2/26/2021
2021 Womxn’s History Month
Honoring the Suffragettes
Womxn’s History Month is dedicated to recognizing the role of womxn in US history. In February 1980 President Jimmy Carter issued a presidential proclamation recognizing the week of March 8, 1980 as National Women’s History Week. The movement continued to grow and by March 1, 1987 Congress issued a declaration of March as Women’s History Month in perpetuity. It is fitting that Women’s History Month follows Black History Month, as women’s suffrage began as an anti-slavery movement. Today we place the “X” in Women for Womxn’s History Month to be more inclusive and fluid to genders beyond the male/female binary, such as for trans women or others who identify as women. ‘Womxn’ is pronounced the same as woman and women. (How The Letter “X” Creates More Gender-Neutral Language)
In big ways, and small, from across campus to around the world, the women of Upper Iowa University have made a difference. Known as the founding mother of Upper Iowa University, it was Elizabeth Alexander’s dream for her daughters and the other children of Fayette to receive a good education without having to travel far from home. Her proposal resulted in the foundation of Upper Iowa University in 1857.
Upper Iowa will be holding events in honor of National Womxn’s History Month throughout March. Here’s a look at some of the events taking place virtually and in-person. Please continue to visit this page as events are added. All are welcome to come and celebrate the achievements and progress of womxn!
Thank you to the Womxn’s History Month Planning Committee! Interested in serving on next year’s planning committee? Please contact the Assistant Vice President for Student Life, Danielle Rosario Cushion, at [email protected].
A History of Womxn at Upper Iowa University
All Month Activity - Wellness Challenge
Join the March Wellness Challenge and be counted! Everyone is encouraged to be active and share their story.
Scheduled Events (all times CST)
Topic: Women in Politics Panel Discussion
Join Zoom Meeting: https://uiu.zoom.us/j/92922592397
Women in Politics, Virtual Panel Discussion, Wednesday March 31st, 12:10pm CST: 101 years ago women in the United States won the right to vote. This year the US elected its first female Vice President. Great strides have been made in some areas and very few in others. UIU alum, Sharon (Barnhart) Keehner, Clayton County Supervisor; June Glover, Senior Program Officer with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; Jodi Grover, UIU Teacher Educator Coordinator, and Amy Tucker, UIU Director of Academic Success and Fayette City Council Representative, will share their personal journey into politics and their why. Panelists will offer advice to students thinking of entering a career in politics and will reveal encouraging perspectives and insights on the leadership skills needed to break barriers and become successful pioneers in any field. For a timeline on women in politics go to: Women in politics: A timeline | ShareAmerica
Panelist Bios:
Sharon Keehner, Clayton County Supervisor
Sharon is a 1980 graduate of Upper Iowa with a teaching degree in Business Education and Physical Education. At graduation she received the Alexander-Dickman Award. She was a basketball scholarship player—winning letters in basketball, volleyball and softball. She also earned a music scholarship and sang in the Madrigal. She was an RA, drama club member, part of student government and was a two-year president of Kappa Eta Beta Sorority. After college she married Randy Keehner who farmed outside of Guttenberg, her home town. She was offered a job teaching business at Guttenberg Community School and started the Volleyball program. She coached volleyball for 26 years at all levels. She also was the Athletic director for 5 years and helped with the creation of Clayton Ridge Community Schools when Guttenberg and Garnavillo merged in 2001.
Sharon was named the Iowa Business Secondary Educator in 2010 and was the Iowa Career and Technical Leadership award winner in 2011. She received the National Business Education Blogger of the Year and was part of the Women Technology Educators Association. Sharon also was a National Speaker at events across the US on Infusing Technology into the Classroom. Sharon worked with the Iowa of Department of Education and the Georgia Department of Education by teaching classes on “Reading Across the Curriculum.” She retired after teaching for 40 years and then ran for political office. She was elected in 2019 and now serves on the Clayton County Board of Supervisors as the Vice Chair. She currently serves on 5-Mental Health Boards, 2-Economic Development Boards, E-911, Emergency Management Agency, and County Disaster Recovery Committee, Substance Abuse Board, and oversees Scenic Acres a long-term care facility.
June Glover, Senior Program Officer, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
June Glover earned a Master of Public Administration from Baruch College, The City University of New York, where she was a National Urban Fellow. She earned her BS in biology from Howard University. June joined the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) as a senior program officer in 2019. Through her work, she employs her extensive experience in management, coordination, planning, research, and program implementation to help improve health care access for low-income, disenfranchised populations. She views her work as “an opportunity to serve as a change agent in health care system transformation by funding innovative strategies to connect health systems and essential human services—such as housing, cash assistance, and nutrition assistance—that help build an inclusive Culture of Health for individuals, families, and communities.” Prior to the Foundation, June was the senior policy advisor, mental health and substance misuse, to the Deputy New York City Mayor for Health and Human Services. In this role, she oversaw an $80 million portfolio of behavioral health and correctional health programs for New Yorkers. This included HealingNYC, the citywide plan to reduce opioid overdose deaths.
Prior to that, June was a program officer for the Center for Health Care Strategies, a nonprofit policy center dedicated to improving the health of low-income Americans. In this role, she provided technical assistance to state public health and Medicaid agencies and community-based organizations on their projects to improve services for high-risk populations. During her early career, June was a research and policy analyst for the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, where she tracked local implementation of the Affordable Care Act and New York’s Medicaid Redesign to identify opportunities for new programming to serve low-income populations.
Jodi Grover, UIU Teacher Educator Coordinator – Lead
Jodi Grover graduated from East Buchanan High School, Hawkeye Community College, and Upper Iowa University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Secondary Education and a Master of Education degree.
Jodi is the Teacher Educator Coordinator – Lead at Upper Iowa University where she oversees the teacher education program in Fayette and regional center programs in Des Moines, Waterloo, and Bettendorf. She is a board member of the Iowa Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. Jodi coordinates the annual Iowa Association of Colleges for Teacher Education Day at the Iowa Capitol, an annual event designed to engage university students in understanding politics as it relates to educators.
Jodi has been involved in politics from a young age from the influence of her grandfather and later clerked in the Iowa Senate for Senator Brian Schoenjahn for ten years. Jodi also served as the motorcade driver for now President Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden in 2019 and 2020. Jodi also served as a member of the Biden Advanced Team which gave her a “behind the scenes” look at setting up presidential campaign events.
Jodi is a member of the Rosary Society, Catholic Daughters, and is a Lector at the St. John’s Catholic Church in Independence. Additionally, Jodi volunteers as a bell ringer for the Buchanan County Salvation Army.
Jodi ran for the Iowa House of Representatives in District 64 in 2020.
Amy Tucker, UIU Director of Academic Success & Fayette City Council Representative
Amy attended Wartburg College where she earned a bachelor’s degree in community sociology with minors in psychology and leadership. She took advantage of many opportunities during her undergraduate years that helped her develop leadership skills and build community, including service trips, orientation, the Wartburg Choir, and Dance Marathon. Wartburg was also the place where Amy realized her passion and calling to work in higher education. She received several accolades as a student at Wartburg including: St. Elizabeth’s Service Award, Nobility Award, Debbie E. Heida Campus Leadership & Service Award, and Outstanding Senior in Community Sociology. After graduating from Wartburg College in 2010, Amy began her graduate studies at Iowa State University in the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies program. She had a two-year assistantship in New Student Programs at Iowa State, specifically working with Destination Iowa State and New Student Orientation. In 2012, she was named the Outstanding Graduate Student in Region V by the National Orientation Directors Association.
Amy became the Director of Student Activities at Upper Iowa University in 2012 where she developed a diverse offering of student activities and managed more than 30 clubs and organizations. In recognition of her work for students, the Iowa Student Personnel Association awarded Tucker its Outstanding New Professional Award in 2015. Amy transitioned into her current role as the Director of Academic Success at Upper Iowa University in 2015, overseeing efforts to support students in meeting their academic goals. She has been a part of many campus initiatives and is a strong advocate for supporting vulnerable students.
Amy’s leadership and service extends into the Fayette community. She has been involved in a variety of community organizations and initiatives including: Recreation Board (chair), Fayette Friends of the Library (secretary), NVFCC mentor, Fayette Community Garden, Fayette Music in the Park coordinator, National Anthem singer, and organizing park beautification efforts during Fayette Appreciation Day. In 2017, Tucker was tapped to fill an open city council seat, and in 2017 and 2019 she won re-election to that post, where she uses her platform to improve her community. She was awarded the Fayette Mayor’s Award in 2018 for her work in implementing the Fayette Community Garden. Most recently, she was honored as a recipient of the 2020 Young Alumni Award from her alma mater.
UIU Library Resources
on Womxn's History
The empowerment of women is booming, voices are strengthened, and our children’s future is bright. While these are achievements to celebrate there is work yet to be done. Inequalities against women are still relevant in society. Roughly 25% of women experience severe intimate partner physical violence, as opposed to 14% of men and 23% of transgender students. The Justice Department estimates 26.4% of college females will experience rape, but less than five percent of these incidents will be reported. Women’s History Month is a time to embolden women with the achievements that continue to occur, and raise awareness of the violence that still is happening. Below is a list of state resources for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence, as well as a list of national and local Iowa resources for survivors. One may also donate or volunteer with any of these organizations.
