The Penn State Laureate for 2014-2015, Dr. Susan Russell,will be presenting during common period on Wednesday October 8.
The focus of Dr. Russell?s laureate year is on dignity. She deals with strong and difficult topics, but this presentation is focused on the strategy of change through identifying what is dignified behavior for yourself and your neighbor, and how that behavior can be a part of your moment-to-moment life. She has developed a website, dignity.psu.edu, and is inviting everyone at the campuses she visits to provide examples and contribute to the discussion.
Dr. Russell graduated summa cum laude with a doctorate in theatre studies from Florida State University in 2008. She received her undergraduate degree in theatre from St. Andrews Presbyterian College in Laurinburg, N.C. in 1979. She has served as a cultural ambassador and advocate at the University Park campus and in the State College community. Dr. Russell teaches playwriting, history of American musical theatre, women in theatre, and graduate literature and criticism seminars.You may view one of Dr. Russell?s past presentations on YouTube.
The Penn State Laureate, an honorary position established in 2008, is a full-time faculty member in the humanities or the arts who is assigned half-time for one academic year to bring an enhanced level of social, cultural, artistic and human perspective and awareness to a broad array of audiences. The individual appears at University events at Penn State campuses and throughout the state at various community programs in hopes of adding a more human dimension to the conduct of the usual affairs and businesses of these locations. As laureate, Professor Russell plans to highlight, promote and enhance the programs at Penn State and in surrounding communities that work to address the many social challenges faced by young people.