March 2026
Executive Director/DEI Corner
By Dr. Gina Turner
Happy Women's History Month! The theme for Women's History Month 2026, as determined by The National Women's History Alliance, is: “Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future", including "financial sustainability, community resilience, leadership succession, and intergenerational equity." As a psychologist, I truly believe that change is possible. My two recommendations have to do with things that can make change possible, or challenging.
What I'm Watching:
In my continuing quest to catch up on all the Oscar nominated films before the Academy Awards ceremony on March 15th, I recently watched If I Had Legs I'd Kick You, written and directed by Mary Bronstein and starring (nominee for best actress) Rose Byrne as Linda, a psychotherapist. She has a daughter with serious illness, and a husband who is constantly away with work. We see her deeply struggling with being a nurturing mother, a supportive counselor, and also grappling with the challenge of her damaged apartment which has sent her daughter and her to live in a dive motel. My heart ached for Linda and empathized with her unsustainable coping mechanisms. Give this woman (and all mothers!) more support!
What I'm Reading:
I'd love to recommend this book to Linda! In Sovereign: Reclaim Your Freedom, Energy, and Power in a Time of Distraction, Uncertainty, and Chaos by psychologist Dr. Emma Seppälä, she contrasts sovereignty ("maximizing your gifts and strengths") with feeling "bound": feeling disconnected because of our past experiences, fear and trauma, as well as because of the current chaos of the world. It's not about solving every problem; it's about having the internal resources to weather the bad and thrive in the good.
Happy March!
Event Spotlight
International Women’s Day Celebration at NCC - Join the Conversation!
By Professor Viivi Samuels, Psychology
You are warmly invited to attend Northampton Community College’s Second Annual International Women’s Day Celebration on March 18, 2026.
NCC is a home to a diverse international community, and this event offers a unique opportunity to hear directly from some of them. The event brings together female-identifying students and faculty to share personal stories and reflections about growing up in different parts of the world and how culture shapes the female experience.
The discussion will explore topics such as gender roles, gender equality, education, and career opportunities across cultures. Audience participation is strongly encouraged - we invite attendees to share reflections, ask questions, and help create a conversation around cultural influences that impact women’s lives globally and even domestically.
Each year we strive to build a diverse panel. This year’s event will include representation from Nigeria, Nepal, Finland and Trinidad & Tobago, with additional voices welcomed.
It is not too late to join the panel! If you are interested in participating or would like more information about the event, please contact me at vsamuels@northampton.edu. We welcome your ideas, questions, and perspectives as we continue to foster dialogue, understanding, and community at NCC.
We hope you will join us in celebrating global voices and honoring International Women’s Day together.
