On January 20, 2024, the Department of Women’s and Gender Studies Graduate Program hosted graduate scholars from around the world to present their research on Politicizing Bodies. PhD Candidate and committee chair for this event, Gabrielle McCoy, and some of her colleagues have been organizing this event since May of 2023. Gabrielle says, “When looking for a committee, I knew I wanted a diverse group of PhD students across a variety of studies.” She has been working tirelessly for months as the graduate conference continues approaching. “The hardest part about planning it (the conference) was picking a Keynote. The committee, really came together, and ending up deciding on Dr. Xan Nowakowski.” Dr. Nowakowski being an openly queer, multi-ethnic scholar, Gabrielle felt that they could provide a different perspective on Politicizing Bodies in medicine.  

Throughout the day of the conference, Gabrielle felt excited to learn and welcome so many scholars and was very proud to see her planning and hard work manifest into reality. “I received a lot of great feedback throughout the day from graduate students, and scholars from foreign countries. I was happy that we were able to provide space for those who may not be able to apply or share their research where they’re from.”  

On behalf of the Department of Women’s and Gender Studies, we congratulate Gabrielle McCoy for her success of the conference and applaud her hard work and efforts.