As the current chair of the Department of English, Dr. Katherine Montwieler prepares for her new position as the director of the Women’s Studies and Resource Center by planning to expand the program as well as get students involved.

“The skills and perspectives one learns by taking women’s and gender studies classes are increasingly important for all professionals,” said Montwieler about the importance of the department, even explaining how she has a graduate certificate in women’s studies.

Several individuals approached Montwieler expressing an interest in her taking on this role. And, given that the WSRC is now housed within the College of Arts and Sciences and considering Dean Volety’s and Provost Sheerer’s commitment to the program, it seemed to Montwieler like a good time to consider this opportunity.

Speaking about her plans for the program’s future, Montwieler said that “I intend to listen.”

She explained that the department has over 40 minors in the program and that she would like to work with faculty across campus to cross list more classes as WGS.

“Doing so should enable even more students to earn the minor if they are so interested,” said Montwieler. “In cooperation with the WSRC board and staff, I’ll work with directors at our peer and sister UNC institutions to see how we can continue to build on our strengths. Our students and administrators clearly have a commitment to applied learning and internship opportunities for our students, and I look forward to seeing how the WSRC can address this need.”

Montwieler also explained that working with departments like the Office of Student Life, UNC Wilmington’s Student Government Association, the College of Health and Human Services, the Watson College of Education and Cameron School of Business is crucial. 

“[These departments and the WSRC] have shared interests: for example, Dr. Donna Hicks, whom the WSRC brought in [to speak] last fall, is a professor of International Affairs at Harvard and she’s worked with the World Bank, the United Nations and the United States Navy—her presentation on dignity was outstanding,” said Montwieler.

Ultimately, besides working with other departments, Montwieler would like to raise the profile of the important work of the WSRC so that more students, faculty, staff and community members can take advantage of the programming. 

According to Montwieler, the department’s speakers need to be “relevant and timely.”

Montwieler also looks forward to building on the legacies of Dr. Vibeke Olson, Dr. Katie Peel and Dr. Michelle Scatton-Tessier, as well as working with students and the relatively new leaders of UNCW to recognize the historic foundation we have and addressing the new needs of students.

And she has experience with heading and growing a department, seeing as she is the current department chair for the Department of English.

“I’m currently serving as the chair of the Department of English,” said Montwieler. “Much of my day is spent working with students navigating the curriculum and analyzing statistics and schedules; I imagine as director of the WSRC I will continue to do that.”

Montwieler also has experience serving on the Board of the WSRC, the Leadership Lecture Series board, the Honors Council and the Teacher Education Advisory Council. 

“These groups have introduced me to a number of perspectives and a lot of information about how the university functions and the values of students,” said Montwieler. “[And] although the WSRC is now housed within the College of Arts and Sciences, it serves all UNCW students, faculty and staff. That cross-campus presence and its historic commitment to gender equity and ethics underscore how this program is unique on our campus.”

However, experience aside, attempts at increasing the size of the program rely heavily upon the demand of students who wish to take courses within the WGS program.

“If the demand is there [over the next few years], we should be able to build our program by offering more classes, full time academic positions and a major,” said Montwieler.

With a new director for the program, especially one with experience at UNCW, Montwieler hopes to further student involvement and increase the presence of the WSRC on campus.