| Biography:
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Because of my interest in folktales and Germanic and Classical mythology, I was attracted to the field of children's literature, where this type of literature is taught. At EMU I have retrained to teach in this field.
Since 1986, I have been associated with Academic Programs Abroad at EMU and have taught on four European Cultural History Tours and two Asian Cultural History Tours. Several faculty members take a group of students on a semester-long tour of important historical and cultural sites of Europe/Asia, offering eight courses connected with the sites we visit. Students may earn up to 15 hours academic credit in history, political science, literature, and art history.
On these tours I have taught: Reading of Literature, Readings in European Literature, The Hero in European Literature, The Journey in European Literature, Modern Asian Fiction, and Asian Mythology.
I have received a number of awards for my work: the Michigan Council for the Humanities Grant; Sabbatical leave (1989-1990); Michigan Teaching Excellence Award (1991); National Endowment for the Humanities Grant (1994);Diversifying the Curriculum Grant, EMU, (1999).
I am also an active member of the EMU community. I was a Member of the Bargaining Council, AAUP (1999-2000); a Member of the Departmental Graduate Committee (1998-2001); a Member of the Departmental Advising Task Force (2000); a Member-at-Large of the Executive Committee of the EMU-AAUP (2001-2002), and a Member of the Cross-Cutting Committee on International Initiatives and Programming of the University Strategic Planning Committee (2001) |
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| Courses:
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| Introduction to Children's Literature
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| Multicultural Children's Literature
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| World Mythology
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| English Words
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| History of the English Language
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| The Journey in Literature
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| Critical Approaches to Mythology
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| Major Genres
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| Writing About Controversy in Books for Young Readers
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Recent Publications: |
"The Great Goddess, Her Origins and Historical Development"
"Laying the Cosmic Egg: The Influence of Creation Myths on Cultural Attidtudes"
"Evidence of Ancient Greek Attitudes toward Death Found in Burial Practices"
"Mythical Images"
"Monster-Basher or Protector of the People: Versions of Beowulf for Young Readers"
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