2024 Press Releases All Stories

WCSU inducts nine students into Iota Iota Iota, National Women’s Studies Honor Society

hills
(l-r): Catherine Rodriguez, of Bethel; Kylie Moody, of Brookfield; Michelle Rochniak, of Wallingford; Chloe Marquardt, of Centereach, New York; Mansour Altwal, of Centereach, New York; Rachel Ohring, of New Fairfield; Gianna Gueli, of New Milford; and Brenna Wrinn, of West Haven. Not pictured: Jennifer Bassett, of Bethel.
(l-r): Catherine Rodriguez, of Bethel; Kylie Moody, of Brookfield; Michelle Rochniak, of Wallingford; Chloe Marquardt, of Centereach, New York; Mansour Altwal, of Centereach, New York; Rachel Ohring, of New Fairfield; Gianna Gueli, of New Milford; and Brenna Wrinn, of West Haven. Not pictured: Jennifer Bassett, of Bethel.
(l-r): Catherine Rodriguez, of Bethel; Kylie Moody, of Brookfield; Michelle Rochniak, of Wallingford; Chloe Marquardt, of Centereach, New York; Mansour Altwal, of Centereach, New York; Rachel Ohring, of New Fairfield; Gianna Gueli, of New Milford; and Brenna Wrinn, of West Haven. Not pictured: Jennifer Bassett, of Bethel.

DANBURY, Connecticut — In April, Western Connecticut State University inducted nine students into Iota Iota Iota, the National Women’s Studies Honor Society. The inductees have completed six hours of Women’s Studies coursework and earned a 3.0 in those courses. Iota Iota Iota (Triota) was started in 1992 at the Metropolitan State College of Denver. The Greek letter “Iota” was selected for the name to represent the three goddesses: Inanna, Ishtar and Isis. Inanna is the ancient Sumerian goddess of love, fertility and war. Ishtar is the Assyrian and Babylonian goddess of love, fertility and war. Isis is the Egyptian goddess of love, fertility, healing, magic and the moon.

This society was created to honor and celebrate the academic achievements of students in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Triota was founded upon the feminist values of egalitarianism, inclusiveness, and the celebration of diverse experiences. Triota chapters actively work to uphold these principles and all other tenets of intersectional feminism.

WCSU established its chapter, Beta Theta, in 2009. In spring 2009, our first students were inducted at a ceremony held in May and generously supported by the then-Dean of Arts & Sciences Dr. Linda Vaden-Goad and by then-Provost Linda Rinker. Since then, nearly 40 students have been inducted; this is the first cohort since the pandemic.

The students pictured, left to right, are Catherine Rodriguez, of Bethel; Kylie Moody, of Brookfield; Michelle Rochniak, of Wallingford; Chloe Marquardt, of Centereach, New York; Mansour Altwal, of Centereach, New York; Rachel Ohring, of New Fairfield; Gianna Gueli, of New Milford; and Brenna Wrinn, of West Haven. Not pictured: Jennifer Bassett, of Bethel.

Congratulations to the inductees!

 

Western Connecticut State University changes lives by providing all students with a high-quality education that fosters their growth as individuals, scholars, professionals and leaders in a global society. Our vision: To be widely recognized as a premier public university with outstanding teachers and scholars who prepare students to contribute to the world in a meaningful way.