Dr. Leigh-Ann Bedal, assistant professor in anthropology at Penn State Erie, the Behrend College, will present "Constructed Paradise: Conspicuous Consumption and the Petra Garden and Pool Complex" at 2 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 6, in the Ostermayer Room of the Student Community Center. Bedal received her degrees from California State University, University of California, Berkley (master's degree) and the University of Pennsylvania (doctoral degree), and specializes in Near Eastern archaeology, urbanization and garden archaeology. She has excavated in Iraq, Syria, Israel, Italy and Jordan, and is the project director of the Petra Garden and Pool-Complex Excavation in Jordan.
Bedal?s appearance is a part of the Teaching the Middle East 2011-12 speaker series sponsored by Penn State Greater Allegheny?s Teaching International, Greener Allegheny, and honors programs.