Oral History Interview, Stephanie Rytilahti (2557)

Abstract

In her July 2025 interview with Edwin Elizbeth Thomas, Stephanie Rytilahti discusses her career in the Gender & Women’s Studies (GWS) Department at UW-Madison. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UW-Madison in 2005 and 2010 respectively, returning to teach at the university after receiving her PhD. She is the founding director of the UW System Gender and Women’s Studies Consortium, where she works with GWS departments across all University of Wisconsin campuses. Rytilahti discusses how the department has evolved over the years and what she hopes for the future. This interview was conducted for inclusion into the GWS @ 50 Oral History Project of the UW-Madison Archives & Records Management oral history collection.