The Promise and Possibility of the Women’s Classical Caucus
By Nandini B. Pandey (University of Wisconsin--Madison)
This introduction to the panel reviews the early history, changing goals, and future possibilities of the Women’s Classical Caucus as the field has grown and now tries to transform itself to meet 21st-century challenges. This talk will include reflections and short interviews with some of WCC’s early members (many now retired) discussing the motivations behind the foundation of the WCC and challenges the caucus has faced over the years. The presentation will highlight strides the WCC has made, obstacles it continues to face, and potential roles in the future.
What the WCC Means to Me
By Amy Richlin (University of California, Los Angeles)
I left Yale in the spring of 1977 with an incomplete dissertation to take up a job that turned out to be temporary. Five years as a VAP in a hostile job market changed my mind about who I was. Women who had emerged from grad school with the first burst of Second Wave feminism in the early 1970s had felt this even more severely and founded the WCC to look for strength in unity. My experience politicized me – made me able to see the point of the WCC.
What Women('s Classical Caucus Members) Want
By Caroline Cheung (Princeton University)
Since the foundation of the Women’s Classical Caucus in 1972, the membership has swelled to several hundred members. Our many members today come from a variety of institutions, are at different stages of their careers, and have different concerns. This presentation discusses the Women’s Classical Caucus’ membership, including membership demographics and how members’ needs have changed over time.
Where Mission Meets Strategy: Restructuring the Women’s Classical Caucus for the 21st Century
By Suzanne Lye (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
In the 50 years since the founding of the Women’s Classical Caucus (WCC), both the landscape and membership of the profession have changed dramatically. There is much to celebrate in terms of how far our field has come, but also much we recognize that still needs to be done in promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion in the profession. To meet the current times, the WCC Steering has updated its operating procedures to better utilize the digital environment and meet the needs of its increasingly diverse constituency.
Finding Our Core: WCC Membership, Mentorship, and Outreach
By Eunice Kim (Furman University)
This presentation takes a close look at the pillars of the Women’s Classical Caucus (WCC): membership and mentorship. We discuss how these form a strong foundation to better serve our constituencies. The first part of this presentation will show how a robust knowledge about our membership allows us to build new programming, both in person and virtual. Next, we introduce the new multi-tiered mentorship program, which includes options for year-round mentorship as well as short-term and “on demand” mentorship related to topics such as aspects of the job market, publishing, and pedagogy.