Morning:
Afternoon:
More video from the event to come.
Zoom Video from April 10th
2024 Schedule
- Symposium Schedule as PDF with Speaker Bios and Images
- Read the Press Release
- Watch Live on Zoom 04/10 8:30 am - 8:30 PM MST
Free & Open to the Public
English to Spanish Translation Available
**NOTE: WEBSITE SCHEDULE INCLUDES UPDATES**
8:30-9:10 am Blessing Ceremony, Coffee, and Welcome from the Governor
8:30-8:45 am Tortugas Pueblo Blessing Ceremony Corbett Center Auditorium Outdoor Area
8:30-9:00 am Coffee, Corbett Center Auditorium Lobby
9:00-9:05 am Welcome by Symposium Planning Committee
9:05-9:10 am Welcome Video by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham
"I want my [G&SS] major living, breathing, & celebrated at NMSU. The impact on students and faculty alike would be amazing."
G&SS Legacy: Alex Fonnest, graduating Gender & Sexuality Studies major, Spring 2024
9:10-10:15 am Commemorating 35 Years of NMSU Gender & Sexuality Studies: Panel 1: Histories
Panel Speakers:
Honor Beeson, Graduate Student, G&SS Oral History Project
Dr. Diana Bustamante, Executive Director, Colonias Development Council, founding member Women's Studies committee and former Sociology Professor
Dr. Martha Loustaunau, Retired Sociology Professor from Sociology/Anthropology Department
Professor Mary Benanti, Associate College Track Professor Emeritus in G&SS and Interdisciplinary Studies Department. First faculty member hired as G&SS program faculty in 2007.
Moderator: Dr. Liz Schirmer, Department of English, Department Head
10:15-10:30 Break
10:30-11:45 Commemorating 35 Years of NMSU Gender & Sexuality Studies: Panel 2: Futures
Panel Speakers:
Dr. Michèle Shuster, Associate Dean of Research, College of Arts and Sciences
Dr. Dylan McCarthy Blackston, Assistant Professor of G&SS
Professor Dae Romero, College Assistant Professor of Communication Studies
Kayla Myers, Innovation Coordinator and Educator, The New America Charter HIgh School
Moderator: Professor Juan “Ricky” Araiza, MA, English and Gender & Sexuality Studies Instructor
11:45-1:00 pm Luncheon Corbett Center East Ballroom
1:15-2:15 pm Collaboration: Zines in Schools – Participatory Media Project with Feminist Border Arts (FBA), J. Paul Taylor Academy, and the New America School
Panel Speakers:
Monica Kiser, Art Educator, J. Paul Taylor Academy
Kayla Myers, Innovation Coordinator and Educator, The New America Charter High School
New America School students: Cinthia Razo-Gonzalez, Elisa Valdez, and Oscar Zepeda
Dr. L. Anh Williams, Associate Professor and Academic Director of G&SS and Founding Co-Director of FBA
Moderator: Dr. M. C. Jonet, Associate Professor of Gender & Sexuality Studies and founding co-Director/Executive of FBA
G&SS Legacy: Flashback to the 2019 Feminist Border Arts Film Festival, now marking its 9th year. FBA, a humanities-arts initiative in media-making and creative curation, was founded by G&SS faculty Drs. Jonet and Williams in 2016.
2:15-2:30 Break
2:30-3:45 pm Empowering Change: State and Local Political Leadership
Panel Speakers:
Carrie Hamblen, NM State Senator
Becky Corran, Las Cruces District 5 City Councilor
Doreen Gallegos, NM State Representative
Johana Bencomo, Las Cruces District 4 City Councilor and Mayor Pro Tem
Rebecca Roose, Senior Infrastructure Advisor to Governor Lujan Grisham
Moderator: Professor Kim Lopez-Gallagher, Professor of Philosophy, Government, U.S. History, NMSU-Alamogordo
3:45-4:00 Break Coffee and snacks
"I would not have the job I do or be as successful as I am without NMSU’s Gender and Sexuality Studies. It shapes how I view my job and the world at large."
G&SS Legacy: Christina Garton, NMSU G&SS Alum, Editor, Easy Weaving with Little Looms and Contributing Editor, Handwoven
4:00-5:15 pm Transforming Communities: Access and Belonging for All
Panel Speakers:
Dr. Michelle Adames, CEO Jardín de los Niños
Dr. Charles Townley, CFSNM Rainbow Committee and Professor Emeritus
School of Teacher Preparation, Administration and Leadership (HEST), Former Dean of NMSU Library
Erika Contreras, Assistant Director, Colonias Development Council
Ryan Stienmetz, Las Cruces PFLAG
Moderator: Amber Pérez, Executive Director, Borderland Rainbow Center
5:15-5:30 Break
G&SS Legacy: Faculty member Jonet uses digital storytelling as part of her research, creative activity, and pedagogy.
5:30-5:45 Social Justice Awards
Government Social Justice Award Recipient:
Professor Dae Romero, College Assistant Professor of Communication Studies
Dr. Neil Harvey, Department of Government, Department Head, introduces recipient
J. Paul Taylor Social Justice Community Award Recipients:
Rose Garcia, Executive Director, Tierra del Sol, and Dana Hopkins, Community Activist and Advocate
Mary Helen Ratje, J. Paul Taylor Academy educator and J. Paul Taylor family representative, and, Professor Carrie Tafoya, College Assistant Professor of English, introduce recipients
5:45-6:45 pm Reception Corbett Center Auditorium Lobby
"It wasn’t until I found a family at Gender & Sexuality Studies that I felt that I had a place on campus."
G&SS Legacy: Karen Tellez-Trujillo, PhD, G&SS Alum, Assistant Professor, English & Modern Languages
Cal Poly Pomona
7:00-8:30 pm KEYNOTE: A Dialogue on Transformative Leadership
Chancellor Sherry Kollmann, NMSU Global Campus
Chancellor Monica Torres, Doña Ana Community College
Moderator: Julia Brown, National Board Chairperson of the American Association of University Women
Event Information
The event takes place at the Corbett Center Student Union on the campus of NMSU. It runs from 8:30 am to 8:30 pm and is completely free and open to the public.
To keep the conversation flowing and our guests comfortable, we'll be providing light food and beverages throughout the day and into the evening.
Free Parking Information: Free 1-Day & 1-Week E-Permits Get yours now
Attendees of the symposium can also enjoy free parking on campus, including the spacious Lot #30 located east of the Pan American Center. These complimentary parking areas are designated in brown on the campus parking map.
Remember, parking is free accross campus after 4:30 pm.
Gender Neutral Restrooms Available: For your convenience, gender-neutral restrooms are located in the Corbett Center, Rooms 139 and 141.
Accommodations Near NMSU: For those traveling from out of town, here are some nearby hotel options:
- Comfort Suites
- 2101 S. Triviz Drive, Phone: 575-522-1300
- Comfort Suites
- 236 N. Telshor Boulevard, Phone: 575-521-1030
- Courtyard by Marriott Las Cruces at NMSU
- 456 E. University Avenue, Phone: 575-526-1722
- Hilton Garden Inn
- 2550 Don Roser Drive, Phone: 575-522-0900
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites
- 2635 S. Valley Drive, Phone: 575-527-9947
- Ramada Las Cruces Hotel and Conference Center
- 201 E. University Avenue, Phone: 575-526-4411
Sponsors
The 19th Annual J. Paul Taylor Social Justice Symposium is Sponsored by NMSU Gender & Sexuality Studies, College of Arts & Sciences, NMSU Global Campus, Office for Equity, Inclusion, & Diversity, Department of English, Department of Government, College of Arts and Sciences Stan Fulton Endowed Chair, J. Paul Taylor Academy, and New America School - Las Cruces
2024 Planning Committee
This event, organized by NMSU’s Gender & Sexuality Studies, commemorates and reflects on our 35 years of interdisciplinary academic and creative excellence, beginning with the founding of the Women's Studies Program in 1989. It honors the leadership contributions of women and LGBTQ+ folks across the NMSU system, in local and state politics, and community mobilization.
Dr. Cynthia Bejarano: Symposium Chair - Leads speaker coordination and event logistics.
Dr. L. Anh Williams: Zine Project Lead - Engages J. Paul Taylor Academy and the New America School in participatory zine media projects for the symposium.
Dr. M. C. Jonet: Symposium theme, design, and digital media. Zine project support.
Dr. Dylan McCarthy Blackston: Downloadable program and speaker bios coordination, event planning, and execution.
Professor Juan "Ricky" Araiza: Zine project organization and event implementation.
Professor Carrie Tafoya: Event organization, logistics, and implementation.
Dr. Patti Wojahn, professor emeritus and former department head: Symposium and zine project planning and organization.
19th Annual Symposium Information
In a world thirsting for change, what does it mean to be a transformative leader? How do we recognize such leadership, and where do we find it? What are the key qualities or actions that define a transformative leader?
Gender & Sexuality Studies at New Mexico State University warmly invites you to the 19th annual J. Paul Taylor Social Justice Symposium on April 10, 2024.
This year's symposium, commemorating 35 years of the academic program for Gender & Sexuality Studies at NMSU, will be a day-long event highlighting the importance of inclusive leadership and the impact of collective voices in the fight for social change.
Join us for a day filled with meaningful discussions and presentations from educators, local students, leaders from NMSU, community organizers, and political representatives.
The symposium will feature panels that celebrate the history and anticipate the future of G&SS at NMSU, building bridges across disciplines, institutions, and administrative boundaries, fostering a culture of support and inclusivity.
We're also proud to collaborate with local educators and students at the J. Paul Taylor Academy and the New America School on participatory zine projects for the upcoming symposium. These efforts will be showcased, with teachers and students discussing their work and methodologies.
Other panels will broaden the scope of discussion, featuring community leaders and political representatives who are making significant strides in leadership. These changemakers represent progress in community, political, and institutional settings, offering invaluable insights into the intersection of leadership and social change.
We honor the strides we've made and look forward to the paths we will forge together.
Help Spread the Word
As we gear up for the 19th Annual J. Paul Taylor Social Justice Symposium, we believe in the power of community and the impact of sharing. Here is a suite of digital resources designed by Femininst Border Arts (FBA) to help amplify the message and bring more voices to the table.
Download Event Materials
Get involved and help spread the word. To download, simply follow these steps:
- Locate the material you wish to download: We offer a flyer in PDF format, social media posts in PNG format, and a mobile video in MP4 format.
- Click on the corresponding link: This will either open the document in your browser or initiate the download automatically.
- If the document opens in your browser, look for a download icon, usually located at the top right of the page, and click it to save the file to your device.
- If the file downloads automatically, check your device's download folder to locate the file.
- Save the file to your preferred location on your device.
Download the Flyer:
Social Media Post:
- Share JPT19 this PNG on your favorite platforms (don't forget to write Alt Text).
- Download this version featuring QR Code and Short URL for the Zoom link.
- This PNG features a Save the Date for JPT19.
- JPT 19 Sponsors
Mobile Video:
- Capture the essence of this year's symposium with a mobile video (MP4). Ideal for Instagram stories, Reels, TikTok, and more.
- Click for a MP4 of a 30 second version that includes the QR code to watch live on Zoom.
Dropbox Folder:
By downloading and sharing these materials, you're contributing to the success of the symposium and you become a part of FBA's mission to foster social change through creativity, scholarship, and community engagement. Thank you for your support.
