Women's Studies Institute

Mission

The Women’s Studies Institute (WSI) is a research center that is currently grant-funded by multiple sectors.  The mission of the Women’s Studies Institute is to provide access to interdisciplinary knowledge about women, gender, and sexuality through the fostering of transdisciplinary collaboration among researchers and through public programming to make new research accessible to wide audiences, including the South Texas community and beyond.

WSI receives $5 million grant for Democratizing Racial Justice Project

We're one of 16 universities chosen in the country, and the only one in Texas, to receive a $5 million, 3-year grant from the Mellon Foundation's Just Futures Initiative.

The project is helmed by WSI director Dr. Jackie Cuevas, with the co-leads Dr. Alejandra Elenes, professor and chair of the Department of Race, Ethnicity, Gender and Sexuality Studies, and Dr. Rhonda M. Gonzales, professor and chair of the Department of History. They have shaped the community and expanded the Institute's journey through the years.

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WSI History

We would like to thank Dr. Sonia Saldívar-Hull, founder of the institute, and Senior Administrative Associate Carolyn Motley (recently retired) for their dedication to growing the Women's Studies Institute. Without their continued dedication, we wouldn't be where we are today.

 

Dr. Sonia Saldivar-Hull and Carolyn Motley pictured

WSI Director

Dr. Sonya Alemán

Sonya M. Alemán is an associate professor in the Race, Ethnicity, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Department and Mexican American Studies Program and the Women's Studies Institute Director for the University of Texas, San Antonio. She studies mainstream media representations of communities of color, alternative media content produced by communities of color, and manifestations of race, racism, and whiteness in the media. In addition, she is invested in improving the educational experiences of students of color. She draws on critical race theory and Chicana feminism to inform both her scholarship and pedagogy.

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Photo of Dr. Sonya Aleman

Projects

Internships

The WSI collaborates with the WGSS Program to place WGSS majors in internships. Students may request an internship with the WSI if space is available.

Newsletter Archive

Contact Us

Dr. Sonya M. Alemán
Director

College of Education and Human Development
Main Building | One UTSA Circle | San Antonio, TX 78249
Phone: 210-458-4370 | education@utsa.edu