Courtney Brooks, a senior WGST minor was the recipient of the 2025 Arney Robinson Childs Award! Her interest in Women’s and Gender Studies is grounded in her commitment to reproductive justice and in understanding how race, gender, and class shape reproductive health inequities. After learning about Black maternal mortality rates and witnessing gaps in reproductive healthcare access within her own community, she plans to become an OB/GYN devoted to serving underserved populations through compassionate clinical care and public health advocacy. 

Courtney’s application reflected her record of extraordinary achievement and contributions to WGST classes and exemplary commitment to women’s issues on campus and in the community. The awards committee was especially impressed with her work related to women’s health and reproductive justice, focusing on reducing reproductive health disparities in marginalized communities. 

To learn more about our awards visit our Fellowships & Awards page here. Our spring awards nomination and application deadline is March 1st. Our spring awards include:  

• Dr. Lynn Weber Award 

• • presented to an academically talented undergraduate student pursuing a WGST major or minor, with an emphasis on nominating recipients from underrepresented student populations and socioeconomically disadvantaged students. 

• Carol Jones Carlisle Faculty Award 

• • designed to assist faculty and professional staff in the conduct of women-centered research, which is consistent with the research mission of Women's and Gender Studies to reconceptualize knowledge, create new knowledge, and/or reinterpret existing knowledge about women and their experiences through the lens of gender and the prism of diversity. 

• • a link to the application form is available here. 

• Dr. Mary Baskin-Waters Service-Learning Award 

• • recognizes USC faculty who have demonstrated a sustained commitment to excellence in service-learning and are recognized for their leadership in academic service-learning coursework and their commitment to the local community. 

• • a link to the application form is available here. 

• Women's and Gender Studies Faculty Teaching Award 

• • established to recognize outstanding teaching in Women’s and Gender Studies undergraduate and graduate courses. 

• • a link to the application form is available here.