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Overview
Chandra Talpade Mohanty (born 1955) is a feminist scholar and theorist whose landmark 1984 essay “Under Western Eyes: Feminist Scholarship and Colonial Discourses” established her as one of the foundational voices in transnational feminist studies. She joined Hamilton College in 1991 and remained a central figure in the Women’s Studies program for roughly fourteen years. She later moved to Syracuse University, where she holds a distinguished professorship.
Mohanty was educated at the University of Delhi (B.A. and M.A.) and the University of Illinois (M.A. and Ph.D.). At Hamilton she was hired as a Visiting Associate Professor and was promoted to Associate Professor, serving for a period as Acting Program Director of Women’s Studies. By the time of the 2000-01 catalog she held the rank of Professor of Women’s Studies, which she retained through the 2004-05 catalog.
Relevance to Research
Mohanty’s presence at Hamilton from 1991 through approximately 2004 coincided with the formative years of the Women’s Studies concentration. She served as Acting Program Director, co-taught core courses in the concentration, and contributed cross-listed courses with Africana Studies. Her scholarly work on transnational feminism, race, and colonialism shaped Hamilton’s curriculum during this period.
Notes
- Joined Hamilton College in 1991; hire year listed as (1991) in catalog faculty listings throughout her tenure
- Initial title (1991-92 catalog): Jane Watson Irwin Visiting Associate Professor of Women’s Studies
- Title in 1992-93: Associate Professor of Women’s Studies; served as Acting Program Director that year
- Held the rank of Associate Professor through at least 1997-98
- Promoted to Professor of Women’s Studies by 2000-01; rank confirmed in 2000-01, 2002-03, and 2004-05 catalogs
- Education: B.A. and M.A., University of Delhi; M.A. and Ph.D., University of Illinois
- Courses taught included: Introduction to Women’s Studies (101), feminist theory seminars, transnational feminism courses, and senior independent work (550)
- Co-taught the introductory Women’s Studies course (101) with Margaret Gentry on multiple occasions
- Course WS 402 (Transnationalism, Globalization, and Feminist Politics) cross-listed with Africana Studies 402 (2002-03 catalog)
- Listed with designation “(ES)” in the 2004-05 catalog, indicating expected separation (end of appointment)
- Colleagues in Women’s Studies included Margaret Gentry, Susan Sanchez-Casal, Nancy Sorkin Rabinowitz, and M. Jacqueline Alexander
Related Sources
- yhm-arc-pub-cat-1991-92 — first listing as Jane Watson Irwin Visiting Associate Professor of Women’s Studies
- yhm-arc-pub-cat-1992-93 — listed as Acting Program Director; full entry with credentials
- yhm-arc-pub-cat-1993-94 — Associate Professor listing
- yhm-arc-pub-cat-1994-95 — Associate Professor listing
- yhm-arc-pub-cat-1995-96 — Associate Professor listing
- yhm-arc-pub-cat-1996-97 — Associate Professor listing
- yhm-arc-pub-cat-1997-98 — Associate Professor listing
- yhm-arc-pub-cat-2000-01 — promoted to Professor of Women’s Studies
- yhm-arc-pub-cat-2002-03 — Professor listing; cross-listing with Africana Studies
- yhm-arc-pub-cat-2004-05 — final listing; marked (ES) indicating end of appointment
Related Topics
- womens-studies — founding and longtime faculty member; served as Acting Program Director
Related Entities
- margaret-gentry — Women’s Studies colleague and Program Director