Which Woman Should Be the New Face of the $10 Note? Baylor Panel to Discuss U.S. Treasury’s Milestone

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Media contact: Lori Fogleman, (254) 710-6275
WACO, Texas (Sept. 15, 2015) – Baylor University’s history department and gender studies program are joining together to host a panel discussion on “10 for $10: Women on America’s Currency” at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22, in Bennett Auditorium on Baylor’s campus.
The “10 for $10” panel will discuss the recent announcement by the U.S. Department of the Treasury that a woman will be the face of the next $10 bill. The new $10 will be released in 2020 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment giving women the right to vote.
The panel will consist of 10 faculty members from a wide range of departments. Each member will advocate for one specific woman in history who they believe deserves the honor of having their portrait on the $10 note.

The discussion will conclude with a straw poll of audience members voting for the woman they believe should be considered for the $10 note.

The panel will include:
• Rosalie Beck, Ph.D., associate professor of religion
• Mona Choucair, Ph.D., senior lecturer in English
• Leslie Hahner, Ph.D., associate professor of communication
• Kay Mueller, M.A., senior lecturer in sociology
• Sam Perry, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Baylor Interdisciplinary Core
• Coretta Pittman, Ph.D., associate professor and director of freshman composition
• Mia Moody-Ramirez, Ph.D., associate professor and graduate program director of journalism, public relations and new media
• Carolyn Skurla, Ph.D., associate professor and graduate program director of mechanical engineering
• Jonathan Tran, Ph.D., Faculty Master for Honors Residential College and associate professor of religion
• Andrea Turpin, Ph.D., assistant professor of history
In June, Kimberly Kellison, Ph.D., chair and associate professor of the history department, compiled a list of well-deserving but lesser-known women who meet the criteria set in place by the Treasury to be considered for the honor. Kellison’s list was noticed by the Treasury, resulting in an invitation to participate in a roundtable discussion in Washington, D.C., to provide feedback on the historic change.
“I hope that [attendees] leave our event with a greater appreciation of the profound and diverse ways that women have advanced democracy in America,” Kellison said. “Facing criticism, opposition and sometimes risking their lives, women from various backgrounds and time periods advocated for greater rights for themselves and for other Americans. They emerged as leaders in their fields, disciplines and areas of influence.”
“The 10 for $10 event is going to be fun and fast-paced,” said Lisa Shaver, Ph.D., director of gender studies and associate professor in English. “Each panelist only has five minutes, and after the panel we will ask the audience to participate in a straw poll where they can select a woman we’ve discussed or suggest another woman who should be considered for the $10 note.”
Kellison said she hopes students who attend will take away an excitement about the Treasury’s momentous decision to place a woman on the $10 note.
“The Treasury Department invites Americans to email, tweet or send letters recommending women who should appear on the $10 bill. I trust that students will be encouraged to take part in this historic process and that they will be energized knowing their ideas can help shape decisions about the design of the bill,” she said.
Bennett Auditorium is located in Draper Academic Building on Baylor’s campus. The event is free and open to the public.
For more information about the “10 for $10: Women on America’s Currency” Panel, contact Kellison at 254-710-2667 or Kimberly_Kellison@baylor.edu.
by Bethany Harper , student newswriter, (254) 710-6805
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Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution, characterized as having “high research activity” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The University provides a vibrant campus community for approximately 16,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions. Baylor sponsors 19 varsity athletic teams and is a founding member of the Big 12 Conference.