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English Department Faculty News
Jane Wood and Lolly Ockerstrom chaired panels and gave presentations at the 40th Annual Northeast Modern Language Association Convention in Boston Feb. 26th -- March 1st, 2009. Jane Wood presented "Perusing the Menu: the Gendered Politics of Travel and Dining," and she also proposed and chaired a session titled, "Literary Modernism and Modern Art: Intersections of Creativity." Lolly Ockerstrom presented "Palimpsest, Pastiche, and Pastel: Writing War in Stein, Picasso, H.D., and Dove" on the Literary Modernism Panel, and she also proposed, and chaired the panel, "Wordsworth, Social Responsibility, and Pedagogy."
Jane Wood, Ph.D., received the “Outstanding Online Course Developer” award from the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. Dr. Wood, associate professor and chair of the English Department, was honored at a luncheon March 4, 2009. Dr. Dennis Okerstrom presented "The Inner Side of Laughter: The Humor Of Mark Twain" on Tuesday, February 17th at 6:30 at the Central Library as part of Kansas City Public Library series "Twain and His Times." The library is celebrating the life and work of Mark Twain throughout the month of February with a free series of events.
Jane Wood kicked-off the Kansas City Public Library series "Twain and His Times" with her presentation, "Not So Innocent Abroad: The Travels of Mark Twain," on Monday, Feb. 9th at 6:30 at the Central Library. The library is celebrating the life and work of Mark Twain throughout the month of February with a free series of events. Dennis Okerstrom will be presenting the next event in the series with "The Inner Side of Laugher: The Humor Of Mark Twain" on Tuesday, February 17th at 6:30 at the Central Library. Please join us for Dr. Okerstrom's presentation.
British Poetry Companion Book Garners Award for Brackett Brackett featured in Pittsburg State University online newsletter
English Faculty present scholarly papers at the 18th Annual International Viriginia Woolf Society Conference at the University of Denver. From left to right: Dr. Virginia Brackett, Dr. Jane Wood, Dr. Lolly Ockerstrom
"Landscapes of Literature": Study Abroad in Northern EnglandSeven Park students accompanied Lolly Ockerstrom, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of English to the English Lake District in Cumbria, northern England in July on a study abroad course, "Landscapes of Literature: Rambling and Reading with the Wordsworths and the Brontės." The group spent two weeks visiting sites important to poet William Wordsworth in the Lake District, including Dove Cottage in Grasmere; the Wordsworth childhood home in Cockermouth; and Rydal Mount in Rydal, where Wordsworth spent his final and more prosperous years. Hawkshead Grammar School, which Wordsworth and his brother attended, was a favorite with the students. It was founded in 1585 under a Royal Charter from Queen Elizabeth I. At the new Jervis Center, the Wordsworth Archives in Grasmere, the students listened to a talk on Wordsworth by author and Wordsworth scholar, Pamela Woof, President of the Wordsworth Trust, which had been especially prepared for Park students. Park University students Loretta Baker, Amelia Brandt, Laura Cornett, Davis Noble, Adenike Orekoya, Jaimie Robeson, and Tammy Russo hiked the fells, including Easdale Tarn on the Coast to Coast Walk above Grasmere, and the prehistoric Castlerigg Stone Circle in Keswick. The group also walked trails around Grasmere Lake; Loughrigg Tarn; and the "Coffin Trail" that connects Rydal Mount and Dove Cottage. While in England, students read poetry, wrote in their journals, and enjoyed conversations with English hikers on trails and during dinner at the Glenthorne Country Guest House, where the group stayed in Grasmere. The group was thoroughly engaged in English culture—so much so, no one complained about the rain (and in fact, never seemed to notice it). Even "the last herd in Grasmere" became a familiar sight, and the students grew fond of the last cows to be walked daily from their farm about a mile from the guesthouse to pasture, with Lakeland collies nipping at their heels to keep them on track. The entire experience was quintessentially English, including 4:00 o'clock tea every day, and ample opportunity to interact with English people. While in Cumbria, the group also visited Hill Top, the farm of Beatrix Potter (author of the famous Peter Rabbit books for children), near Sawry, not far from Hawkshead. The final days of the trip were spent in Haworth, Yorkshire, the home of the Brontė sisters on a bleak moor very different from the lush and dramatic landscapes of the Lake District. They hiked across the rugged Yorkshire moors to Top Withins, the ruins of the stone house that inspired Emily Brontė's novel, Wuthering Heights. Angela Markley-Peterson from the Office of International Affairs and Education accompanied the group during the first week; Keith Snyder from the Academic Support Center also travelled with the group. This Study Abroad course will be offered again in the summer of 2009. For more information, contact the Office of International Affairs and Education, Herr House 4, at Park, or see Dr. Ockerstrom at 321 Copley.
Associate Professor Dennis Okerstrom is honored with the Distinguished Faculty Scholar Award, established by Dr. Manuchari Ebadi, a Park University Alumnus. Dr. Okerstrom is pictured above with Park University's President, Dr. Beverley Byers-Pevitts.
Department Chair, Associate Professor Jane Wood, was honored with the 2008 College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Outstanding Department Chair Award. From left to right, President Beverley Byers-Pevitts, Jane Wood, and Dr. Amber Dailey, Associate Professor and Director of CETL (Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning). --------------------------------- University Resources |
