Speaker Name Department Topic

selectively saying yes and

Kristina Dandy (Dr.)
Christine Amezquita
Nadirah Mayweather
Susan Spencer
Morgan Tickerhoof
Jennifer Flaherty (Dr.)
Marie Puckett
Ashley Copeland
Psychological Sciences knowing your worth
Career Center Engaging with YA fiction
The Best Me...is not JUST me!
Cultural Center (mentorship)
Counseling Center Listening to Understand
Student Involvement Fat with an “F”: Body image
Eco-Anxiety and student activism
in the case of A Midsummer
English Night’s Dream
Naloxone (Narcan) and GA’s 911
Wellness + Rec medical amnesty law
(Re)Learning to Play:
Epistemology with Dewey and
Community Engagement Bluey

Opening Remarks:

Good evening! On behalf of the Women’s Center & LGBTQ+ Programs, I want to welcome you
all to the 2nd annual SheSpeaks event. Thank you so much for being here. Today is
International Women’s Day, and I cannot think of a better way to honor the purpose and legacy
of this day than being gathered here with all of you and with our incredible speakers.
International Women's Day was first celebrated on the same date as it is today, March 8th, back
in 1913. People spread across Austria, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, America and the
United Kingdom joined together in solidarity, demanding women’s right to vote, adequate
working conditions, and the end of World War I. Over 100 years later, this day continues to bring
us together in solidarity. And, over 100 years later, we are still having to fight tooth and nail for
recognition of gender equity. In America, access to abortion is under attack in an unprecedented
way, with 12 states outlawing abortion completely and 12 others severely restricting access.
2023 has also been an incredibly hostile year towards trans individuals, with a whopping 449
anti- trans bills being introduced in 2023 across the nation. That’s more than double of any other
year on record. These bills tear us down, divide us, and dehumanize us.
These attacks on our rights, on our bodies, on our humanity are surely heartbreaking. However,
they also remind us of what women throughout history have survived and overcome. Today,
looking back across women’s history, let us be reminded of our resiliency which allows us to
endure and our capability to imagine and create a better world for those who will inherit it from
us. To create these radical changes in our world, we need leaders who are compassionate and
determined. We need visionaries who can push us to think of the world, and our role in it, in new
ways. We need people who are passionate about going out into communities and getting into
the nitty gritty work. We are so excited to welcome some of these leaders onto the stage tonight.
The women who we are about to hear speak embody these characteristics on campus and in
their lives. Our hope is that their words will empower you, spark a new way of thinking, or
encourage you to take action for gender equity in your own life.
https://www.internationalwomensday.com/Activity/15586/The-history-of-IWD
https://reproductiverights.org/maps/abortion-laws-by-state/
https://translegislation.com/learn

Speaker Introductions:
Our first speaker this evening is going to be Dr. Kristina Dandy from the department of
psychological sciences. Dr. Dandy earned her Ph.D. in Experimental Psychological Science
from Texas Christian University and has been an Associate Professor of Psychology at Georgia
college since 2009. Today, Dr. Dandy will be discussing reasons why some might say no to
certain opportunities and the importance of knowing your worth.

Our second speaker tonight is Christine Amezquita. Ms. Amezquita graduated from
Northeastern Illinois University with her Bachelor of Arts in English and completed her Master of
Fine Arts in Creative Writing – Poetry from Georgia College. She has been working at Georgia
College since 2012 and has been with the Career Center since 2021. Ms. Amezquita will be
telling us about the importance of engaging with young adult fiction and the unique qualities that
this genre has to offer.

Nadirah Mayweather is the director of the Georgia College’s Cultural Center. Through her work,
Nadirah has brought programs such as Bobcats UNITE week, Tupperware Tuesdays, and many
more to campus. She will be speaking to us about the importance of having a mentor and
investing in the lives of others in a mentorship capacity.

Our final speaker before our short break is Susan Spencer from the Counseling Center. Ms.
Spencer has been with Georgia College Counseling Services since 1994. She has a passion for
helping students with a wide range of issues, particularly existential and spirituality issues. She
will be talking about the importance of listening, and how it can benefit our wellness and enrich
our relationships.

Morgan Tickerhoof comes to us this evening from the department of Student Involvement. She
has been a part of the Georgia College staff for almost two years. Ms. Tickerhoof will be
speaking about how other women in her life have taught her to value herself, specifically relating
to body image. I would like to provide a content warning for this presentation for discussion
about body image and eating disorders.

Dr. Jennifer Flaherty is an Associate Professor of Shakespeare studies and she regularly
teaches courses in Renaissance literature, dramatic literature, film studies, and adaption for the
Georgia College Literature program. Additionally, she also teaches courses in Women’s
Studies. Today she will be educating us about Eco-Anxiety and student activism in the case of A
Midsummer Night’s Dream.

I would like to welcome Marie Puckett, coming to us from the Wellness and Rec center. She is a
certified American Red Cross instructor and has been a part of the Wellness and Rec staff since
2015. This evening, Ms. Puckett will be teaching us about the importance of Naloxone (Narcan)
and Georgia’s 911 medical amnesty law.

Our final speaker this evening is Georgia College’s Director of Community Engagement, Ashley
Copeland. She received her bachelor's degree in Exercise Science from Georgia College and
completed her master's degree at Minnesota State University in Educational Leadership. Today
she will be speaking on the relationship between epistemology and the power of play.