Bryant community celebrates contributions by women
Tomorrow’s event will feature a student presentation on the history of women at Bryant and a tribute to two members of the Bryant community recognized as Women of the Year.
Jessica Komoroski ’11 (West Islip, NY) was under the impression that Bryant, like many schools around the country, did not have a history that was always welcoming to women. That was until she delved into a research project with a classmate as part of her honors "American Women’s History" class with History Professor Judy Barrett Litoff.
“I learned that even back in 1863 when the school was founded, Bryant was ahead of its time opening its doors to both men and women,” says Komoroski.
This is just part of the fascinating research that Komoroski and a classmate, Jillian Emberg ’12 (Bridgewater, MA), uncovered with the help of Mary Moroney, director of library services, as part of their “History of Women at Bryant” research project.
The pair will present their findings as part of an event on Tuesday, November 10, to recognize the 40th anniversary of the first department of women’s studies on a college campus. The program begins at 4 p.m. in the Stepan Grand Hall of the Bello Center for Information and Technology.
“This project allowed me to gain insight into influential women who preceded my time on campus, which is important to me as a woman student leader on campus,” says Komoroski, the editor of The Archway, Bryant’s student-run newspaper. “Without the work of these women, many of the opportunities that exist today would never be possible.”
Emberg, an actuarial mathematics major, was interested to learn that women were integral in operating the school during the 1940s when men were away at war, and they also organized symposiums to fight curfews and dress codes imposed in the 1960s.
“Throughout Bryant’s history, women have created amazing opportunities and have accomplished so many remarkable things,” says Emberg. “It was fascinating to learn how great an influence women have had on the Bryant community.”
Honoring Women of the Year
As part of the event, Bryant will also recognize Toby Simon, director of Bryant’s Women’s Center and assistant to the dean, as well as Kathleen Hittner, a member of the University’s Board of Trustees. Both were recognized as 2009 Women of the Year by the Rhode Island Commission on Women. Simon was recognized for her advocacy efforts, while Hittner was commended for her contributions to medicine. (Learn more about the RI Commission on Women.)
“It is extremely gratifying to be honored – especially for advocacy,” says Simon. “I feel that the bulk of my professional life working in higher education has been devoted to helping women students find their voices to speak up when things are not right and empowering them. This is what I do with a lot of passion and energy.”
Sherika Nicholas ’11 (Long Island, NY), a student worker in Bryant’s Women’s Center, will offer a tribute to Simon.
Hittner, a renowned anesthesiologist, was recently named the senior vice president of community health at Lifespan. The former president and CEO of Miriam Hospital has been a member of the faculty at the Brown Alpert Medical School since 1979, where she is a clinical professor of surgery in the Department of Anesthesiology.
Tuesday’s event will also include a panel discussion featuring:
Ann-Marie Harrington’86, president and founder of Embolden, the Pawtucket, RI-based Web development and consulting firm
Marjorie Krakue ’08, product consultant, MetLife Auto and Home
Tuesday’s event commemorates the 40th anniversary of the first Women’s Studies Department, which was created at San Diego State University. Bryant’s Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies minor was established about 10 years ago.
“Studying women, gender, and sexuality is crucial to developing well-rounded students because it takes knowledge beyond the walls of the classroom and into everyday life,” says Janet Dean, associate professor of English and cultural studies and coordinator of the Women, Gender, and Sexuality (WGS) Studies program “It helps students become more socially aware, inquisitive, and engaged citizens.”
Empowering women
One Bryant graduate who has earned a minor in WGS Studies is Lily Simons ’09. She took courses such as “Gender and American Culture in the 1950s, “Major Literary Figures: Emily Dickinson,” and “Sociology of the Family.”
Simons, who earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in management, recently started her career in the restaurant industry. She was fortune enough be hired by fellow Bryant alumna Amber Ryan Feuti ’03, assistant general manager for Not Your Average Joe’s restaurant, who has become a mentor to Simons.
“I look up to Amber in many ways,” says Simons. “Not only is she in a position I hope to be in some day, but she also helps prove that the glass ceiling I learned about is truly coming down. She is one of the few female managers in the company and I am proud of her accomplishments.”
In addition to "American Women's History" and "Sexuality and Culture," Brianna Mahan '09 took a course called "Gender in Childhood." She is currently a staff auditor at Bigelow & Co. in Manchester, NH.
"You are encouraged to question every aspect of 'normal life,' " says Mahan. "It is a practice that will change how you think forever."
Stasia McKinley ’10 (Quinebaug, CT) has taken “U.S. Women and World War II,” “Sexuality and Culture,” at Bryant, as well as “Women In Irish Society,” while studying in Ireland. She will finish her WGS Studies minor by completing a research project with Associate Sociology Professor Sandra Enos this spring.
“Studying women, gender, and sexuality is empowering for women today,” says McKinley “While women have made progress achieving equality, there is still work to be done.”
'Broadened my knowledge'
Bryant’s WGS Studies courses are not limited to females. Warren Jones ’10 (Barnstable, MA) took “Human Sexuality” with one of his favorite instructors, English and Cultural Studies Assistant Professor Thomas Roach. Jones, a finance major and legal studies minor, reports that it was one of the most rewarding courses he has taken at Bryant.
“It was an opportunity to learn about and understand how people around the world live,” says Jones. “The class broadened my knowledge of the different people and cultures that help shape our society.”
Sam Schultz '09 took "American Women's History with Professor Litoff. After spending the summer teaching in the Providence Summerbridge program for inner-city youths, Schutz is preparing to apply to the AmeriCorps program.
"The class," he says, "taught me how to see the present moment through a different perspective, which is a skill that's coming in handy in almost everything I do."
“I learned that even back in 1863 when the school was founded, Bryant was ahead of its time opening its doors to both men and women,” says Komoroski.
Emberg, an 
“It is extremely gratifying to be honored – especially for advocacy,” says Simon. “I feel that the bulk of my professional life working in higher education has been devoted to helping women students find their voices to speak up when things are not right and empowering them. This is what I do with a lot of passion and energy.”
Tuesday’s event commemorates the 40th anniversary of the first Women’s Studies Department, which was created at San Diego State University. Bryant’s 
Simons, who earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in 
Stasia McKinley ’10 (Quinebaug, CT) has taken “U.S. Women and World War II,” “Sexuality and Culture,” at Bryant, as well as “Women In Irish Society,” while studying in Ireland. She will finish her WGS Studies minor by completing a research project with Associate 
“It was an opportunity to learn about and understand how people around the world live,” says Jones. “The class broadened my knowledge of the different people and cultures that help shape our society.”