Program exposes high schoolers to college-level women’s literature

High school students from around New Orleans will get a chance to experience a week of college-level learning through the Newcomb College Institute’s new program, Newcomb Summer Session: Women’s Literature.

“It’s designed to give local high school students a preview of the college classroom. The focus of this session is women’s literature and leadership,” said Molly Pulda, an administrative assistant professor at Tulane University who will be the main instructor of the program.

The session runs from June 12 to June 16 with each day consisting of a mixture of classroom discussion on assigned readings, group workshops, guest speakers and independent student projects. The week will culminate with students’ presentations.

“We’re reaching out to local students – and, in future years, students across the country – to extend Newcomb’s vision of educating women for leadership in the 21st century.”

Molly Pulda

“It’s going to be a lot of fun. We want to make it both rigorous, in terms of exposing students to what a college classroom feels like, but we also want to make it fun, by building a community around a shared love of reading,” said Pulda.

The goal of the program is to introduce students to classic and contemporary literature written by women while exploring feminist theory and paths to leadership both in and beyond the classroom.

“Who’s in charge of what’s considered ‘great literature?’ We want to make sure female voices are as prominent as male voices, and revise the literary canon to show that women’s voices have shaped and continue to shape literature,” said Pulda. “We’re reaching out to local students – and, in future years, students across the country –  to extend Newcomb’s vision of educating women for leadership in the 21st century.”

Applications for Newcomb Summer Session will be accepted through March 31.

Samah Ahmed is a junior majoring in public health at Tulane University.