Date: June 17, 2008
Contact: Lindsay Gladstone
Governors State University
Phone: (708) 534-7090
Fax: (708) 534-8399
Email: l-gladstone@govst.edu
For Immediate Release
University Park, IL, June 17, 2008 – Dr. Rosemary Erickson Johnsen, Assistant Professor of English in the College of Arts and Sciences at Governors State University was appointed recently to the Modern Language Association’s Committee on the Status of Women in the Profession.
The MLA is an international organization for university faculty in English and modern languages with more than 30,000 members in 100 countries. The association serves as a forum for the discussion and dissemination of scholarly findings, teaching experiences, and standardized writing guidelines as it works to strengthen the study and teaching of language and literature.
Johnsen of Steger was appointed to the nine-member committee for a three-year term. Other universities represented include Columbia and Princeton. Her duties will include developing projects and programs that improve the status of women in the modern language profession.
“This is an exciting professional opportunity for me and it is a chance to put the name of Governors State University and the important work we do here in front of more people,” said Johnsen.
In her appointment application, Johnsen highlighted her scholarship and continued research. Her book, Contemporary Feminist Historical Crime Fiction, was published in 2006. She also researched and designed the new Gender Studies program (pending ISBE approval) at GSU, the first course of which is to be offered in Fall 2008.
“I believe that the distinctive mission of GSU and our commitment to the returning adult student, many of whom are women, as well as our very diverse faculty made a GSU professor a valuable addition to the committee.”
For more information about the English and English Secondary Education programs and the proposed Gender Studies program at Governors State University, call (708) 534-4580 or visit www.govst.edu/cas.
