History professor speaks on panel

Events this month are proving that one does not have to look behind a great man to find a great woman. March 6, UNLV’s own Joanne L. Goodwin will be at the County Government Commission Chambers.

“Centennial Stories: Examining Our Past,” will address the influence of four remarkable women on the formation of Clark County.

The roundtable event is part of a yearlong celebration of Clark County’s centennial anniversary. Each month focuses on a different part of the county’s heritage, so during Women’s History Month local women will be the focus of discussion.

“The event is an hour discussion with a half hour open to phone calls and questions from the audience afterwards,” commented Erik Papa, director of public communications and a facilitator for the event.

“The mission of the Centennial is to engage the public and to educate the public on where we’ve been as a community and where we’re going,” he said. “To educate people about our history and to engage them, to ask questions and to have them answered. We want to make sure that people enjoy what we’re doing for them.”

Goodwin, an associate professor of history and director of the Women’s Research Institute, will speak on the panel to provide a historical context for the other women’s stories. Goodwin hopes that she can help illustrate the role of women in the county.

Goodwin explained that she was chosen for the panel “based on my research of women in the area through oral histories, articles and biographical pieces,” she said, adding that she is working on a book about women in Las Vegas.

“I think that there is a great big blank thought in terms of what women have done to help build the area,” she said. “People have no idea of the involvement of women in the development of Las Vegas. It’s important that students are aware of what the men and women have done to build the community that they live in.”

Pappa shares similar sentiments, focusing on how awareness of inequalities and the struggle to promote fairness can help students prepare for the future.

“You can’t talk about the history of Clark County without discussing the contributions of local women. Women have played and continue to increasingly play an important role in gaming, business, the arts, government and more. The playing field hasn’t always been level, but you can’t fix it unless you talk about it. That’s one of the great benefits of a celebration like ours – we can learn from our history to create a better community.”

Pappa expressed gratitude for Goodwin’s willingness to participate in the roundtable and noted the importance of student involvement with the event, claiming benefits for them and the community.

“Universities play an integral part in enriching their communities and this is a concrete example of how that can take place,” he said. “The university experience encompasses more than attending class, of course. It’s about the overall learning experience, and to get the most out of that experience, I think it behooves students to take advantage of these kinds of offerings, whether they are on campus or off.”

The County Government Commission Chambers are located at 500 S. Grand Central Parkway.