Founded in 1998 as an outgrowth of the Sixth Conference on Rural and Farm Women in Historical Perspective, the Rural Women’s Studies Association is an international association for the advancement and promotion of farm and rural women’s gender studies in historical perspective. The Association aims to encourage research, to promote existing and forthcoming scholarship, and to establish and maintain links with contemporary farm and rural women’s organizations. The RWSA aims to encourage scholars from different disciplinary backgrounds and countries to communicate about their research and all other activities that are supportive of the Association’s goals.
RWSA’s primary project is sponsoring a triennial conference. Learn more about our conferences and other events on the Events & Conferences page or email us at ru****************@gm***.com .
Rural Women’s Studies Blog
RWSA also hosts a blog for the purpose of improving the visibility of rural women’s studies research and activism around the world.
RWSA members and others who work in the field of rural women’s studies are encouraged to submit material for possible inclusion in this blog to our editor, Jennifer Helton, at jh*****@oh****.edu .
RWSA Officers, 2024-2027
Co-Chairs
President: Cynthia Prescott, University of North Dakota
Chair: TBD
2027 Conference Committees
Program Committee Chair: Elyssa Ford, Northwest Missouri State University
2027 Conference Program Committee Chair: Elyssa Ford, Northwest Missouri State University
2027 Conference Program Committee Members: Cherisse Jones-Branch, Arkansas State University; Mary Curtin, University of Limerick; Jennifer Helton, Ohlone College; Holly Kent, University of Illinois Springfield; Corrina Neal, Arkansas State University; Sydney Giacalone, Brown University; Oluwaseun Boye, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Ogun State Chapter, Nigeria
2027 Conference Local Arrangements Chair & Host: Cynthia Prescott, University of North Dakota
Secretary & Membership Chair
Secretary: Hillary Loomis
Membership Chair: Lynne Benson, University of Massachusetts-Boston
Treasurer
Treasurer: Jenny Barker-Devine, Illinois College
International Membership & Communication Coordinators
Pacific–Katie Cooper, Te Papa Tongarewa/Museum of New Zealand
Canada–Jodey Nurse, McGill University; and Meighan Mantei, Carleton University
Europe–Margreet van der Burg, Wageningen University; and Mary Curtin, University of Limerick
Africa–Olubunmi Ashimolowo, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria; and Oluwaseun Boye, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Ogun State Chapter, Nigeria
United States–Tracey Hanshew, Eastern Oregon University
Graduate Student Coordinators & Emerging Professionals Coordinators
Corrina Neal, Arkansas State University
Diane McKenzie, University of Lethbridge
Sydney Giacalone, Brown University
Meighan Mantei, Carleton University
Website Manager
Jodey Nurse, McGill University
Newsletter & Blog Editor
Jennifer Helton, Ohlone College
Fundraising/Budget
Travel Grants Chair: Corrina Neal, Arkansas State University
Social Media Coordinators
Beatrice Adams, Wooster College
Pamela Walker, University of Vermont
Virtual Programming
Elyssa Ford, Northwest Missouri State University
Allison Mitchell, Pennsylvania State University & University of Notre Dame