Women's History Month Preview

Susan F. Wood, former assistant commissioner for women’s health at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and director of the FDA Office of Women’s Health, will serve as the keynote speaker for The College of New Jersey’s Women’s History Month events, which begin on Thursday, March 1.

In August 2005, Wood resigned from her post, on principle, in response to the decision announced by FDA leadership to once again delay approval of Plan B emergency contraception, despite the recommendation of FDA scientific staff and advisory committees. Her principled stance against the politicization of science at the FDA catapulted her to "superhero" status around the country.

Wood served as the “champion for women's health inside and outside the agency,” focusing on areas such as inclusion of women in clinical studies, regulatory research on topics such as cardiovascular disease and medications used during pregnancy, and in developing outreach campaigns for women regarding menopausal hormone therapy, safe medication use, and diabetes. 

Wood will speak in the library auditorium at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 7.

A detailed schedule of events is listed below. All events are free and open to the public.

Thursday, March 1

11:30 a.m., Library Auditorium

Panel Discussion: “Sexual Assault, Emergency Contraception and Mental Health” with TCNJ School of Nursing Faculty Susan Boughn, Eileen Alexy, and Ann Fallon

Monday, March 5

6:30-8:30 p.m., Library Auditorium

Panel Discussion: “Survivor Stories: TCNJ Women and Cancer” with Tanya deRegnaucourt ’08, Heather Measley ’08, and Carisa Solomon ‘06

Wednesday, March 7

1:30 p.m., Library Auditorium

Lecture: Susan F. Wood, former assistant commissioner for Women’s Health and director of the Office of Women’s Health at the Food and Drug Administration.

4:00 p.m., Library Auditorium

Performance by singer/songwriter Regina Sayles

Thursday, March 22

11:30 a.m., Library Auditorium

Reading: “Women's Words” with TCNJ Faculty Jo Ellen Carney, Catie Rosemurgy, Sonya Posmentier

Wednesday, March 28

1:30 p.m., Library Auditorium

Panel Discussion: “From the Classroom to the Front Lines: Alumnae Leadership” with Jackie Cornell ‘04, Jacqueline De Vore ‘01, Chrissi Minerva ‘05, and Linda Suydam ‘69

For more information on Women’s History Month events, please contact Megan Hueter, hueter2@tcnj.edu or Ellen Friedman, friedman@tcnj.edu or 609.771.2539