Ann Kakaliouras, associate professor of anthropology, was recently selected to be the College’s first gender equity coordinator. The appointment begins January 2021, and she will use her first months to build a set of goals and objectives that will meet the needs of the College community.
Kakaliouras has been at Whittier for 15 years and brings a wealth of knowledge and skills regarding gender equity on college campuses to this new position.
In 2019, the College committed to addressing gender inequity concerns within the community, with the guidance of the Associated Students of Whittier College. Last academic year, the Gender Equity Task Force convened to create a set of recommendations, as well as to discuss what role a Gender Equity Center could play on campus. The creation of the gender equity coordinator position was part of those recommendations.
The College will also appoint an assistant coordinator from among Whittier’s staff. They and Kakaliouras will then choose a student to serve as student coordinator.
Kakaliouras received her Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Before coming to Whittier, she served as an assistant professor of anthropology at Appalachian State University. At the College, she teaches courses in biological anthropology, archaeology, Native American studies, gender studies, science and technology studies, and theory in anthropology.