On Friday, March 28, 2025, students from the Women’s and Gender Studies (WGSS) program presented at the 21st Annual New Jersey Women’s and Gender Studies Consortium Colloquium, held at Rutgers University – New Brunswick. This prestigious event showcased notable student work from across the state, and TCNJ was proud to be represented by these outstanding scholars.
Madison Mae Cavallo Wins Top Paper Prize
Among the presenters, WGSS/HIS double major, Madison Mae Cavallo, stood out by winning the top paper prize for her research titled “The SCRAP Paper: Activism to Academics at TCNJ.” Madison’s paper explored radical student activism in the late 1960s and early 1970s, focusing on its influence on the founding of the WGSS Department and its connections to African American Studies (AAS). What made her research even more compelling was her discovery of the anonymous “newspaper,” The SCRAP, during archival research in the TCNJ archives. Her work not only uncovered an important historical moment in the college’s activism but also highlighted the enduring legacy of student-driven change.
Engaging Presentations from Stephanie Martinez and Joelle DuFault
In addition to Madison’s impressive win, WGSS/English double major Stephanie Martinez presented her WGSS Capstone paper, “A Series of Firsts: Neoliberalism and Perceptions of Queer Bodies in Disney Productions.” Stephanie’s research analyzed the ways neoliberalism shapes the representation of queer bodies in Disney films, offering an insightful critique of popular media and its influence on societal perceptions.
Joelle DuFault also made a significant contribution to the colloquium with her paper, “The Haunting of Gender and Sexuality in Rebecca.” Joelle’s work examined the complex interplay of gender and sexuality in Daphne du Maurier’s classic novel Rebecca, exploring the themes of power, identity, and the supernatural in ways that left a lasting impact on her audience.
A Special Recognition for Cecilia Colbeth
In addition to celebrating the students’ achievements, we would also like to extend our gratitude to Cecilia Colbeth, a longstanding member of the New Jersey Women’s and Gender Studies Consortium and representative of TCNJ. Professor Colbeth, who is serving as the 2024-2025 co-chair, played an instrumental role in organizing this year’s conference. Her tireless dedication and hard work contributed to the event’s success, and we congratulate her on an outstanding conference.
Congratulations to All!
Please join us in congratulating Madison, Stephanie, and Joelle for their exceptional scholarship and presentation skills. Their work is a shining example of the intellectual rigor and commitment to social change that defines the WGSS program at TCNJ. We are also deeply grateful to Professor Colbeth for her leadership and for helping make this year’s conference a success.