Troy University’s College of Communication and Fine Arts and John M. Long School of Music hosted its annual celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8. 

Held at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts’ Wilson Auditorium, “An Afternoon of Music and Poetry” featured musical performances and poetry readings by 13 ROY faculty and staff members. Dr. Hui Ting Yang, Director for the John M. Long School of Music, and Dr. Shari Hoppin, Associate Professor for the Hall School of Journalism, served as co-organizers for the event.

The departments that were represented included English, History and Philosophy, the John M. Long School of Music, the Hall School of Journalism and Communication, International Programs, Sorrell College of Business and the Department of World Languages and Cultures.

Both the performances and readings focused on works by female poets and composers, highlighting various themes through international pieces and verses from their homelands.  The language for poetry reading included Mandarin Chinese, Russian, Spanish, Polish, Urdu, and English. 

Dr. Yang says that the best part of this event is getting to know and work with women who are brilliant, kind, tough and persistent.

“The idea of enhancing collaboration between music and other disciplines and connecting people through music and art was initiated back in 2022,” Dr. Yang said. “The purpose of this event is to engender cooperation between different departments, and to showcase, connect, and promote TROY’s talented and gifted female faculty and staff.”

Dr. Shari Hoppin read Margret Atwood’s poem “The Moment” and says that she is grateful for the participation and contributions to the yearly event.

“I enjoy collaborating with colleagues to celebrate International Women’s Day,” Dr. Hoppin said. “I’m grateful every year for the women who say yes to participating and contribute their time and talent.”

Dr. Ayesha Tariq, Associate Professor of Marketing, has participated in the event since it began.

“The thing I enjoy and appreciate the most is the sense of community with fellow female Troy faculty,” she said. “I have met an amazing group of people through this event.”

Dr. Tariq chose to read the poem “The Laughter of a Woman” by Fahmida Riaz in both Urdu, the national language of Pakistan, and English.

“A lot of her poems deal with issues of social and gender hierarchies, especially in the Pakistani social context,” Dr. Tariq said. “I find most of these issues to be universal and free of a national constraint. It seemed fitting to share one of her poems on International Women’s Day. The specific poem I recited had to do with both the delicateness and strength of being a woman, the fact that people in positions of power and wealth are either unable or unwilling, or both, to secure peace for her. Only the breeze shares freedom and joy with her. I am not sure this is what the poet meant but this was my interpretation of the poem.”

This is the fourth year this event has been held as an opportunity for outreach, connection and the celebration of International Women’s Day.