Faculty:
Elizabeth (Beth) Currans joins EMU from the College of William and Mary where she was Visiting Assistant Professor of Women’s Studies for 2 years. Her Ph.D. is in Religious Studies with an emphasis in Feminist Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara (2007). She received an M.A. in Folklore from the University of Oregon (1999) and a B.A. in English from Colorado State University (1994), both accompanied with certificates in Women’s Studies.

Her research interests include public protest; grassroots activism; performance studies; feminist, queer, and critical race theory; cultural geography; and the intersections of gender, race, and sexuality in cultural life. She is working on a book manuscript titled Engendering Publics: Women’s Public Demonstrations in the 21st Century U.S. based on ethnographic research about public protests coordinated and attended primarily by women. Arguing that these marches, rallies, and vigils are focal points for cultural conversations about gender, sexuality, rights, and violence, she insists that scholars and activists must consider how public space is used for cultural and political purposes. Currans is also doing collaborative research about the Santa Barbara, California anti-war movement with two other scholar-activists (Mark Schuller and Tiffany Willoughby-Herard), which explores how gender, sexuality and race influence coalitional organizing and uses of public space in a local movement. Articles from both projects are currently under review.

She has extensive teaching experience in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies including courses addressing feminist and queer activism. This fall she will teach “Introduction to Gender and Sexuality Studies” and “Feminist Thought,” and looks forward to teaching “Theories of Sexuality” and other topical courses in upcoming semesters.



Tania Grytsenko

Student:
Fulbright Scholar, Tania Grytsenko, Shares her Backround

I have had many varied experiences related to gender studies, which have strengthened my desire to learn more. In 2006 I graduated the University with the major Social Pedagogy, Pedagogy and technique of secondary education, English language and English literature and got a Specialist’s Degree. I became interested in gender studies and chose the topic for my diploma project from this field: “Gender policy as a basis of social work with women abroad”.

I entered the University as a candidate for the degree of Master in Pedagogy of Higher Education. In 2007 I defended the diploma project on the theme: “Gender studies as a new alternative educational practice abroad” and got a Master’s degree. Since 2008 I’m a PhD student of the Institute of Higher Education of Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine with a speciality in Philosophy of Education. As you see, while studying I’ve defined a theme that interests me the most and found myself with a desire to learn more.

I intend to continue enlarging my knowledge in gender issues studying here at EMU. The experience and the knowledge that I’m supposed to get as a result of studying in the U.S.A. will, as much as possible, be used for the improvement and development of Ukraine’s gender education.