Feminism in the Americas Symposium
The Feminisms in the Americas Symposium, a two-day event in April, was a joint initiative of the FREE Center and the Center for Latin American Studies. We brought together scholars, artists, and activists for an interdisciplinary dialogue about feminist thought and practice across the Americas. Two scholars, Dr. Lina-Maria Murillo from the University of Iowa, and Dr. Claudia Cabello Hutt from George Mason University, were featured throughout the symposium. They each gave a book talk, as well as an archive workshop for graduate students. Read more here.
Loretta Ross, Reproductive Justice As Human Rights
The FREE Center was pleased and honored to bring academic and activist Loretta Ross to The Ohio State University. Over 200 guests joined us on March 24th to connect with local organizations and hear Professor Ross speak. Her talk, Reproductive Justice as Human Rights, covered her activist origins and role in developing the framework of Reproductive Justice. Ross spoke about the value of "calling in" different types of allies to unite over common goals rather than evaluating their commitments to social justice issues. Read more about the event.
Feminist Teaching and Research in this Political Moment
On February 28, 2025, the FREE Center hosted an event titled "Feminist Teaching and Research in this Political Moment". More than thirty faculty and graduate students came together to build community and share practical strategies to guide research and teaching. The FREE Center started the event with a short panel discussion featuring: Dana Howard, Department of Biomedical Education, Anatomy, and Philosophy, Shameka Poetry Thomas, Center for Bioethics, fabian romero, Department of Comparative Studies, and Mary Thomas, Department of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, who all shared reflections to kick off the conversation. The event also responded to the recent news regarding the Office of ODI and the Center for Belonging and Social Change. Read more about the event.
Summer Writing Retreat for Graduate Students
In May 2024, the FREE Center hosted the inaugural Summer Writing Retreat for Graduate Students. The two-day event provided an opportunity for graduate students across the university to advance in their feminist research projects. Twenty-two students from a wide range of departments — including Sociology, Education, and Social Work, to name a few — participated in the event. According to a post-event survey, graduate students found the event to be a valuable use of their time, with many making significant advances in their dissertations or article projects. Given the success of the May event, the FREE Center hosted another writing retreat in August 2024.
WTF (What the Feminist) is Happening in Ohio Politics?!
On April 1, 2024, more than 50 faculty, staff, students, and community members attended the FREE Center’s inaugural event, “WTF (What the Feminist) is Happening in Ohio Politics?!" The panel discussion, moderated by Senior Vice Provost for Inclusive Excellence and WGSS Professor Dr. Wendy Smooth, included four experts: Maria Bruno, Executive Director, Ohioans Against Extremism (former Public Policy Director, Equality Ohio); Jessie Hill, Judge Ben C. Green Professor of Law, Case Western Reserve University; Barbara Palmer, Professor of Political Science, Baldwin Wallace University; and Emily Quick Schriver, CEO, The Matriots. Read more.
Closing Reception: Abject Object: Feminism, Art & The Academy
On March 1, 2024, the FREE Center teamed up with University Libraries to host the exhibition closing event of Abject Object: Feminism, Art & The Academy. FREE Center Advisory Board Member Dr. Alison Norris kicked off the event with brief remarks about the center, its mission, and upcoming events. The FREE Center and Art and Design Librarian Courtney Hunt were then joined by artists Annelise Duque, Brianna Gluszak, Carmen Winant, Dionne Lee, Gina Osterloh, and Paloma Martinez-Cruz for a conversation in the gallery about the potential of art as a site of feminist discourse and exploration.
FREE Center Collaborative Dream Session
More than 35 feminist scholars from across the university gathered on Nov. 15, 2023, to mark the launch of the FREE Center. The “Collaborative Dream Session” kickoff event, held at the Ohio State STEAM Factory in downtown Columbus, provided an opportunity for faculty to collectively imagine how the FREE Center can best serve the campus and greater Columbus communities. Faculty from a wide range of disciplines shared current research projects and goals, exchanged ideas about how to foster collaborative feminist research, and identified potential Research and Connection Clusters. Read more about the event.