Professor and Chair of the Department of Race, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at UW La Crosse
With a doctorate in History, Jodi taught for many years at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, focusing on systems of privilege and inequality and social change. Her specialties include women’s history and gender, race, and leadership. She is a nationally recognized scholar of the history of motherhood.
Jodi’s leadership roles include, most recently, chairing the Department of Race, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at UW-La Crosse, as well as serving as Executive Director of the Greater La Crosse Area Diversity Council from 2015 to 2018, where she led the effort to create diverse and inclusive workplaces and communities. Between 2001 and 2009, she directed large federal grants to improve history education, and later facilitated grantseeking and writing development for others as a faculty fellow in the university’s grants office. In 2019, Jodi created a “Mentoring Circles” program to link students to community leaders. She is a frequent speaker on topics of women’s leadership and other dimensions of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Jodi is the author of two history books, including Modern Motherhood: An American History (Rutgers University Press, 2014), numerous research and popular articles on intersectional gender issues, and a book of poems. She is also a developmental editor for non-fiction authors.
Jodi's forthcoming book, Leading With Courage: A Career-Long Guide to Careering for Idealistic Women, offers a bold, practical framework for women seeking purpose-driven careers grounded in justice and authenticity.
Contact Jodi at jodivandenbergdaves@gmail.com.