March is national Women’s History Month, known at Sacramento State as Women’s “Herstory” Month. And the University has a host of exciting, enlightening, and educational programs lined up to celebrate women.

A highlight is the sixth annual Women of Influence Awards at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 15, at the University Union, Redwood Room, where Jody Nelsen – wife of Sacramento State President Robert S. Nelsen – will deliver the keynote address. Women of Influence celebrates the contributions of the University’s outstanding female leaders who have made an impact on the campus and in their community.

Jody Nelsen will deliver the keynote address at the Women of Influence Awards. (Sacramento State/Steve McKay)

Jody Nelsen, who earned her MBA at the University of Texas-Dallas, serves on advisory boards for the Sacramento Regional Family Justice Center Foundation and the Associated Students Inc. Food Pantry on campus. Before coming to Sacramento, she served as executive vice president for finance and administration at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. Later, when her husband was serving as president of the University of Texas-Pan American, she worked to combat hunger in a three-county, low-income region of South Texas.

Nominations for Women of Influence Awards will be accepted through Friday, March 4, at http://bit.ly/1RACZxK.

Here’s the full lineup for Women’s Herstory Month. All events are free and open to the public.

Wednesday Nooner, featuring acoustic pop/R&B band The Jams; noon Wednesday, March 2, University Union, Redwood Room. Sponsored by UNIQUE Programs.

“Q/T Chat: Who Are You Really?” about breaking patriarchal myths about femininity; 1 to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 2, at the University Union, PRIDE Center. Sponsored by the PRIDE Center.

No Más Bebés (2015), a documentary about Mexican immigrants pushed into sterilizations while giving birth at a Los Angeles County hospital; 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 2, in Del Norte Hall, Room 1004. Sponsored by the History Department.

Butterscotch, female beat-boxer extraordinaire in concert; 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 3, at the University Union Ballroom. Sponsored by UNIQUE Programs.

“Women in STEM,” a panel discussion on the contributions and experiences of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM); 2 to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 8, at the Multi-Cultural Center. Sponsored by the Women’s Resource Center and Multi-Cultural Center.

“Environmental Justice: Reclaiming Your Body,” a discussion about the harmful effects of hygienic chemicals on reproductive health and the environment; 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 9, at the Multi-Cultural Center. Sponsored by the Multi-Cultural Center and PRIDE Center.

“An Evening of Spoken Word,” featuring spoken-word artists Katie Wirsing and Gabriela Garcia Medina; 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 10, at the University Union Ballroom. Sponsored by UNIQUE Programs.

“Reclaiming Grace Lee Boggs,” a screening of American Revolutionary: The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs (2013), the true story of a 97-year-old Chinese American woman who has immersed herself in social activism for seven decades; noon to 2 p.m. Friday, March 11, at the University Union, Redwood Room. Sponsored by the Full Circle Project and the Women’s Resource Center.

Women of Influence Awards, honoring notable Sacramento State women nominated by the campus community; 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 15, at the University Union, Redwood Room. The program will include performances by Sacramento State students, a keynote address by Jody Nelsen, and closing remarks by Lisa Cardoza, President Nelsen’s chief of staff. Sponsored by Housing and Residential Life, Associated Students Inc., Student Organizations and Leadership, the Women’s Resource Center, and Student Affairs.

Wednesday Nooner, with singer-songwriter Xochitl in concert; noon Wednesday, March 16, at the University Union, Redwood Room. Sponsored by UNIQUE Programs.

“Creative Queens Pop-Up Art Show,” a discussion and reception for the art group from Sol Collective; 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 16, at the Multi-Cultural Center. Sponsored by the Women’s Resource and Multi-Cultural centers, and the Creative Queens.

“Fairytale Castle Deconstruction,” the demolition of a castle collage representing stigmas and stereotypes of women, and the creation of new feminist fairytales, over cupcakes; 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Monday, March 28, at the Multi-Cultural Center. Sponsored by the Women’s Resource Center.

Out in the Night (2014), a documentary about the New Jersey 4, a group of African American lesbians who faced charges for defending themselves against street harassment and assault in New York City; 1:30 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 29, at the University Union, Hinde Auditorium. Sponsored by the Women’s Studies program and the PRIDE Center. Followed by:

Out in the Night, reception with filmmaker Blair Dorosh-Walther and Renta Hill, one of the real-life New Jersey 4; 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 29, at the Multi-Cultural Center. Sponsored by the Women’s Studies program and the Women’s Resource Center.

In addition, stop by the Women’s Herstory Month table in the Library Quad between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. through Thursday, March 3, to pick up a calendar of events and swag from the sponsoring Women’s Resource Center. – Dixie Reid