Biology professor completes degree, thesis makes its way around the world

For every woman who has ever doubted her body…A way to think differently

Pastel: A Woman Finds Her Beauty by Kimberly Harding
“A Woman Finds Her Beauty,” pastel by Kimberly Harding.

by Dr. Kimberly Harding, Professor of Biology at Glenwood Springs-Spring Valley

Two years ago, I completed my Master’s degree in Spirituality and Transformation at Atlantic University. This was quite a different path than my other graduate degrees. As a professor of biology at Colorado Mountain College, I am in the habit of analyzing and studying the human body from a certain perspective.

Within the program at Atlantic University, I found an opportunity to explore the human body in new ways. In my Anatomy and Physiology classes, I have always been disturbed by the different vocabulary used to describe male and female reproduction in college textbooks, and I wanted to transform this type of thinking.

My work at Atlantic University centered on female embodiment, and I created this work primarily with women in mind. I see women who doubt their own bodies, who judge their bodies as “failing”, and I want these women to think differently about themselves.

When I presented the work for my Master’s degree, it was very well received by the women in the audience. Somewhat surprising to me was the strong reaction my talk garnered by the men who attended. One man walked up to me afterwards and while shaking my hand said, “Thank you. My granddaughter needs to hear this type of thing. I want her to feel good about herself.”

And that is the point of my work. For anyone who has ever doubted or judged the female body, my work presents a way to think differently.

My thesis presentation is being used by Atlantic University as a model to show what can be done in the program. It is now garnering popularity with other college professors across the country and being shared out. You can watch the video presentation here.