Meet the Faculty at the Gender and Women's Studies program at UK: Part II

Tax and tuition dollars to to work on “strategies for social change" for The Fairness Alliance?

Melanie Otis is an Assistant Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies in the College of Social Work. She holds bachelors and masters degrees in Social Work and a Ph.D. in Sociology. Her research interests include examining the individual and community-level impact of homophobia, heterosexism, racism, classism, ethnocentrism, and sexism in the lives of LGBT people. Additionally, her work explores strategies for social change and advocacy around issues affecting members of disenfranchised groups. Dr. Otis is a steering committee member of the Bluegrass Chapter of the Kentucky Fairness Alliance.

Salary = $61,292

"The Gender and Women's Studies Program at the University of Kentucky investigates gender broadly conceived and the cultures and contributions of women worldwide from feminist/womanist perspectives. The purpose of the program is to develop and coordinate an interdisciplinary curriculum in Gender and Women's Studies at the undergraduate and graduate levels; support critical research, teaching and public programming in Gender and Women's Studies that take into account various beliefs about gender, race, class, and sexuality; and foster interdisciplinary collaboration. The Gender and Women's Studies Program aims to serve the University and the Commonwealth through promotion of equity and commitment to excellence."