Lectures, readings and interactive events showcase women’s contributions in literature, arts and STEM

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. — FEB. 26, 2025 — Dutchess Community College (DCC) will celebrate Women’s History Month with a series of on-campus events highlighting the achievements and influence of women. All events are free and open to the public, thanks in part to the support of the DCC Foundation, Office of Student Activities, and Office of Instruction & Learning.

The monthlong programming, featuring authors, scholars, poets and professionals, offers opportunities for learning, discussion and appreciation. A full schedule with event details is available at www.sunydutchess.edu/whm, with an overview below.

Author Aaliyah Bilal will open the month’s programming with a talk and book signing on March 4 at 12:30 p.m. in the James & Betty Hall Theatre. Co-sponsored by DCC’s Black History Committee and Women’s Activities Committee (WAC), the event will focus on "Temple Folk," Bilal’s debut story collection and a 2023 National Book Award finalist, which examines the complexities of Black Muslim identity in America.

A lecture on women artists of the Hudson River School will follow on March 6 at 12:30 p.m. in the Mildred I. Washington Art Gallery. As part of the “About Water” exhibition, featuring Hudson Valley artists Daisy de Puthod and Jean-Marie Martin, DCC Associate Professor of Art Margaret Craig will explore the often-overlooked contributions of women to the 19th-century movement. The event will also include an interview with de Puthod.

Poets Kateri Kosek and Joann Deiudicibus will present their work on March 13 at 12:30 p.m. in The Writing Center as part of the “Process to Text” series. The event will include a reading, followed by a Q&A session and book signing.

A lecture by Vassar College professor Dr. Kahdeidra Martin will take place on March 27 at 12:30 p.m. in Hudson Hall, Room 406. In "Africana Religious Literacies: Honoring Ancestry and the Divine Feminine in Language Learning," Martin will examine how practices of ancestral veneration and honoring the Divine Feminine offer tools for deepening our understanding of literacy, linguistics and Africana religious systems.

Students, faculty and staff will gather for a community reading on April 1 at 12:30 p.m. in the Handel Dining Room. Reading Women: Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations will feature poetry and prose reflecting the 2025 National Women’s History Month theme. Light refreshments will be served.

A Women in STEAM Panel will be held on April 17 at 12:30 p.m. in Dutchess Hall, Room 101. Women professionals in science, technology, engineering, art and math will share their career experiences, challenges and successes, offering insights for students interested in STEAM fields.

Later that evening, a virtual reading, Celebrating Black Women Authors, will take place on April 17 at 7 p.m. on Zoom. Faculty, staff and students will read selections from their favorite Black women writers across genres, including poetry, science fiction, biography and fiction. The event is co-sponsored by the Association of Women at DCC (AWDCC) and The Writing Center.

For more information, contact Shalon Hallager at shalon.hallager@sunydutchess.edu. If you require sign language interpreting services or special accommodations, please make your request at least two weeks before the event by reaching out to Linda Bertolozzi at (845) 431-8058 or bertoloz@sunydutchess.edu.


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Founded in 1957, Dutchess Community College is a two-year community college that has earned a reputation for providing an outstanding education and offers one of the lowest tuition rates in New York state. The College currently has four locations including its main campus in Poughkeepsie, DCC @ Fishkill, DCC @ HVR Airport, and DCC @ the Family Partnership Center. For more information visit www.sunydutchess.edu.