Shippensburg University’s English department hosted a reading event and book launch on March 31 in Stewart Hall to celebrate Women’s History Month.

The book launch featured recently published and soon-to-be published books from professors in the SU English Department, Dr. Nicole Santalucia with “Lesbian Dinosaurs \ Dinosaur Lesbians,” Dr. Cristina Rhodes with “Facing Uncertain Futures” and “Latinx Children’s and Young Adult Literature and Culture” and Dr. Jordan Windholz with “The Single Life.”

Three members of the editorial board of The Reflector, SU’s student-run undergraduate journal, introduced each professor and noted on the impact they have each had on them during their academic careers. These students were Tomi Mae, Public Relations; Emily Brewer, Associate Editor; and Katelyn Mader, Editor-in-Chief.

The Pride and Gender Equity (PAGE) Center and the Women and Gender Studies Program were also present to show support for the publications. The SU bookstore was stationed off to the side of the room, selling discounted copies of the books.

Santalucia kicked off the event with a few opening words on the importance of the night.

“Tonight is an act of making history as we integrate women’s history into our larger collective narrative and to make them visible and accessible,” Santalucia said. “Our work is in conversation with the histories that informs our present moment and many prospective futures.”

Rhodes was the first professor to present her books, providing a brief description of some of the chapters of her February 2026 novel, “Latinx Children’s and Young Adult Literature and Culture,” which she co-authored with Dr. Cristina Herrera, a professor and the Director of Chicanx/Latinx Studies at Portland State University.

“Latinx Children’s and Young Adult Literature and Culture” analyzes different kinds of literature and media to hold a space for conversations in Latinx youth racism and representation.

Following Rhodes’s presentation, Santalucia returned to the stage to read excerpts from her poetry book, “Lesbian Dinosaurs \ Dinosaur Lesbians,” which will be released later this month. Santalucia described her work as “one big picnic,” with her poetry using the perspective and comparisons of gardening, kitchen tables, fruit and other objects in relation to queer coming out stories.

Mader introduced Windholz as the final presenter who read from his novel, “The Single Life,” which aims to understand the intersections of gender, masculinity and sexuality to “poke holes in patriarchal standards,” according to Mader.

The reading event and book launch served as a welcoming and intellectual space to celebrate the conclusion of this year’s Women’s History Month.

For more information on future events within the SU English Department, check out its Instagram @shipenglish.

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