Loughead leads Canisius’ charge for Women’s History Month

By: Ava C. Green, Editor-in-Chief

On Tuesday, March 18, Canisius University’s Women & Gender Studies Program announced this year’s winners for the Lorch Awards, an honor given in memory Dr. I. Joan Lorch, professor emerita of biology at Canisius. Each year, a student, faculty member and a person or organization in the community, “who [have] made a significant contribution to women and who exemplifies the pursuit of liberation and justice regarding sex, gender and sexuality,” are chosen to receive the award, according to the Canisius University website. 

As part of this year’s celebrations, one of the key figures on campus who has been instrumental in shaping the conversation around gender, identity and social justice is philosophy and women and gender studies professor Dr. Tanya Loughead. She chairs the Women and Gender Studies Department and is known for her passionate activism and scholarship, and has long been a champion of the very values that the Lorch Awards celebrate.

She also believes that this year, more than ever, we need to recognize women’s history. And this year, the Lorch Awards ceremony, typically hosted by the Women & Gender Studies Department, was held as a joint Women’s History Month event, co-hosted by United Student Association’s Diversity Committee. This event came weeks after Canisius University’s inaugural Women’s Leadership Summit, a sold-out event featuring distinguished alumnae speakers and panelists. Canisius’ efforts to commemorate this historic month were increased, furthering the importance of celebrating women’s rights in 2025 in particular.

"There is no doubt that the US is in a state of rising fascism and authoritarian power," Loughead says, highlighting the trends that threaten women and marginalized communities. "There is a rising attack on the freedoms and mere existence of women, people of color, queer people, trans people, older people, poor and working-class people, disabled people… and that list right there covers the majority of Americans." 

Dr. Loughead says her perspective on feminism is both personal and academic. During her time as an undergraduate student, she noted that her experience learning philosophy was deeply impacted by the absence of diverse voices. "In my 15 years studying Philosophy, I never once had a woman philosophy professor! Philosophy has been and is very male-dominated." This lack of gender diversity in her field shaped her teaching philosophy, particularly her commitment to offering students a more inclusive view of the world. 

"We all have to stand together as a community,” she says, adding, “Solidarity is what we need." For Dr. Loughead, this approach isn’t just a theoretical exercise – it’s a necessary tool for transforming how students think about power, identity and justice: “I don’t only teach feminism in some courses; I teach feminism in ALL of my courses. The perspectives of women and people of color should be in all education, not just in small, niche corners of the curriculum.” 

Dr. Loughead has done extensive writing and research on gender, sexuality and identity. She’s participated in panels, public speaking opportunities and political rallies, and sets a standard across Canisius to be inclusive, open-minded and to advocate for others. As we celebrate women’s history this month, Dr. Loughead’s work reminds us that the fight for equality is ongoing and that, through solidarity, we can work together to ensure that the voices and perspectives of all people are heard and respected.