The Department of Ethnic and Gender Studies is one of only a few such interdisciplinary departments in New England and the first of its kind in the Massachusetts State College system. The two distinct, but interconnected minors offered by the department, Ethnic Studies, and Women’s Studies, share an emphasis on global diversity, cultural competency, and social justice efforts. The EGS department reflects the college’s mission to increase the integration of diverse perspectives and content into students’ educational experience and to help foster a campus climate that respects the ideas and contributions of a culturally diverse community. This new department, unlike most traditional ethnic or gender studies programs which offer programs based on the study of one major group, emphasizes interdisciplinary and comparative approaches to the study of race, class, ethnicity, culture and gender.

Ethnic Studies and Gender Studies both emerge from a rich history of social protest and activism in the 1960”s and 70”s.  Students  demanded an education that was authentic, truthful and included the history and experiences, and voices of those who had been silenced.  The protest that birthed the first Ethnic Studies departments in California was as unique moment where Black and Brown Panthers, white anti war movement supporters Chicano and Asian American student groups all came together for the longest student strike in American history. The results were the College of Ethnic studies at  Sam Francisco State University and the Department of Ethnic Studies at Berkley and San Diego.  Our department is also part of that history. Thus the seeds of our department are in community and social activism as well as academic achievement. 

Chair:
Margo Hennessy
Main Phone Number: 413-572-5748