New York Times and USA Today best-selling historical romance writer Sarah MacLean will discuss the challenges, myths and misconceptions of the literary genre in "Real Heroines Rip Their Own Bodices," the keynote address for the 2012 Gender Conference at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. (more)
Judith Kroll, distinguished professor of psychology, linguistics and women's studies and director of Penn State's Center for Language Science (CLS), has published numerous articles on the cognitive processes that underlie language, communication and bilingualism. Today in a syndicated public radio series called "Academic Minute," she explains some highlights of CLS research on the mental exercise that bilingual speakers perform that benefits their brains -- and that can benefit new language learners as well. (more)
There shouldn't be a one-size-fits-all approach to women's work-life balance, said Eileen Trauth, professor of Information Sciences and Technology at Penn State. Her research is based on interviews with over 200 women in several different countries who are working in the knowledge economy. "We should have the flexibility to enable family units to enact a variety of ways to achieve a good balance," Trauth said. "This might mean more and better policies for parental leave for both parents, retraining options for those who left the paid labor force for several years and want to return, part-time work that keeps people on a career track, and work-at-home options. Certainly, technology enables some of these options." (more)
This spring, Rachel Louise Moran, a Penn State doctoral candidate in History and Women's Studies, was awarded a Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship by the Charlotte W. Newcombe Foundation, one of only 21 graduate students to receive this honor. Here, she discusses her research involving governmental efforts to promote physical fitness and curb obesity. (more)
Linda Patterson Miller, professor of English at Penn State Abington, has been named the Penn State laureate for 2011-12. The Penn State laureate is a full-time faculty member in the humanities or fine arts who is assigned half-time for one academic year to bring an enhanced level of social, cultural, artistic and human perspective and awareness to a broad array of audiences. Miller is the fourth person to hold the title and the first to be named from a Penn State campus other than University Park. (more)
Robin Becker, the 2010-11 Penn State laureate and professor of English and women's studies at the University, is sharing several of her poems via video during the 2010-11 academic year, aiming to engage people "in the deep pleasures of poetry -- language crafted and shaped from words, the 'ordinary' material we all use every day," to explore how and why poems move us. In the final installment of Becker's laureate posts and videos, "The Reasons" explores a place from the speaker's past and considers the innocence of her former self. (more)
Robin Becker, the 2010-11 Penn State laureate and professor of English and women's studies at the University, is sharing several of her poems via video during the 2010-11 academic year, aiming to engage people "in the deep pleasures of poetry -- language crafted and shaped from words, the 'ordinary' material we all use every day," to explore how and why poems move us. "The Poet's Perspective" is a weekly poetry video series scheduled to appear during the fall 2010 and spring 2011 semesters on Penn State Live and in Penn State Newswires. Prior to each poem, Becker offers her thoughts about what inspired her to write the piece, then poses a question to consider. Below and in the video link of "Understory," Becker reflects surprising sensory memories from a trip within the poem's pacing and language. (more)
Robin Becker, the 2010-11 Penn State laureate and professor of English and women's studies at the University, is sharing several of her poems via video during the 2010-11 academic year, aiming to engage people "in the deep pleasures of poetry -- language crafted and shaped from words, the 'ordinary' material we all use every day," to explore how and why poems move us. "The Poet's Perspective" is a weekly poetry video series scheduled to appear during the fall 2010 and spring 2011 semesters on Penn State Live and in Penn State Newswires. Prior to each poem, Becker offers her thoughts about what inspired her to write the piece, then poses a question to consider. Below and in the video link of "Riding Lesson," Becker recalls the sensory memories from a childhood hobby. (more)
Robin Becker, the 2010-11 Penn State laureate and professor of English and women's studies at the University, is sharing several of her poems via video during the 2010-11 academic year, aiming to engage people "in the deep pleasures of poetry -- language crafted and shaped from words, the 'ordinary' material we all use every day," to explore how and why poems move us. "The Poet's Perspective" is a weekly poetry video series scheduled to appear during the fall 2010 and spring 2011 semesters on Penn State Live and in Penn State Newswires. Prior to each poem, Becker offers her thoughts about what inspired her to write the piece, then poses a question to consider. Below and in the video link of "Sadness in Spring," Becker ponders the condition of melancholy during the season of renewal. (more)
Robin Becker, the 2010-11 Penn State laureate and professor of English and women's studies at the University, is sharing several of her poems via video during the 2010-11 academic year, aiming to engage people "in the deep pleasures of poetry -- language crafted and shaped from words, the 'ordinary' material we all use every day," to explore how and why poems move us. "The Poet's Perspective" is a weekly poetry video series scheduled to appear during the fall 2010 and spring 2011 semesters on Penn State Live and in Penn State Newswires. Prior to each poem, Becker offers her thoughts about what inspired her to write the piece, then poses a question to consider. In the text and video link of "Late Words for My Sister," Becker addresses an old, shameful family secret. (more)
