March is Women’s History Month. This month, which began as Women’s History Week in 1980, is a time to reflect on all the contributions women have made to our world while not always having the same rights and privileges as men. In her Women’s History Month Proclamation at the start of this month, Governor Whitmer shared “Michigan women continue to break barriers, shatter ceilings, build ladders, connect bridges, and make history in seen and unseen ways every single day.”
Each year, the National Women’s History Alliance establishes a theme to guide the celebrations of the month. The 2026 Women’s History Month theme is Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future. This theme recognizes women who are making impactful and long-lasting environmental, economic, educational, and societal change. The theme reminds us that sustainability requires systems that not only honor the planet but also support people.
In honor of this theme, the Michigan School of Psychology is sharing the stories of two women making change in each of the four theme categories. For each category, one of the women we will be highlighting has strong ties to the state of Michigan.
Environmental
Julia Butterfly Hill is an environmental activist best known for living in a redwood tree for over two years to prevent a logging company from destroying the century-old forest. By the time her sit-in ended, the area of the forest she was fighting for became protected, and the logging company donated $50,000 to forestry research. Hill would go on to continue participating in environmental protests and founded the Circle of Life Foundation.
Regina Strong became Michigan’s first Environmental Justice Public Advocate when Governor Whitmer created the Office of the Environmental Justice Public Advocate in 2019. Prior to her current role, Strong had over 30 years of work in environmental justice, advocacy, and public affairs focusing on clean, renewable energy, the Great Lakes, and more.
Economic
Claudia Goldin won the 2023 Nobel Prize in Economics “for having advanced our understanding of women’s labour market outcomes.” Dr. Goldin’s work evaluated the changes in structures and societal norms that have allowed more married women to enter the workforce. She has also conducted significant research on the gender pay gap.
Dr. Betsy Stevenson is a professor of economics at the University of Michigan and a former Chief Economist of the U.S. Department of Labor. Dr. Stevenson is considered a leader in understanding public policies on the labor market, along with women’s and families’ experiences with the labor market. Her expertise led her to serve as an advisor to President Obama and the US Treasury.
Educational
Erin Gruwell is an educator from Long Beach, California, known for her work revolutionizing how to teach high schoolers who were previously considered “unteachable.” Working primarily with students from underprivileged backgrounds, Gruwell recognized the need to connect what she was teaching to her students’ daily lives. The story of Gruwell and her students has become a phenomenon, leading to the New York Times Bestseller The Freedom Writers Diary, the film Freedom Writers, and the creation of the Freedom Writers Foundation.
Dr. Patricia Edwards is a professor of teacher education at Michigan State University, a member of the Reading Hall of Fame, and a National Conference on Research in Language and Literacy Distinguished Scholar. Dr. Edwards’ work focuses on how educators partner with parents to improve literacy, regardless of their own level of literacy. Additionally, she serves on the Michigan Department of Education’s Family Engagement Stakeholders’ Taskforce.
Societal
Kimberlé Crenshaw is an advocate and legal scholar who coined the term “intersectionality,” which addresses the simultaneous experience of both racism and gender inequality. Crenshaw’s work has led her to work with the United Nations and to lead workshops and trainings across four continents.
Dr. Mona Hanna is a pediatrician and public health advocate who was one of the early whistleblowers on the Flint water crisis. During her work addressing the crisis, Dr. Hanna testified before Congress, authored a book, and advocated on local, national, and global media networks. She now directs the Michigan State University and Hurley Children’s Hospital Public Health Initiative, which is continuing to research and monitor the impact the lead water has on Flint’s population.