Directors of the Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies Department

Over the years as the University of Pittsburgh's women's department has grown into the gender, sexuality, and women's studies department and expanded the scope of education in these fields, many directors advanced the status of the department and contributed to it's progression as a well-known field. 

Kathleen Blee is the current (2022) Bettye J. and Ralph E. Bailey Dean Dean of the Kenneth P Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences and the College of General Studies. She began her academic journey in the 1970's when she earned her BA in sociology at the University of Indiana. She then continued her studies in sociology at the University of Wisconsin, earning a MA and PhD. Finally she began her academic career at the University of Kentucky in 1981 when she worked as a professor, Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and as the Director for the Women's Studies Program. She became a part of the University of Pittsburgh's Department of Sociology and Director of the Women's Studies Programs in the mid-1990's, and has continued her work here for over 20 years. She is a highly respected academic and has demonstrated her focuc and passion for race and extremism studies through her numerous publications.