{"id":518,"date":"2026-03-16T13:55:11","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T17:55:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/gender-race-and-area-studies\/?page_id=518"},"modified":"2026-03-17T14:07:47","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T18:07:47","slug":"history","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/gender-race-and-area-studies\/about\/history\/","title":{"rendered":"History"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"is-style-intro double-bottom-margin\">The Center for Gender, Race, and Area Studies reflects decades of interdisciplinary scholarship at Clark University exploring the dynamics around race, gender, and human rights.<\/p>\n\n\n<clark-showcase class=\"double-gap double-bottom-margin\" stickTo=\"top\">\n\t\n<div class=\"showcase-col\"><div class=\"showcase-col-content\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover is-light\" style=\"min-height:80vh;aspect-ratio:unset;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-519 size-large\" alt=\"Exterior view of Dana Commons in springtime\" src=\"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/gender-race-and-area-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/70\/Dana-Commons-1024x683.avif\" style=\"object-position:15% 61%\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" data-object-position=\"15% 61%\"\/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-0 has-background-dim\" style=\"background-color:#828b6c\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-large-font-size\"><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"showcase-col\"><div class=\"showcase-col-content\">\n\n<aside class=\"wp-block-group boxout section has-border-color has-purple-border-color has-light-warm-gray-background-color has-background is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-12dd3699 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1979\">1979<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Clark launches the <strong>Women&#8217;s Studies Program<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n\n\n\n<aside class=\"wp-block-group boxout double-bottom-margin has-border-color has-dark-teal-border-color has-light-warm-gray-background-color has-background is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-12dd3699 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1987\">1987<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Peace and Conflict Studies<\/strong> Program begins.<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n\n\n\n<aside class=\"wp-block-group boxout double-bottom-margin has-border-color has-dark-yellow-border-color has-light-warm-gray-background-color has-background is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-12dd3699 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1998\">1998<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>Strassler Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies<\/strong> \u2014 launched in 1996 as the Center for Holocaust Studies \u2014 starts a PhD program training students in Holocaust History, the Armenian Genocide, and other genocides perpetrated around the globe.<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n\n\n\n<aside class=\"wp-block-group boxout double-bottom-margin has-border-color has-green-border-color has-light-warm-gray-background-color has-background is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-12dd3699 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2006\">2006<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Clark University approves the <strong>Women&#8217;s and Gender Studies<\/strong> major.<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n\n\n\n<aside class=\"wp-block-group boxout double-bottom-margin has-border-color has-blue-border-color has-light-warm-gray-background-color has-background is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-12dd3699 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2014\">2014<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Center for Gender, Race, and Area Studies is founded, and moves to Dana Commons in 2016.<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n\n\n\n<aside class=\"wp-block-group boxout double-bottom-margin has-border-color has-dark-purple-border-color has-light-warm-gray-background-color has-background is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-12dd3699 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2016\">2016<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>Africana Studies<\/strong> concentration is launched within the Center for Gender, Race, and Area Studies. The <strong>Peace and Conflict Studies<\/strong> concentration joins the Center.<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n\n\n\n<aside class=\"wp-block-group boxout double-bottom-margin has-border-color has-dark-orange-border-color has-light-warm-gray-background-color has-background is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-12dd3699 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2017\">2017<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Paul Posner<\/strong> becomes the first director of the Center for Gender, Race, and Area Studies.<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n\n\n\n<aside class=\"wp-block-group boxout double-bottom-margin has-border-color has-dark-orange-border-color has-light-warm-gray-background-color has-background is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-12dd3699 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2018\">2018<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Cynthia Enloe<\/strong> begins her Fall Lecture Series:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>September- <em>#MeToo Goes Global<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>October- <em>Is Trump the Militarizer-in-Chief? Feminists Warn Us to Look in the Mirror<\/em> and When is <em>Voting Feminist Activism<\/em>?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n\n\n\n<aside class=\"wp-block-group boxout double-bottom-margin has-border-color has-teal-border-color has-light-warm-gray-background-color has-background is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-12dd3699 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2017-19\">2017-19<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Betsy Huang<\/strong> serves as director of the Center for Gender, Race, and Area Studies.<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n\n\n\n<aside class=\"wp-block-group boxout double-bottom-margin has-border-color has-blue-border-color has-light-warm-gray-background-color has-background is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-12dd3699 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2018-23\">2018-23<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Jie Park<\/strong> serves as director of the Center for Gender, Race, and Area Studies.<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n\n\n\n<aside class=\"wp-block-group boxout double-bottom-margin has-border-color has-orange-border-color has-light-warm-gray-background-color has-background is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-12dd3699 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2021\">2021<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Asian Studies Program<\/strong> is launched.<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n\n\n\n<aside class=\"wp-block-group boxout double-bottom-margin has-border-color has-deep-red-border-color has-light-warm-gray-background-color has-background is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-12dd3699 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2024-present\">2024-present<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Asha Best<\/strong> serves as director of the Center for Gender, Race, and Area Studies.<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n\n\n\n<aside class=\"wp-block-group boxout double-bottom-margin has-border-color has-dark-yellow-border-color has-light-warm-gray-background-color has-background is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-12dd3699 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2025\">2025<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Cynthia Enloe<\/strong> delivers her final lecture, &#8220;Feminist Curiosity is for These Dark Times&#8221; to a large audience at Tilton Hall in October.<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/clark-showcase>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull padded has-light-yellow-background-color has-background is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-student-leadership\">Student leadership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/gender-race-and-area-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/70\/2017-Dana-Common-Event-5-1200x800-1-1024x683.avif\" alt=\"Students participate in a group discussion in Dana Common\" class=\"wp-image-538\" style=\"width:500px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/gender-race-and-area-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/70\/2017-Dana-Common-Event-5-1200x800-1-1024x683.avif 1024w, https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/gender-race-and-area-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/70\/2017-Dana-Common-Event-5-1200x800-1-300x200.avif 300w, https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/gender-race-and-area-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/70\/2017-Dana-Common-Event-5-1200x800-1-768x512.avif 768w, https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/gender-race-and-area-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/70\/2017-Dana-Common-Event-5-1200x800-1.avif 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>In 2011, a diversity task force called attention to persistent gaps between Clark\u2019s values and its lived experience, recommending new institutional structures to support diversity and dialogue. These efforts converged with a new wave of student activism in 2014\u20132015, as students organized to create a dedicated space for community and intellectual exchange. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The result was the creation of CGRAS and a shared home in Dana Commons\u2014an interdisciplinary center shaped by both academic vision and student leadership.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Center for Gender, Race, and Area Studies reflects decades of interdisciplinary scholarship at Clark University exploring the dynamics around race, gender, and human rights. Student leadership In 2011, a diversity task force called attention to persistent gaps between Clark\u2019s values and its lived experience, recommending new institutional structures to support diversity and dialogue. These [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"parent":27,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-518","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.2 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>History | Center for Gender, Race, and Area Studies | Clark University<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/gender-race-and-area-studies\/about\/history\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"History\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Center for Gender, Race, and Area Studies reflects decades of interdisciplinary scholarship at Clark University exploring the dynamics around race, gender, and human rights. 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