National Women's History Month celebrated at campuses throughout March 2026

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State student organizations and units at campuses across the commonwealth are offering events during National Women's History Month, held during the month of March each year.

According to the National Women's History Alliance (NWHA), the theme of National Women's History Month this year is "Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future." The theme, according to NWHA's website, "expands our understanding of sustainability beyond just environmental concerns. It encompasses financial sustainability, community resilience, leadership succession, and intergenerational equity. Whether developing green technologies, advancing economic justice, strengthening education systems, or building civic power - women are designing blueprints for sustainable transformation. This theme affirms that shaping a sustainable future means fostering systems that support both people and the planet."

In addition, International Women's Day will be celebrated on March 8.

Virtual events

Women's History Month leisure reading/listening virtual display on the Libby reading app - throughout March, virtual. University Libraries' Libby reading app will feature a women's history month virtual display of e-books and audiobooks available for student and employee borrowing. Peruse curated titles about extraordinary women, issues affecting women, and fictional strong women protagonists.

Transcribe Harper! Help Transcribe the Records of Frances E.W. Harper - throughout March, virtual. Help the Center for Black Digital Research preserve this ground-breaking activist and author's legacy by making Frances E.W. Harper's letters, essays, newspaper pieces and published writing fully searchable and freely available worldwide. This volunteer initiative is ideal for individuals, high school and college classrooms, community and church groups.

Penn State University Park

Women's History Month leisure reading bookshelf - throughout March, in-person, first floor Paterno Library bookshelf near Starbucks' order pickup area. The bookshelf will have books available for all library users' checkout at first floor staffed Pattee Library and Paterno Library desks. Peruse curated titles about extraordinary women, issues affecting women, and fictional strong women protagonists.

Laurie Essig - "Tracing the Global Anti-Gender Movement: Feminism, Fascism and the Future" - 3:30-5 p.m., Wednesday, March 18, 335 Willard Building. Part of the Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Speaker Series, this talk explores the global rise of anti-gender movements and their impact on feminism, trans rights, reproductive justice and gender studies. Laurie Essig, professor and chair of Gender, Sexuality and Feminist Studies at Middlebury College, will draw from her podcast, "Feminism, Fascism & the Future," to examine how anti-gender ideologies adapt across contexts and what strategies of resistance are possible. Essig is the author of multiple books and has written for publications including the Boston Globe, the Washington Post and the New York Times. More information about Tracing the Global Anti-Gender Movement" is available here.

Explore & Connect Trip to Pittsburgh - Friday, March 20. 5:30 a.m. arrival at the Penn State White Building bus stop. Bus departs at 5:45 a.m. and returns approximately 10 p.m. to University Park. The R-VOICE Center and the Paul Robeson Cultural Center are offering an experiential learning opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students in celebration of Women's History Month. This one-day trip to Pittsburgh will center prevention, advocacy and women's history while building meaningful connections beyond campus. Participants will visit nonprofit organizations leading prevention and advocacy work in the field of relationship violence, learn about women's history and community impact, and engage directly with professionals committed to creating safer, more equitable communities. The day will conclude with an exclusive Alumni Networking Dinner with Penn State graduates in the Greater Pittsburgh region. This program is open to all University Park undergraduate and graduate students. Space is limited, and advance registration/payment ($20) is required. Details and registration for the Pittsburgh bus trip are available at this link. For questions, contact Yvette Willson at [email protected].

Women's History Month Trivia Night - 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, March 25, HUB Flex Theater. Test your knowledge and celebrate the impact, resilience, and achievements of women throughout history at this engaging Women's History Month Trivia Night. From trailblazing leaders and groundbreaking artists to cultural milestones and contemporary changemakers, teams will compete in a fun and interactive evening of learning and connection. Whether you consider yourself a history buff or just want to enjoy a lively night with friends, this event offers an opportunity to honor women's contributions across generations while building community. Food will be provided, prizes will be available, and all are welcome to participate.

Women's History Month Festival - 5-8 p.m. Thursday, March 26, 325-326 EDI Building. The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers, Society of Women Engineers, Pulse, and Wired-In are hosting a Women's History Month Festival. This event is free entry and will have presentations from the different organizations, followed by a panel with professors from the College of Information Sciences and Technology, Earth and Mineral Sciences, Health and Human Development, and Engineering.

Women's History Month R-VOICE Sticker Drop - 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, March 27, tables at the HUB-Robeson Center. Join R-VOICE at the HUB Tables for the debut of five brand-new sticker designs in honor of Women's History Month. Building on the momentum of our well-known campus favorites like "Geckos Against Gaslighting," "Capybaras for Consent," and "Cats Against Catcalling," these new designs continue to center messages of healthy relationships, boundaries, empowerment and respect. Stop by to be among the first to grab the latest additions, connect with our team, and help spread the message across campus. Quantities are limited and available while supplies last. More information about the R-VOICE Center is available here.

The Osaze Osagie Memorial Lecture: Chamique Holdsclaw - 6:30-8:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 31, 110 Robb Hall, Hintz Family Alumni Center. Chamique Holdsclaw, Olympic medalist, WNBA Hall of Famer and mental health advocate, will share her powerful story as part of the annual signature series on Global Black Communities and Mental Health. Once hailed as the "female Michael Jordan," Holdsclaw rose to national prominence leading the Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball to three consecutive NCAA championships under legendary coach Pat Summitt before competing in the Olympics and the WNBA. In this lecture, she will discuss her journey with bipolar disorder, depression and anxiety, and how she now uses her platform to advocate for mental health awareness and wellness. More information about the Osaze Osagie Memorial Lecture is available here.

Penn State Abington

The Women of Excellence Soirée - 5-8 p.m. Friday, March 27, Lares cafeteria and Lubert Commons. A special evening focused on empowerment and connection and celebrating the impact of women in the Penn State Abington campus community. Come dressed to impress in your best formal attire as we uplift and inspire each and honor excellence. Enjoy food, networking, meeting alumni, a photobooth, and prizes. Sponsored by Sister 2 Sister and BOND (Belonging, Opportunity, Networking, and Development Center). RSVP here for the Women in Excellence Soirée.

Penn State Altoona

"Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future" panel discussion - Noon, Thursday, March 26, Slep Fireside, Penn State Altoona. Women leaders from the region will share how they are driving environmental, social, and economic sustainability in their communities. Conversation and questions will highlight women's leadership, intergenerational dialogue, and local action toward a more sustainable and equitable world. Free and open to the public.

Penn State Brandywine

Women Leading Beyond Limits: Women, Workforce and Impact - Noon-1:15 p.m., Tuesday, March 17, Tomezsko Lounge. A presentation by Ayana Fernandes Pilgrim, a career and life transformation coach, talent strategist and founder of the Talent Cornerstone. Lunch will be served. Hosted by Student Affairs and the Center for Social Impact.

Connect & Grow: Faculty, Staff and Student Networking - 12:05-1:25 p.m., Tuesday, March 24, Tomezsko Lounge. This event will bring together students with female faculty and staff in a structured, small-group networking setting over lunch. Mentors will share their personal and professional journeys, including how they arrived at their current role, challenges they have navigated and insights or advice they would offer to students as they begin shaping their own paths.

Penn State Great Valley

Talk: Jenny Rose Carey, "Women in Horticulture" - 7-8:30 p.m., March 19, the Conference Center, Malvern, Pennsylvania. Join Carey, a renowned gardener, educator, historian and author, as she explores key women who founded gardening organizations from 1900 to 1940, including the Pennsylvania School of Horticulture for Women, the Women's National Farm and Garden Association, and the Garden Club of America. Carey is the former senior director at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's Meadowbrook Farm in Jenkintown, and she previously worked at Temple University for over a decade, first as an adjunct professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture and then as director of the Ambler Arboretum. Hosted by Penn State Great Valley. Open to the public but registration is required. Register here for "Women in Horticulture."

Penn State Harrisburg

Exhibition: "Black Women Through an Archival Lens" - Feb. 2 through March, Madlyn L. Hanes Library, 3rd floor. This exhibition is displayed in honor of Black History Month and Women's History Month and examines how the Alice K. Marshall Women's History Collection (AMC) depicts, misconstrues, and/or illuminates Black women's history. The exhibition aims to better understand how Black women are represented in historical collections, such as the AMC, illuminating their experiences as well as the innumerable challenges they faced based upon their gender and race.

Gender Hub Lecture: Black Feminist Histories and Presents with SaraEllen Strongman - 4-5:30 p.m., March 30, Morrison Gallery 101, Madlyn L. Hanes Library. The Gender Hub is sponsoring a lecture by SaraEllen Strongman, assistant professor of Afro-American and African Studies at the University of Michigan. Strongman researches and writes about Black feminisms, Black women's political and cultural history, and African American literature. Her lecture is titled "Necessary Bread: Azalea Magazine and Black Lesbian Feminist Writers, 1977-1983."

Penn State Hazleton

Women's History Month Broadway Trip - 10 a.m., Saturday, March 28. Celebrate Women's History Month with an empowering trip to New York City to experience "SIX," the Tony Award-winning musical that reimagines the stories of the six wives of Henry VIII, told entirely from the queens' perspectives. Through bold pop-concert energy and dynamic storytelling, "SIX" reclaims women's narratives, highlighting their strength, resilience, and individuality in a modern, unforgettable way. This Women's History Month event offers students the chance to engage with a production created by a female-led writing duo and centered on women's voices, agency, and empowerment. This is a joint trip for Penn State Hazleton and Penn State Wilkes-Barre students; for more information and to register, Hazleton students should contact Student Services and Engagement at [email protected].

Penn State Scranton

Women's History Month Display - March 2 through 31 in the main room of the campus Library. A collection of books, DVDs and informational pieces highlighting women's history, literature and achievements will be on display and available for borrowing.

Women's History Month Trivia - Wednesday, March 4, from noon to 1 p.m. in the View Cafe.

Penn State Wilkes-Barre

Women's History Month Broadway Trip - 10 a.m., Saturday, March 28. Celebrate Women's History Month with an empowering trip to New York City to experience "SIX," the Tony Award-winning musical that reimagines the stories of the six wives of Henry VIII, told entirely from the queens' perspectives. Through bold pop-concert energy and dynamic storytelling, "SIX" reclaims women's narratives, highlighting their strength, resilience, and individuality in a modern, unforgettable way. This Women's History Month event offers students the chance to engage with a production created by a female-led writing duo and centered on women's voices, agency, and empowerment. This is a joint trip for Penn State Wilkes-Barre and Penn State Hazleton students; for more information and to register, Wilkes-Barre students should contact Student Affairs at [email protected].