Women in Kent: Gender, Creativity, Place

 

Wednesday, September 12

4:30-6:00 pm

Panel One: Women of Kent/Women of the World (Kent Free Library, 312 W. Main St.)

Suzanne Holt (moderator) is Professor in Kent State’s Center for Study of Gender and Sexuality—and one of the Center’s original partners. Her teaching career began in 1979 at Cincinnati Bible Seminary, continued in 1982 in English at Kent State University, migrated to the KSU’s School of Communication in 1984. Her work in Women’s Studies commenced in 2002; she was appointed Director of the Program in 2008. She had B.A.s from Cincinnati Bible College and Milligan College – in Education and English; an M.A. in English, her Ph.D. in Communication – both from Kent State. Her research and teaching focus has centered on “difference,” its legacies embedded in language and culture, its embodiment in identity politics, its categorical impact on formations of self and “other.”

Loubna Bilali is originally from Morocco. She is an assistant professor in Translation Studies at Kent State University. She holds a Ph.D. in Translation with a focus on localization from Kent State University, Master’s degrees in Translation (French-English) from Kent State and in Cross-Cultural Communication and Translation Studies from Chouaib Doukkali University in Morocco, where she also completed her undergraduate studies in English Linguistics. She has moved to Kent about 10 years ago to pursue her graduate studies. Throughout these years, she has enjoyed so much working with international students and participating in orientation programs for both graduate teaching assistants and international students in their journey to adjust to life in north east Ohio. A few years ago, with other international graduate students, she founded the KSU International Women Group as a female-focused and men-inclusive organization that aims at creating a social platform for international female students, scholars and women otherwise connected to KSU to socialize and exchange experiences, ideas, and voice their interests, and aspirations.

Born and raised in India, Dr. Sanhita Gupta moved to the US when she was 27. After completing her education at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), she worked as a scientist in research labs at CWRU and the State Health Lab of Louisiana. She started working at Kent State University Geauga in 2009 as an adjunct instructor and became a full time faculty member in 2010.

Françoise Massardier-Kenney is Professor of French, Director of the Institute for Applied Linguistics, and co-director of GURI (Global Understanding Research Initiative) at Kent State University where she teaches in the graduate program in translation.  She is the editor of the American Translators Association Scholarly Series.  Her publications include Gender in the Fiction of George Sand (2001); Translating Slavery: Gender and Race in French Abolitionist Writing 1780-1830 (1999, 2009), and Ourika and Its Progeny (2010) with Doris Kadish. She has translated Madame de Duras’ Ourika (1999), Sand’s Valvèdre (2007), Antoine Berman’s Toward a Translation Criticism (2009); and authored numerous articles on Sand, nineteenth-century women’s writers, race and translation.  She is the co-editor with Carol Maier of Literature in Translation (2010) and has co-directed NEH Institutes (2015 and 2017) titled “What’s Gained in Translation”

Suwatana (Pla) Rockland came to Kent State University as an MFA Candidate in Theatre Studies, with a concentration in Costume Design. This is her last year in this program. She is a former professional dancer, actress, director, choreographer, and designer. Suwatana has worked on Industrials, Commercials, Television Shows and Stage Productions. Before moving to Ohio, she worked in Thailand, Arizona and Colorado.  At Kent State, Suwatana has been involved in both Theatre and Dance Productions and has work with her husband (Dance Professor Jeffrey Rockland), to develop an international exchange and collaboration (East Meets West) between Kent State University and her Alma Mater, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University (SSRU – Bangkok, Thailand). This fall, in addition to designing costumes for a main stage production “Emilie La Marquise Du Chatelet Defends Her Life Tonight,” she will be presenting at an international conference in Thailand, after which she will guest teach for SSRU in Bangkok and Patravadi Theatre Hua in Thailand.

 

Panel Two: Northeast Ohio Historians Write the History of Northeast Ohio Women (Kent Historical Society, 237 E. Main St.)

Jack Amrhein (moderator) is a graduate of Kent State University with a degree in social studies and a minor in secondary education. He received his Masters degree in Instruction in 2003 from Marygrove College. Jack worked as a social studies teacher in the Kent City Schools for 32 years. He has served on Kent City Council and the Kent Board of Health since 2008. Jack has served on the board of trustees of the Kent Historical Society for the past 23 years, the last three as President.

Dr. Donna M. DeBlasio received her BA and MA in history from Youngstown State University and PhD from Kent State.  After fifteen years in the public history field, she returned to YSU, where she is a Professor of History and Director of the Center for Applied History.  She is also editor of Ohio History.

Dr. Elaine S. Frantz is a historian at Kent State who has lived a nomadic life. Born in Columbus, she lived in eight states around the country before returning (sort of) to Ohio. She works on the Women’s Crusade of 1874, a massive national women’s movement against alcohol that was centered in Northeast Ohio.

Dr. Molly M. Sergi is the lead faculty of History at Kent State University Geauga Campus in Ohio. She has taught at Kent State University for over twenty years.  Areas of research include minority history, women, Native Americans, and African American history, World War One, and 18th and 19th c America.

 

7:00-8:30

Lecture: “A Witness to Death: Emily Nash, Nineteenth Century Professional Mourner”  Prof. Molly M. Sergi (Kent Free Library)

Thursday, September 13

4:30-6:00 pm

Panel One: Kent Women Write (Last Exit Books and Coffee Shop, 124 E. Main St.)

 

Dr. Tammy Clewell (moderator) is a professor of English at Kent State University.

Sandra Perlman is an award winning playwright and teacher with more than a dozen productions from the Cleveland PlayHouse to Kashmir, India, Published by Dramatic Publishing, Smith & Kraus and Middle Tennessee Press, her play Swann has been optioned by a Swedish film director.

Dr. Nicole Robinson is the author of a chapbook of poems, The Slop of Giving In, the Melt of Letting Go (p2b press, 2008), and her recent poems can be found in Connotation Press, The Fourth River, Great River Review, and elsewhere. She is the recipient of an Individual Excellence Award for poetry from the Ohio Arts Council and is currently the Writer-in-Residence at Akron Children’s Hospital.   

Dr. Catherine Wing is the author of two collections of poetry, Enter Invisible and Gin & Bleach. She teaches at Kent State University and serves as the Director of the NEOMFA, the nation’s only consortial program in Creative Writing

 

 

Panel Two: Kent Women Preach (Kent Historical Society, 237 E. Main St)

Dr. Suzanne Holt (moderator) is Professor in Kent State’s Center for Study of Gender and Sexuality—and one of the Center’s original partners. Her teaching career began in 1979 at Cincinnati Bible Seminary, continued in 1982 in English at Kent State University, migrated to the KSU’s School of Communication in 1984. Her work in Women’s Studies commenced in 2002; she was appointed Director of the Program in 2008. She had B.A.s from Cincinnati Bible College and Milligan College – in Education and English; an M.A. in English, her Ph.D. in Communication – both from Kent State. Her research and teaching focus has centered on “difference,” its legacies embedded in language and culture, its embodiment in identity politics, its categorical impact on formations of self and “other.”

Rebekah Benner, a Unitarian Universalist for over 25 years, is an independent interfaith minister, hospital chaplain, death midwife and Grief Recovery Specialist, who drums and sings as much as she is allowed (tolerated). Rebekah is on the Professional Advisory Group, for Clinical Pastoral Education, at the Cleveland Veteran’s Healthcare Administration, where she serves as on call chaplain for Pagan patients. Founder and Director of the Terra Amma Spiritual Center and Art Studio she facilitates drum circles, meditation groups, and provides mentoring and spiritual guidance. A member of Ethical Metalsmiths, and a Jeweler for Social and Environmental Responsibility, she creates jewelry, spiritual items, and home décor in recycled copper, sterling and silver plate, using Fair Trade and locally sourced gems and beads.
Rebekah is a frequent speaker in colleges, church groups and government agencies on interfaith diversity with an emphasis on neo-paganism, and Earth-Centered Spiritual paths. She travels in the U. S. and Canada as a church service leader for the Unitarian Universalist Churches.

The Rev. Julie Cory became a second career pastor after working for many years in the field of education and publishing. She answered a long time call to ministry in 2009 and served in Chillicothe, Ohio before coming to First Christian Church, Kent in 2015. She is concerned with social justice issues and the way the church may continue to bring about change in local and global communities. 

Born in Buffalo, The Rev. Julie Blake Fisher worked in Virginia, Maryland and Nebraska before coming to Kent in 2006 to become the first women minister in the 180-year history of Christ Episcopal Church. She brings her background in organizational development, economic revitalization, arts administration and fiber arts to her work as a preacher, pastor and community leader.

 

 

 

7:00-8:30 pm

Lecture: “Identity, Place, and World Traveling” Prof. Mariana Ortega (Kent Free Library, 312 W. Main St.)

 

Friday, September 14

4:30-6:00 pm

Panel One: Kent Women Scholars (Hillel Center, 613 E. Summit St.)

Dr. Liz Smith-Pryor (Moderator) is an associate professor of History at Kent State as well as a resident of Kent. She is interested in thinking about the history of race, gender, and equality.

Gail Diane An Ohioan for most of her life in four different regions, in Kent area since 1994. Areas of interest and study: history, particularly local and Ohio history; literature; writing; religion; and health. An adult education teacher in corrections for a non-profit agency for 16 years.  A yoga teacher in corrections and in the community.

Dr. Suzanne L. Holt is Professor in Kent State’s Center for Study of Gender and Sexuality—and one of the Center’s original partners. Her teaching career began in 1979 at Cincinnati Bible Seminary, continued in 1982 in English at Kent State University, migrated to the KSU’s School of Communication in 1984. Her work in Women’s Studies commenced in 2002; she was appointed Director of the Program in 2008. She has B.A.s from Cincinnati Bible College and Milligan College – in Education and English; an M.A. in English, her Ph.D. in Communication – both from Kent State. Her research and teaching focus has centered on “difference,” its legacies embedded in language and culture, its embodiment in identity politics, its categorical impact on formations of self and “other.” 

Dr. Rachael Blasiman is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences at the Kent Salem campus. She investigates student success, learning, and memory, and promotes scholarship on teaching and learning throughout Northeast Ohio. She has spent most of her life among the cows and corn fields of Columbiana County, OH.

Dr. Velvet Landingham is an Associate Professor at Kent State University. She received her doctorate from Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management in 2004. Her accomplishments include publications and presentations in numerous referred journals and international conferences. She has published several book chapters in edited volumes and a range of articles in journals such as International Journal of Learning, International Journal of Business Strategy, and International Journal of Knowledge, Culture and Change Management.

 

 

Panel Two: Kent Women Make Music! (Kent Hotel and Conference Center, 215 S. Depeyster St.)

Dr. Matthew Crawford (moderator) is a resident of Kent and an associate professor in the Department of History at Kent State University. He is a lifelong musician, who has played guitar for over thirty years. A native of New Jersey, he played in many different kinds of bands – from heavy metal to jazz – in high school and college including gigs at CBGB in New York City and Club Passim in Boston. He has recorded three studio albums and, in the last two decades, he has focused primarily on writing instrumental songs for acoustic guitar and performing at open mics including an occasional appearance at the Wednesday night open mic at the Venice Cafe in Kent. 

Susan Chunn is a public school music teacher currently teaching general music and choir in grades K, 4 and 5 in the Hudson City School District. Susan is a National Board Certified Teacher and holds degrees in music education from the University of Illinois and Kent State University.

Melanie Fioritto is a performer, singer songwriter from Cleveland Ohio. Performing under the moniker Miss
Melvis, she has released 17 recordings and appears on a total of 25 albums. In early 2010, she met Texas troubador
Alejandro Escovedo, moving to Austin, and performing with his band at venues across the United States, including a
show in front of “The Boss”—Bruce Springsteen—at his favorite Jersey Shore haunt, The Stone Pony. Prior to moving to
Texas,  Melanie was well-known for her role as front woman and guitarist for Cleveland’s celebrated noise improv
group the Flat Can Co. Her newest project, Duo Decibel System, is a musical collaboration with drummer John Scully.

Caitie O’ Shea is Akron born and raised and has been playing in punk bands both local and national for over 20 years. The Balboas just celebrated their 20th anniversary with a new release. Other bands she’s in or has been in include Dead Federation, First Offense,and her current Akron band,the Ruminators.

Mary Plazo has been playing and performing in local bands off and on since 1997. She has mostly played in rock bands but has also played folk and spiritual music. Mary is also the manager of the Special Collections Division, also known as Local History and Genealogy, at the Akron-Summit County Public Library where she has worked for 23 years.

 

 

7:00-8:30

Lecture: “The Business of Being Outside the Masculine Fray: Starting a Creative Business in Northeast Ohio,” Anne Trubek, Founding Editor of Belt Publishing (Kent Hotel and Conference Center, 215 S. Depeyster St.)