In Winter Semester 2025, BYU introduced a new course focused on historic women and their contributions to BYU over the decades.
Cristie Charles and Marlene Hansen Esplin are the professors of the course. Their goal is for their students to research a variety of women and create a walking tour for people to explore campus and learn about the important women in BYU history with accompanying audio.
“I just want (the BYU community) to be excited about the cool things that women have done in BYU and be educated about it,” Charles said.
The idea began when Esplin went on a study abroad where she experienced the women’s walking tours in Europe.
“We inevitably came to this question of, ‘why don’t we have something like that?’” Esplin said.
After discussing it with the Global Women Studies faculty affiliate, Esplin said she and Charles volunteered to teach the course.
On the first day of class, Charles asked students to name as many women related to BYU history as they could. However, students could only think of eight people.
“It helped us realize that even students interested in this topic don't know these women and these names and these stories,” Charles said.
This discussion stood out to Elly Nelson, a student enrolled in the course, and added to her passion for developing the tour.
“I think it just feels empowering to these specific women and the women of BYU to represent them more holistically,” Nelson said.
While the course is about women in history, both students and professors encouraged men to be equally involved.
“Men and women have and should always work in tandem.” Maren Kennedy, another student in the course, said. “(Men) provide other perspectives that maybe all girls couldn’t provide.”
Charles shared similar thoughts.
“I'm also very quick to say that learning about women's stories isn't just for women,” Charles said. “I think that these are stories we all need.”
Students within the class shared their thoughts with each person coming from a different area of expertise.
“Everyone has got a different focus, which has been really fun,” Elizabeth Geary, a student in the class said. “It’s been a really collaborative process even just the couple of weeks that we've been together.”
Esplin and Charles also shared that the course will go beyond the walking tour. Esplin said students’ research will help BYU celebrate its 150th anniversary.
“We also hope that several of the biographical sketches that students are writing as a part of the walking tour will be featured in the '150 Women of BYU' publication,” Esplin said.
Overall, the goal is to help people reflect and value those who have come before.
“There were so many women and men who helped make this campus a really wonderful place to work and study,” Esplin said.