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Women and Gender Equity Center (WGEC)

The Women and Gender and Equity Center's goal is to promote gender wellness and equality in the UNO community through campus events, outreach, and initiatives.

WGEC student agency logo

WGEC is a student-run, multi-service agency offering everyone an opportunity to explore and discover resources pertaining to women's lives. We proudly represent all who identify as women on this campus.

In an effort to actively support the campus with resources,  the WGEC offers free reproductive and menstruation products including, but not limited to:

  • Menstrual cups
  • Tampons and pads
  • Pregnancy tests

These items are available at the Women and Gender Equity office, 114 MBSC, or at events featuring The Big O campaign such as the moving reproductive and sexual health gazebo.  

Members

Stephanie Albers (she/her/hers) is a Ph.D. student in the Developmental Psychology program, studying the relationship between peer victimization experiences and disordered eating/body image. Stephanie is excited to be apart of the WGEC this year to help further their mission. In her free time, she enjoys spending with her two sons, Marshall and Ethan, her spouse Trenton, and her dog Watson. 

Lauren Jackson (she/her/hers) is a sophomore political science and women and gender studies major. She is a crisis counselor for the Women's Center for Advancement as well as a writer for Entropy online magazine focusing on sexual assault. She is very excited to be apart of the WGEC to continue her passion on being a voice for women and working to making campus more inclusive for all. 

Brady Dodds (she/her/hers) is an undergraduate junior at UNO studying psychology (with a concentration in mental health) as well as Women and Gender Studies. She joined the WGEC board in order to make an impact on the student experience at UNO. She has lived in Omaha her entire life and wants to make a positive impact on the city that made her who she is today. She enjoys baking and is also the president of UNO Triota.

Destinie Freeman (she/her/hers) is the Director of the WGEC. She is a super senior double majoring in sociology and biology while fulfilling pre-med requirements. As a parenting student to a feisty toddler, she is passionate about making our campus more accessible for pregnant and parenting students.  

Sarah Hawkinson (she/her/hers) is the Assistant Director for the WGEC and a senior majoring in Women's and Gender Studies and minoring in LGBTQ+/Sexualities. She is passionate about accessible health care and sustainable menstrual products for all students and faculty at UNO. Sarah is a returning member of the board, and her favorite thing about being a part of the WGEC is planning Take Back the Night- a yearly event focused on raising awareness on domestic violence and sexual assault. She is an Aries, has way too many house plants, and can answer and question related to Marvel.

Alana Alexander (she/her/hers) is a senior at UNO with dual majors in neuroscience and sociology with a concentration in anthropology and a focus in biomedicine. She will be graduating this fall and plans to continue her education with a graduate program in biomedicine. Alana works as a finish carpenter and teaches a creative writing class for incarcerated men within the Omaha Metro area. She is the proud mother of 19 year-old son who studies biomedical engineering at the University of Minnesota at Minneapolis. Alana hopes that her age and own experiences will allow her to provide a broader support system within the Women and Gender Equity Center for those attending the university.

Sydney Meier (she/her/hers) is a junior undergraduate studying mathematics and Women and Gender Studies. She has joined the Women’s Resource Center because she is passionate about helping women and improving individual’s life experiences. Born and raised in Lincoln, Sydney loves to read, pet her little schnoodle, and play card games with friends. She is also a member of the Honors Program and treasurer of Triota. 
Franchesca Handlos (she/her/hers) is a sophomore majoring in political science with a minor in human rights studies. She joined the WGEC to work with others in supporting the women of UNO. She is passionate about women’s health care and immigration reform. She is looking forward to meeting new people and creating a welcoming environment for everyone at UNO. 
Olivia Larson (she/her/hers) is a junior completing a double major in Women’s and Gender Studies and Sociology, with a concentration of Inequality and Social Justice. As a Board Member, she is most passionate about solving issues regarding accessibility to comprehensive sexual education and advocacy for LGBTQ+ students. She is a political junkie, a Scorpio, and a very fast talker.