curriculum offers immersive learning experiences that challenge perspectives and inspire new understanding.

2. Current students: Take your involvement further through student-led initiatives like the Rally for Living Life in Spring 2023, organized by Students for Reproductive Rights at NMSU. Join them and other clubs and organizations dedicated to gender and sexuality topics, like LGBT+ Programs.

3. Community members: Engage in our public and co-sponsored events such as lectures, panel discussions, Feminist Border Arts Film Festival, and workshops focused on gender and sexuality issues. 

4. Colleagues and specialists: Share your expertise and contribute to our thriving academic community through cross-listing your courses with gender and sexuality studies topics, cconsider joining our extended network of Gender & Sexuality Studies scholars and practitioners across campus, collaborative research & grants, guest lectures, or by adding your voice to our symposia, film festival, and other events.

5. Everyone: Stay connected with us by following our social media: @genxprof on Instagram and TikTok and @gensxprof on Twitter. This will keep you up-to-date on our latest events, courses, and initiatives. If you wish to support our mission further, consider making a donation through NMSU Foundation to fund scholarships for G&SS students, to directly support the Feminist Border Arts Film Festival and SJZ: Social Justice Zine, research endeavors, and community initiatives.

I invite you to join us in this work. Whether you're a current or prospective student, a community member interested in learning more, a colleague in the field, or a specialist in women's, gender, and sexuality studies, your collaboration and contributions can play a vital role in shaping our academic unit and our collective future.

Yours in Solidarity,

Dr. L. Anh Williams, lawill@nmsu.edu

Associate Professor and Academic Director, Gender & Sexuality Studies

New Mexico State University