Women, Gender, Sexuality, and Technologies Symposium

March 27, 2026
8:30am—6:00pm

How do women, gender, and sexuality intersect with technologies in terms of place, representation, and contributions? How do various technologies impact women, gender, and sexuality? How can we apply existing technologies, or develop new ones, to better serve individuals in their complex sexed and gendered identities and lives?

In conjunction with Women’s History Month, the RIT CLA Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) Program is proud to host the second annual WGSS Symposium, which features original and creative work and research by the RIT community on topics pertinent to the symposium theme.

The symposium is open to all individuals within the RIT community.

Theme

General theme of this year’s symposium is the intersection of women, gender, and sexuality with technologies—whether in terms of the place, representation, and contributions of women, gender, and sexuality within technologies or in terms of the ways in which various technologies affect women, gender, and sexuality. Within this context, we conceive of “technologies” as a broad notion encompassing many aspects of the science, technology, engineering, health, and mathematics (STEHM) fields, including biotechnology, personalized medicine, and biomedical and healthcare techniques; physical tools, software, and systems; environmental, sustainable, and green technologies; artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning; robotics, computing and information technologies, and virtual and augmented reality technologies. But we also understand “technologies” as sites of systemic social and/or political organization, control, and surveillance; as techniques of production of the self, of social being(s), of creative representations in science fiction, the arts, and media; and as tools of transformation of embodied subjectivities.

Program

All events to occur in (SHED-3350) unless otherwise marked.

 

  • 8:30am-12:00pm Check in and Registration (Lobby, SHED-3950)
     
  • 9:00am-9:35am Micro-Session 1 - Technology
    • Moderator: Sarah Brownell, Multidisciplinary Senior Design, KGCOE
    • Zipporah Teppo, Game Design and Development, GCCIS
      • “The Design of Win Conditions and Gendered Play in RPGs”
    • Kay Conner, Photographic Sciences/Women Gender and Sexuality Studies, CAD and CLA
      • “The Algorithmic Gaze: Beauty in Artificially Generated Images”

  • 9:40am-10:15am Micro-Session 2 - Non-Humans
    • Moderator: Richard Fadok, Sociology/Anthropology, CLA
    • Nidhi Bangera, Human-Computer Interaction, GCCIS
      • “Exploring Gendered Biodiversity in US Children's Cartoons”
    • Daniel Noonan, School of Film and Animation - Film Production, CAD
      • “Color Coded Collars”
         
  • 10:20am-10:40am Poster Sessions with Coffee (Lobby, SHED-3950)
    • Kaylah Rouzier, New Media Interactive Development, GCCIS
      • “Effects of Algorithmic Bias on Feminist Digital Activism” (digital display)
    • Mandira Sawkar, Artificial Intelligence, GCCIS
      • “Tracing Historical Gender Stereotypes into Modern AI: A Cross-Century Analysis of Hansard and LLM Toxicity” (poster)
    • Isabella Terzoli, ASL-English Interpretation/Women Gender and Sexuality Studies, NTID and CLA
      • “Misogyny in the Female Dominated Field of American Sign Language-English Interpreting” (poster)
    • Jacquie Ludwig, Lishibanya Mohapatra, Laura Munoz, and Christina Goudreau, Women in Science, COS
      • “RIT Women in Science: Examining Our History" (posters)

  • 10:45am-11:20am Micro-Session 3 - Health
    • Moderator: Betsy Dell, Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering Technology, CET
    • Leah Rosenhack, Sustainable Systems, GIS
      • “Examining the Trends of Health Impact Topics in Toxicology: A Thematic Literature Review”
    • Sarah Fink, Biomedical Engineering/Public Policy, KGCOE and CLA
      • “Detecting Sooner: Technology and AI in Breast Cancer Screening”
         
  • 11:25am-12:00pm Micro-Session 4 - Exclusions
    • Moderator: Jill Burress, ASL-English Interpretation, NTID
    • Kifekachukwu Nwosu, Computer Science/Women Gender and Sexuality Studies, GCCIS and CLA
      • “Religion: The Greatest Barrier to Queer Liberation in Nigeria”
    • Avery Carle, Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, CLA
      • “A Place for Nobody: The Precarity of Marginalized-Identity-Centric Third Places at American Universities”

  • 12:00pm-12:50pm Lunch, Singing Performance, WHM Poster Design Contest Award (lunch served in the Lobby, SHED-3950)
    • 12:30pm-12:35pm Singing Performance, Anisette Wiggins, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, CHST and Student Government
    • 12:35pm-12:50pm WHM Poster Award Presentation, Kelly Norris Martin, Dean, CLA

  • 12:50pm-1:00pm Welcoming Remarks - William H. Sanders, RIT President
     
  • 1:00pm-2:00pm Invited Speaker
    • Introducer/Moderator: Shay Olmstead, Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, CLA
    • Leigh Johnson, American University, Washington, D.C.
      • “The Myth of the Neutral User: Gender and the Automation of Authority”

  • 2:10pm-3:25pm Panel Session - Technologies of Looking, Making, and Control
    • Moderator: Amelia Hugill-Fontanel, RIT Libraries
    • Jennifer Chen, Sociology/Anthropology, CLA
      • “Woman the Hunter: An Archaeological Case Study of Hunter-Gatherers”
    • Rachel Hutcheson, Photographic Arts and Sciences, CAD
      • “Burning: Images against the Visible”
    • Heidi Nickisher, School of Art, CAD
      • “Rethinking the Rug”
    • Michaël Amy, School of Art, CAD
      • “Jill Magid Exposes Power Structures”
         
  • 3:35pm-4:20pm Roundtable - Gender Tech: Challenges and Opportunities
  • 4:30pm-5:00pm - Poetry Reading
    • 4:30pm-4:50pm Karen (Ren) vanMeenen, English, CLA, organizer
      • “Writing as Technology of Creativity, Exploration, and Healing” - Readings of original poetry by RIT students
    • 4:50pm-5:00pm Yuhan Huang, Modern Languages and Cultures, CLA
      • “It’s All Up to You”

  • 5:00pm-5:30pm - Musical Performance Lecture
    • Yunn-Shan Ma, School of Performing Arts, CLA, organizer and director
      • “From Piano Miniature to Ensemble Color: Arranged Versions of Amy Beach’s Fireflies and Brownies”
         
  • 5:30pm-6:00pm - Closing Reception (Lobby, SHED 3950)

Featured Speaker

Headshot of Leigh M. Johnson.

Leigh M. Johnson

Lecture Title: The Myth of the Neutral User: Gender and the Automation of Authority

Bio: Leigh M. Johnson is a philosopher, teacher, and public scholar whose work focuses on ethics, technology, and contemporary social and political life. She is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at American University and co-host of the philosophy podcast Hotel Bar Sessions. Her current research explores artificial intelligence, agency, memory, and the moral and political stakes of emerging technologies.

Organizers, Sponsors, and Support

Organized by: WGSS Program, College of Liberal Arts

Sponsored by: Dean’s Office, College of Liberal Arts

With support from: AdvanceRIT; College of Science Access & Belonging Initiatives; RIT Title IX Office; Women in Science (WISe)/College of Science; Wegmans School of Health and Nutrition; Women, Gender, and Sexuality Resource Center; Women in Computing (WiC); Women in Engineering (WE@RIT); Women in Technology (WIT); University Advisory Committee on Gender-Related Experiences (UACGRE)

Previous Programs

  • 8:30am-12:00pm — CHECK-IN and REGISTRATION (SHED-3950, lobby)
  • 9:00am-11:30am — STUDENT PANELS, POSTERS, and DISPLAYS (zines, films, etc.)
    • 9:00am-10:00am – Concurrent Panels—One
      • Panel A (McKenzie Commons, LBR-1251) – Women and Gender Minorities in the History of STEM
        • Moderator:  Heidi Nickisher, School of Art, CAD
        • “The Impact of Margaret Hamilton” — Maythem Alhafedhi, CET and Raafay Ali, GCCIS
        • “Women Designers in Evolving Typographic Technologies" — Francesca Delaney, CAD
        • “Out of the Kitchen and Somehow Back in It” — Royce Idris Banks, CLA
      • Panel B (Prism, Campus Center 2050) – Trans/Feminist Applications
        • Moderator: Kathy Ehrlich-Scheffer, WE@RIT (Women in Engineering), KGCOE
        • “Beyond Subtext: A Guide to (Re)imagining Trans*ness in Indie Video Games” — Maya Gopoian Heatley, CLA
        • “’Feel Confined, Only Free to Expand Myself within Boundaries’: AI's Potential to Liberate and Perpetuate” — Emily Funk, CLA
        • “Applications of Feminist Theory to Human-Computer Interaction: A Literature Review” — Stephanie Patterson, GCCIS
        • “Quantifying Gender-Inclusivity: Operationalizing GenderMag for Audit Evaluations” — Jadeline Miao, GCCIS
    • 9:30am-11:00am – Three Consecutive Film Screenings and Discussions (WAL-4520)
      (Films begin at 9:30, 10:00, and 10:30)
      • Queer & Trans Identity through Social VR: VRChat — Liam Olson, CAD
      • Liminal Nascence — Mckayla Streber, CAD
    • 10:00am-11:00am – Poster Session (SHED-3950, Lobby), coffee available
      • Nonhuman Sex Beyond the Binary Zines
        • Biodiversity Across Sea and Sky — Dan Noonan, CAD, Galena Wurtzel, CAD, and Emma Jordan, COS
        • The Aphid — Collin Cleary, GCCIS
        • Slime-tastic Slugs! — Rachel Mikolajczyk, CAD, and Emily DiMarco, CAD
        • Mole-ificient Mystery: What Sex Are Moles? — Jasmine Spangler, KGCOE
        • A Bug’s Life — Korey Uba, KGCOE and Natalie Martin, CAD
      • Women in Computing Cards — Renee Guerin, CLA
      • Secret Codes and Secret Coders — Sophie Martinage, KGCOE
      • “Women in Computing History” — Camille May, KGCOE
      • Women in Computing Around the World — Kaylah Rouzier, GCCIS, Madisyn Altieri, CAD, and Lindsay Ford, GCCIS
      • Empowering the Next Generation of Students in STEM: The SMASH Experience for Girls — D'asia Johnson, COS, Isabella Erickson, CHST and Erin Ryan, COS
    • 10:00am-12:00pm – Storybooth (RIT Archives Research Center, WAL 3rd floor)
      • Conversations with Current and Future STEM Leaders — organized by Women in Technology (WIT) and RIT Archive
    • 11:00am-11:50am – Concurrent Panels—Two
      • Panel C (McKenzie Commons, LBR-1251) – Putting WGSS to Use in the Real World
        • Moderator: Patricia Taboada-Serrano, Department of Chemical Engineering, KGCOE
        • “AP Access: How AP Computer Science Empowers Women” — Abigail Prowse, GCCIS
        • “Star Stories: Black Women in Astrophysics” — Ky'Johnna Jamison, CAD
      • Panel D (Prism, Campus Center 2050) – Roundtable: Experiences of Women and Gender Minorities in Technology
        • Moderator: Leah Mackin, CET
        • Mufarowashe Musodza, CET
        • Stephanie Patterson, GCCIS
        • Kayley Judd, CET
        • Jadeline Miao, GCCIS
  • 12:00pm-2:00pm — INVITED PRESENTERS AT THE LUNCH TABLE (SHED-3350 and 3950)
    • 12:00pm — Lunch for participants (SHED-3950—lobby)
    • 12:30pm-2:00pm — Invited session (SHED-3350)
      • 12:30pm – Introduction: Silvia Benso, WGSS Program and Department of Philosophy, CLA
        • Welcoming remarks: Prabu David, RIT Provost, Office of Academic Affairs
      • 12:40pm-1:00pm – Invited talk: Deborah Blizzard, Department of Science, Technology, and Society, CLA
        “What are the Value, Role, and Contributions of WGSS at Tech Institutions?”
    • 1:00pm-2:00pm — Roundtable: Women’s Voices, Women’s Stories (SHED-3350)
  • 2:00pm-2:10pm — 2025 WHM POSTER DESIGN CONTEST PRIZE AWARD (SHED-3350)
  • 2:15pm-4:30pm — FACULTY/STAFF PANELS (SHED-3350)
    • 2:15pm-2:20pm: Introduction: Shay Olmstead, WGSS Program, CLA
      • Welcoming remarks: Lauren Hall, Dean’s Office and Department of Political Science, CLA
    • 2:20pm-3:20pm: Panel A — Deaf History, Data Entry, and Design: What’s a Woman got to do with it?
      • Moderator: Corinna S. Hill, Department of Liberal Studies, NTID
      • “The Women of the Graphic Design Archive” — Shani Avni, Cary Graphic Arts Collection, RIT Libraries
      • “A Menial Challenge in the Tech Workforce: Women, Gender, and Data Entry” — Corinna Schlombs, Department of History, CLA
      • “Gender in U.S. Deaf History” — Barbara Earth, Deaf Health Care and Biomedical Science Hub, NTID
    • 3:30pm-4:30pm: Panel B — Discourse as Self-Making Technology
      • Moderator: Phillippa Thiuri, Diversity and Inclusion and WGSS Program, CLA
      • “What Can Trauma Studies Illustrate about Writing as a Technology of Self-Making” — Christine Ross, University Writing Program, SOIS
      • “Mediation of Self-Making Technology: In the Case of the 4B Movement in South Korea” — Daeun Shin, Department of Modern Languages and Cultures, CLA
      • “Ancrene Wisse: Making A Queer Self in the Thirteenth-Century Anchorhold” — Una Creedon-Carey, University Writing Program, SOIS
      • “FYW: A Safe & Diverse Space of Self-Construction” — David Yockel, University Writing Program, SOIS
  • 4:30pm-5:00pm — POETRY READING BY RIT STUDENTS (SHED-3350)
    • “Writing as Technology of Creativity, Exploration, and Healing” — organized by Karen (Ren) vanMeenen, Department of English, CLA
      • Readings by: Maggie Boyle, Tippi Chou, Isra Haywood, Robin Kapon, Leo Richmond, Erica Smart, Harper Van Lare, Zoe Wheatcroft
  • 5:00pm-5:30pm — LECTURE PERFORMANCE (SHED-3350)
    • “Resonant Voices: Celebrating Women Composers in Chamber Music” — organized and directed by Yunn-Shan Ma, School of Performing Arts, CLA
  • 5:30pm-6:00pm — RECEPTION (SHED-3950—lobby)

Contact

Silvia Benso headshot
Silvia Benso
Professor, Philosophy
Department of Philosophy
College of Liberal Arts
Director, Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program
sxbgsl@rit.edu