The Women Involved in Living and Learning (WILL) program is run by a director, assistant director, and administrative assistant. The director and assistant director teach required Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies courses, oversee WILL student advising and the WILL student organization, and serve as Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies representatives on campus-wide committees, in addition to other responsibilities. WILL students also interact with Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies faculty members from a range of academic departments.

Director

Holly Blake, Ph.D.,  is director of the WILL program, Associate Dean of Women's Education and Development, and a member of the Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies faculty. She received her doctorate in U.S. women's history from Binghamton University, New York. Her dissertation, "Dependency is Not Charming:"  Marie Howland on Women, Class, and Community, 1836-1921" focused on the life and work of Marie Howland, a nineteenth century writer and activist who mounted an inspired challenge to separate spheres and the prevailing domestic ideology. Blake has served as the director of the WILL program since 1992. She has also taught at Binghamton University, earned an MA in history and sociology from Binghamton University, worked as a community organizer in Texas, and as an outdoor educator in Michigan. Blake teaches the WILL Senior Seminar and co-teaches the WILL Colloquium. 

Assistant Director

Melissa Ooten, Ph.D., is assistant director of the WILL program and a member of the Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies faculty. She received her doctorate in history from the College of William & Mary. Her dissertation, “Screen Strife:  Race, Gender, and Movie Censorship in the New South, 1922-1965,” examines how issues of race, gender, class and sexuality have historically influenced governmental film censorship decisions in the US.  Ooten completed her undergraduate work at Carson Newman College in Tennessee and also has a MA in history from the College of William & Mary.  Her areas of research include women's history, African American history, media studies, and Virginia history.

WGSS Affiliated Faculty

Dr. Archana Bhatt, Assistant Profesor of Rhetoric and Communication Studies
Dr. Thomas Bonfiglio, Professor of Comparative Literature & Linguistics
Dr. Kathrin Bower, Associate Professor of German
Dr. Susan Brewer, Adjunct Instructor WGSS
Dr. Jennifer Cable, Associate Professor of Music
Lee Carleton, Instructor of English Composition
Dr. Abigail Cheever, Associate Professor of English
Dr. Daryl Dance, Associate Professor of English
Dr. Jennifer Erkulwater, Assistant Professor of Political Science
Dr. Jane Geaney, Associate Porfessor of Religion
Dr. Elisabeth Gruner, Assistant Professor of English
Dr. Julie Hayes, Professor of French
Dr. Dona Hickey, Professor of English
Dr. Dorothy Holland, Associate Professor of Theatre
Dr. Woody Holton, Associate Professor of History
Dr. Suzanne Jones, Associate Professor of English
Dr. Roni Kingsley, Associate Professor of Biology
Dr. Kevin Kuswa, Director of Debate
Dr. Ruth Longobardi, Assistant Professor of Music
Dr. KimMarie McGoldrick, Associate Professor of Economics
Dr. Ladelle McWhorter, Professor of Philosophy
Dr. John Marx, Associate Professor of English
Dr. Marilee Mifsud, Associate Professor of Rhetoric and Communication Studies
Dr. Ana Mitric, Assistant Professor, Jepson School of Leadership Studies
Dr. Eileen O'Brien, Assistant Professor of Sociology
Dr. John Pagan, Professor of Law, T C Williams School of Law
Dr. Jeffrey Riehl, Associate Professor of Music
Dr. Erin Sahlstein, Assistant Professor of Rhetoric and Communication Studies
Dr. Miranda Shaw, Associate Professor of Religion
Dr. Barbara Sholley, Associate Professor of Psychology
Dr. Andrea Simpson, Associate Professor of Political Science
Dr. Kathy Hewett-Smith, Associate Professor of English
Dr. Carol Summers, Professor of History
Dr. Sydney Watts, Assistant Professor of History
Dr. Carol S. Wharton, Associate Professor of Sociology
Dr. Doug Winiarski, Assistant Professor of Religion
Dr. Elizabeth Wray, Adjunct Instructor of History