Casey O'Brien Outstanding Activist Award

The award is given in recognition of student activism (on or off-campus) and leadership within the areas of women’s issues, gender and sexual equality, and social or racial justice. Applications are accepted during February each year leading up to Women’s History Month (March).

Casey O’Brien was a lecturer in Women’s and Gender Studies for ten years, beginning in 2008. She served a critical role in the development of the WGS undergraduate program, developing the course, WGS 211: Foundations of Women’s and Gender Studies Writing and Research, launching the WGS TA mentorship, and engaging students in service learning. As a result of her pedagogical innovations in the classroom, outstanding rapport with students, commitment to feminist teaching methods, and enthusiasm about the subject matter, she became an indispensable member of our teaching staff and a very popular teacher among our students, undergraduate and graduate alike.

Current bachelor’s degree students with a Women’s and Gender Studies major or minor, WGS master’s students, and WGS graduate certificate students, whose activism and leadership address gender equality and/or social and racial justice, are eligible to apply. Applications are typically accepted in February each year.