Jenna Chappell, a Northern Michigan University senior from Onondaga, Mich., who will graduate cum laude on April 30 with a double major in criminal justice and anthropology, is the recipient of the 2022 Martha Griffiths Award from the American Association of University Women of Marquette (AAUW-Marquette).
The award is given to a high-achieving NMU undergraduate who will earn an associate or bachelor's degree in 2022 and who has demonstrated leadership and commitment to women's rights, community involvement and deep interests in issues to advance gender equity through civic, political and/or cultural initiatives.
Chappell has served as president of Feminism for All, formerly known as Women for Women. She worked to change the name to make the group more inclusive and welcoming to trans and non-binary members. As a leader in Feminism for All, Jenna helped to organize the Annual Slut Walk in 2020 and 2021 to stand with survivors of sexual assault and to make the point that clothing does not equal consent.
She facilitated a Voter Registration and Voting Information Workshop, Fat Liberation Workshop, and Wage Gap Bake Sale with proceeds going toward Reproductive Rights in Texas. She presented on sexual assault awareness with the Sexual Assault Response team from the Marquette Women's Center, and she partnered with the Women's Center to organize a purple out in October to raise awareness for domestic violence. In addition, Jenna was a student athlete on the NMU women's soccer team from 2018-2020.
"AAUW-Marquette received eight inspiring nominations," said the organization's president, Judith Puncochar. "This year's Martha Griffiths Award competition was incredible. We congratulate Jenna on her many accomplishments and upcoming graduation. About 72.1% of Anthropology majors are female. In contrast, the percentage of female full-time law enforcement officers has been low for several decades (US Dept of Justice, 2019, p. iii). In 2020, only 13.1% of full-time law enforcement officers were female."
The Martha Griffiths Award is presented annually to a graduating senior at NMU. It is named in honor of the Michigan legislator who was known for her efforts in the Civil Rights Act and for getting the Equal Rights Amendment to the House floor for a vote in 1970.