Thursday, March 2, 6:30 p.m.—RUTLAND—College of St. Joseph is hosting a presentation by educator and women’s advocate Vandy Kemp Thursday, March 2, 6:30 p.m. Kemp’s discussion, titled “Beyond Lean In: Finding the Intersectionality of all American Women,” will examine how class, race, and ethnicity differences make it difficult for there to be a common sisterhood based on shared struggle and solidarity.
“Thinking about American feminism in terms of periodic waves of social change can be misleading. From an American historical perspective,women of all classes and ethnicities have always struggled, gained and lost ground, and sought to redefine their identity as far back as the brave women of the Plymouth and Jamestown colonies,” Kemp said. “We will take a look at some of these stories, and I believe two truths will emerge: when American women have seized opportunities through history to lead and manage, they have had a great impact. However, the feminist goals of equality and power will remain hazy until a single vision for all American women emerges.”
Kemp, a native of Southern Appalachia, is a 36-year veteran of secondary and higher education in Virginia and Tennessee with experience ranging from high school counseling and administration to college teaching, academic support services, senior administration, and diversity programing. She broke gender barriers as the first female high school administrator in two Tennessee school districts.
She recently retired after serving for 12 years as vice president and dean of students at Maryville College, a 200-year-old liberal arts college located near Knoxville, Tenn.
Kemp holds a Bachelor’s Degree in sociology and music education from Radford University and a Master’s Degree in educational psychology and counseling with educational administration and supervision. She is also an alumna of the Harvard Graduate School of Education Institute on Educational Management.
She is a member of the League of Women Voters, American Association of University Women, National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, Showing Up for Racial Justice, and PFLAG.
The event is part of the College’s Women’s History Month celebration and is sponsored by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. The presentation will be held in Tuttle Theater on the College of St. Joseph campus, located at 71 Clement Road in Rutland. It is free and open to the public.
Photo courtesy of College of St. Joseph
VANDY KEMP
