Gaudeamus

Nilsa Lasso-von Lang, assistant professor of Spanish, attended the 16th International Symposium on Latin American Indian Literature and Art, July 9-14 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She presented a paper on the textile folk art or molas of the Kuna Yala Indians of San Blas, Panama. A mola combines traditional Kuna culture and contemporary influences.

Theresa Dougal, associate professor of English, has a review of Bridget Hill’s Women Alone: Spinsters in England, 1660-1850 in the spring issue of The Age of Johnson: A Scholarly Annual. Theresa and Joyce Hinnefeld, assistant professor of English, attended the annual Virginia Woolf Conference, this year at Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts. It was titled “Virginia Woolf in the Reel World,” coming as it did on the heels of the Academy Award-winning film adaptation of Michael Cunningham’s The Hours (based on Mrs. Dalloway).

Khristina Haddad, instructor of political science, and Lisa Fischler, assistant professor of political science, attended the American Political Science Association meeting over Labor Day weekend in Philadelphia. Khristina gave a paper on Hannah Arendt (who is, not coincidentally, the subject of her dissertation). Lisa made contact with her publisher.

The kickoff event for this year’s United Way drive resulted in 24 crates of art supplies for the clients of Turning Point of the Lehigh Valley, a facility for abused women.

Incoming!

Amber Peck Kortbawi ’00, help desk assistant for CIT, has copied the personal files of herself and her husband, Joe, by producing a daughter, Alexa Simone, August 8.

Jonathan Kastin, visiting professor of philosophy, and his wife, Stephanie, who is working on a Ph.D. of her own in philosophy at City University of New York, have a new matter to ponder: Ruth Sophia, born August 22.

Joan Gilmore, former assistant director of learning services, is the mother of Sarah Elizabeth, born August 13. Dad is Tom Gilmore, an assistant football coach at Lehigh.

Kathleen Miller has been named instructor of physical education and women’s lacrosse coach. She also will assist the women’s soccer coach and the athletics budget manager. Kate graduated in 1990 from Temple University and has been at Bryn Mawr College for 10 years as women’s lacrosse and women’s soccer coach, assistant athletics director, and senior women’s athletics administrator. She is working toward a master’s degree in education at DeSales University.

Dan Venditto has added assistant bookstore manager to his title (merchandise coordinator) and responsibilities in the HUB Bookstore.

Farewell

Karen Britt, assistant dean of continuing and graduate studies, left that position August 29. She will be teaching math in the Allentown school district, and we wish her well in this important work. Santo Marabella has been named interim assistant dean.

Errare humanum est

James Gold ’98, the new director of major gifts for the Seminary, does come from a Moravian College family, but his brother is Douglas ’01. Also, their grandfather was a founder of East Hills Moravian Church in north Bethlehem, but he was not a minister.

Reverend Earl Shay ’41, ’44 (M.Div.), who died August 21, held the Edward Rondthaler Chair of Practical Theology at Moravian Theological Seminary from 1968 until his retirement in 1985. He attended Lutheran Theological Seminary, Philadelphia. (Mount Airy Seminary is just a nickname.) Memorial gifts should be sent to Grace Moravian Church in Center Valley, where he was a member but not the pastor. Thanks to David Schattschneider ’60, dean emeritus of the Seminary.

Here’s a tip of the hat to Oscar Cruz Jr. ’03 of the
Media Center from Joe Shosh ’88, assistant professor of education and director of the M.Ed. program.

“As part of my seminar on Urban Issues: Literacy and Resistance,” Joe says, “teachers from throughout the Lehigh Valley came together this summer to record books on tape. They featured prominent writers of works for young adults, including Avi, Richard Peck, Jerry Spinelli, Jacqueline Woodson, and Walter Dean Meyers.

“Oscar compiled the readings onto cassettes and made copies of the masters, which will be used by struggling readers in secondary classrooms this fall. Thanks, Oscar, on behalf of Lehigh Valley schoolchildren.”