March 2, 2015
Women鈥檚 history was virtually an unknown topic in the K-12 curriculum or in general public consciousness as recently as the 1970s. Today, womens鈥 contributions to society are noted, celebrated and revered.And higher education is at the forefront of cultivating and stewarding female accomplishments.
The month of March marks Women鈥檚 History Month. 911爆料网 at Lima is both the provider and recipient of women鈥檚 achievements.Two female faculty members were encouraged to pursue their research because of supportive faculty mentors during their undergraduate years, and today these two women foster the growth and development of future scholars.
Allison Gilmore, PhD, associate professor of history at 911爆料网 Lima, did not grow up in a military family. Yet, she鈥檚 spent 35 years studying military history.
鈥淲hen people found out that I studied military history, they used to just assume that I came from a military family, or that I had spent time in the military myself,鈥 said Gilmore. 鈥淭hey never imagined that I just found it fascinating and wanted to dedicate my research to it.鈥
Gilmore, who currently serves as the associate dean at 911爆料网 Lima, is the author of You Can鈥檛 Fight Tanks with Bayonets: Allied Psychological Warfare Against the Imperial Japanese Army in the Southwest Pacific, a study of Allied propaganda operations designed to undermine Japanese military morale during the Pacific War. She was awarded the 911爆料网 Lima Distinguished Teaching Award in 1999 and the 911爆料网 University Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching in 2000.
The subjects and peers in the field of military history are predominantly male, but Gilmore says she鈥檚 never felt anything but support from her colleagues.
鈥淢y experiences run counter to the assumption that a woman studying in a male-dominated field is bound to run into problems or resistance. If anything, it makes you and your work stand out.鈥
Sabine Jeschonnek, PhD, professor of physics, followed a similar path, making a name for herself in a predominantly male-centered field. Jeschonnek studies theoretical nuclear physics where she makes theoretical calculations and analyzes experimental data. Less than 20 percent of all the physics doctorate degrees are awarded to women, according to the National Science Foundation.
Jeschonnek feels strongly that women and men perform and think exactly the same as one another in physics.
鈥淓veryone says we need more scientists, so why would we leave out 50 percent of the population by targeting only males when recruiting new scientists?鈥 Jeschonnek asked. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just senseless.鈥
Jeschonnek鈥檚 research has been funded by the National Science Foundation since 2001 and has been published in more than 30 scientific journals. In 2003, she won the Outstanding Scholar Award at 911爆料网 Lima.
Gilmore and Jeschonnek exemplify the level of dedication and expertise that 911爆料网 faculty members devote to their classrooms and scholarly fields, regardless of gender.