National Women’s History Month

Mission Statement: MTSU’s National Women’s History Month programming recognizes, promotes, and celebrates women’s contributions and causes by providing education and entertainment from a feminist perspective that emphasizes cultural transformation to achieve social justice and women’s empowerment.

The National Women’s History Month Committee coordinates programming each academic year, including an opening ceremony, keynote speaker, and featured presentations.

Events are held throughout the year and announced through the NWHM calendar and flyers posted on campus, though the majority are held in March and announced via our annual NWHM Calendar. To receive a copy of the calendar, contact the June Anderson Center office at jacwns@mtsu.edu or 615-898-5812.

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2025 National Women’s History Month Theme

Each year, the National Women’s History Alliance sets the theme for each National Women’s History Month. The MTSU National Women’s History Month Committee uses or aligns its theme with that set for the country. For 2025, the National Women’s History Month Committee proudly presents NWHA’s theme of: “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations”. This theme celebrates the collective strength and influence of women who have dedicated their lives to education, mentorship, and leadership. Through their efforts, they have served as an inspiration for all generations – both past and present.

IMPORTANCE & RELEVANCE
Throughout history, the process of information-sharing has been a powerful catalyst for change. An honest, open examination of new insights and knowledge can create a framework for collaboration.

This, in turn, promotes the well-being of groups, businesses, communities, and society as a whole. From classrooms to boardrooms, and from grassroots movements to global initiatives, women educators and leaders have played a pivotal role in nurturing minds and inspiring transformative action.

Our 2025 theme spotlights the contributions women have made to the American educational system, the free marketplace of ideas, and the very fabric of our democaracy.

GOALS & OBJECTIVES

• Honor: recognize the achievements and contributions of women educators, mentors, and leaders.
• Inspire: Motivate all generations to pursue education and leadership roles.
• Educate: Raise awareness about the unheralded legacies of women from every walk of life, highlighting their unique contributions and diverse backgrounds, including socioeconomic status, ethnicity, race, culture, abilities, and personal experiences.
• Unite: Bring together communities to explore, share, and celebrate women’s history and achievements.
• Envision: Create a blueprint for the future that honors our foremothers and builds bridges for the next generation of women.

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Sign-Up to attend this year’s National Women’s History Month Women’s Celebration Dinner and Trailblazer Award Ceremony

This year’s main event will include a Women’s Celebration Dinner featuring student, faculty, staff, alumni, and community networking, awards, a highlight speaker, and dinner to be held on March 5th, 2025 from 5:00-7:00pm in the Student Union Ballrooms. Allies welcome and encouraged. Please sign up to attend, as spots are limited (open until filled). For more information, please contact Dr. Maigan Wipfli at maigan.wipfli@mtsu.edu.

2025 Trailblazer Award Nominations

For 2025, the National Women’s History Month Committee is extending a call for applications for the following:

• MTSU Students (Individual)
• MTSU Staff Members
• MTSU Faculty Members
• MTSU Alumni
• MTSU Student Organizations (Group)
• Murfreesboro and Surrounding Community Members

Nominations extended through December 18th, 2024

2025 Women’s Celebration Dinner Accomplishments Submissions

A new feature of National Women’s History Month will be the celebration of many of our MTSU Women’s Accomplishments from 2024-2025. Please submit your own or others’ accomplishments through February 1st, 2025 to be recognized during the Celebration Dinner.

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Submit an event to be considered for the calendar
(closed for 2025)

In addition to programming the Committee organizes, we welcome proposals for co-sponsored NWHM events or requests to add events to our Calendar.

Submit a Funding Co-Sponsorship Proposal
(closed for 2025)

In addition to programming the Committee organizes, we welcome proposals for co-sponsored NWHM events or requests to add events to our Calendar. To submit a proposal, please complete a NWHM Proposal Form. Proposals are evaluated in the order received, based upon their adherence to the NWHM mission statement, their contribution to the diversity of programming, and the availability of funds. The Co-Sponsorship Subcommittee meets to review proposals. 

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Previous NWHM Button Honorees and Keynote Speakers

Year	Button Honoree	Keynote Speaker
2008	Angela Davis	Rebecca Walker
2009	Shirley Chisholm	bell hooks
2010	Gloria Steinem	Gloria Steinem
2011	Frida Kahlo
2012	Annie Sullivan	Marlee Matlin
2013	Sally Ride	Sheril Kirshenbaum
2014	Sojourner Truth	Soledad O’Brien
2015	Maya Angelou	Lisa Ling
2016	Benazir Bhutto	Judy A. Smith
2017	Madam C.J. Walker	Laila Ali
2018	Pat Summitt	Shalon D. Pillow & Tiffany Woosley
2019	Aretha Franklin	Julie Cohen
2020 & 2021	Mary Eliza Church Terrell Ida B. Wells Barnett Alice Paul	Dr. Mary Frances Berry
2022	bell hooks	Dr. Jacqueline Walters
2023	Toni Morrison	Nancy Giles
2024	Ruth Bader Ginsburg	Rebekah Taussig

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Committee Chair and NWHM Coordinator

Dr. Maigan Wipfli
June Anderson Center for Women & Nontraditional Students
Maigan.Wipfli@mtsu.edu 
Phone: 615-898-5812

Co-Sponsorship Committee Chair

Dr. Vicky MacLean
Interim Director, Women’s and Gender Studies Department
vicky.maclean@mtsu.edu