By Emmalyn Campbell
Staff Writer

Dr. Andrea McClanahan has been at ESU for 15 years. She is in the communication department and has been the coordinator of the Women and Gender Studies program since 2013.

She is currently teaching Communication Theory, Introduction to Mass Media, courses in Public Relations and Media Studies and Introduction to Women’s Studies.

“My professors at Bloomsburg University played a big role in my desire to become a professor, and my desire to come back and teach in the Pennsylvania State System,” McClanahan said.

“I was a first-generation college student, and having professors that believed in me really changed my life.”

She grew up in Waynesboro, Pa. an avid reader.

She attended Bloomsburg University for her bachelor’s degree, Ball State University for her master’s and Ohio University for her Ph.D.

McClanahan is also the faculty adviser for Feminist Alliance, a club focused on “raising awareness about issues related to gender and how these issues intersect with other topics such as race, class and sexuality,” she explained.

Because March is Women’s History Month, the club will be hosting many exciting events. Including a celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8 and the Vagina Monologues on April 6 and April 7.

In addition, the Women and Gender Studies program will be hosting a free viewing of the film “Hidden Figures” on March 6 in Beers Lecture Hall at 4:30 p.m., marking the third year of collaboration with the Women’s Commission of Monroe County.

Dr. McClanahan also weighed in on the #MeToo movement, which has resulted in many abusive people finally being removed from their platforms.

She believes that society should not be so quick to assume that long-term change has occurred simply for this fact.

“Until people stop focusing on the person doing the crime and start focusing on the power dynamics as the root cause, we aren’t going to fix anything,” she explained.

“We have a tendency to believe that the issue is then solved if we remove the person, but it isn’t.”

“Universities need to be involved in these discussions because, unfortunately, like every industry, we are part of the #MeToo movement,” said McClanahan.

She also encouraged students to be a part of the conversation, but not just with this specific movement.

“There are so many decisions that are made that impact the lives of [the] students, and we do nothing.”

To learn more visit the communication department website

Email Emmalyn at:
ecampbell6@live.esu.edu