Dr. Gordon’s talk explores the potential of youth activism to spark political, cultural and institutional change. From climate and labor movements to struggles for gender and LGBTQ justice, this public talk highlights how young activists have transformed society -- and how they continue to shape its future. Based on Dr. Gordon’s new book, Youth Activism, the event invites a broader conversation about social change today.

About the author: 

Dr. Gordon is an award-winning scholar at the University of Denver, with extensive research on youth political movements and social inequalities. Her book, We Fight to Win: Inequality and the Politics of Youth Activism "offers a compelling account of young people's attempts to get involved in community politics" (Rutgers University Press). She has also examined struggles over urban school reform in This is Our School! Race and Community Resistance to School Reform (NYU Press), which won the 2023 Outstanding Book Award from the American Educational Research Association.  Among other awards at her institution, she received the “Champion of Change” Faculty Award by the Center for Multicultural Excellence at the University of Denver. Her latest book is Youth Activism (Bloomsbury, 2025).

She directed the Gender and Women's Studies Program at the University of Denver between 2012-2017 before taking on the role of department chair for Sociology and Criminology from 2017-2020. She teaches courses on gender, globalization, youth and social movements.

Hosted by the Department of Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies

Cosponsors: Institute for Research on Women (IROW), United University Professions-UAlbany Chapter, and University Auxiliary Services

This event is Free and Open to the Public.