The biannual Board of Directors meeting was held at Hofstra University on Long Island Nov. 1, 2003. Draft minutes may be found on our web page at www.nemla.org. Some important decisions were made that bear specific mention, however. The Board limited some panel sessions beyond requests for 2nd panels as it felt that as a juried convention, NEMLA needs to continue to remain competitive. Other news:
There are many exciting events planned already for the upcoming convention in Pittsburgh, PA March 3-7. Panels will be scheduled, as has been the case for several years now, for Fri. and Sat. only. Thurs. March 4, tentatively scheduled from 5-8 p.m., will be an opening reception at the Warhol Museum. I urge you to sign up for this event, either when registering for the convention or separately if you've already registered (see p. 2). Reservations for the Warhol Reception must be prepaid and preferably received BY Jan. 1, 2004. Please help to make the reception a success and join us in celebrating the NEMLA convention's 35th anniversary!
We are very excited to report that NEMLA President Antonio Cao has secured Gustavo P�rez Firmat of Columbia University as Keynote Speaker for Friday night. A general reception will follow. Dr. Firmat is currently the David Feinson Professor of Humanities at Columbia University. A poet, fiction writer, and scholar, he has authored numerous books, including Next Year in Cuba, which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in non-fiction in 1995, and Life on the Hyphen, awarded the Eugene M. Kayden University Press National Book Award for 1994, the Latin American Studies Association's Bryce Wood Book Award, and Honorable Mention in the MLA's Katherine Singer Kovacs Prize. His forthcoming book is Tongue Ties: Logo-Eroticism in Anglo-Hispanic Literature (Palgrave Macmillan). "Tongue Ties" will also be the title of his keynote address.
Among other special events are the Spanish Ministry's special annual session on contemporary Spanish writers featuring two poets who will discuss their own work, the status of Spanish poetry, and the outlook for the future; a reading by Swiss writer Hugo Loetscher, arranged jointly between the Swiss consul and the German Division of NEMLA; also, an appearance by Dr. Carmen Valle, poet and New Yorker, arranged by the Women's Caucus. The Women's Caucus breakfast will be Sat. at 7:00 a.m. Either sign up for this when you register for the con-ference, or contact Ruth Anolik (see p. 2).
In addition, there will be a Department Chair's Caucus organized for the second time by Neil H. Donahue, NEMLA Board member. A Fulbright Workshop will be provided by Fulbright representatives. A book exhibit will feature several fine presses.
Caucus receptions: The Hispanic, German and Gay/Lesbian/Trans-gender/Bisexual Caucus will have receptions Sat. evening.
Hotel Arrangements: The biggest aid you can give to NEMLA is by reserving rooms in the convention hotel, and making sure that when you make your reservations they are being included in our "room block." Book your reservations with the Omni William Penn, 530 William Penn Pl., Pittsburgh PA 15219 by calling Reservations (412) 553-5009; FAX (412) 553-5239. Room rates: single/double $109 (pretax). Reservations MUST be made BEFORE 1 Feb. 2004. Please make sure they note that you are attending the NEMLA conference.
Special events in Pittsburgh: In addition to the opening reception Thurs. in the Warhol museum, note the Germanist reception hosted by the University of Pittsburgh German department will be Sat. 5-7. We hope to be able to schedule other events and will keep you posted.
NEMLA fellowships: Because of the expense of funding them, our two fellowships through the American Antiquarian Society were at least temporarily discontinued by the Board. However, the two summer travel fellowships deadlines are approaching. Please send your proposals to Rita Bode, Trent University, Peterborough ON Canada K9H by Jan. 28. For more information.
NEMLA needs: Apparently there is a shortage of Modern Language Studies 32:1 (Spring 2002, "Whiteness" issue). The Board prefers not to have to go to the expense of reprinting the issue and asks members to send ANY copy they can spare to NEMLA Executive Director McQuail for libraries which did not receive this issue. MLS 32:2 will be coming out shortly. Laurence Roth will be taking over as editor with the next volume. Many thanks for their work are due to Executive Editor Michael Kiskis and his assistant Julia Flanders. Michael Kiskis performed an invaluable contribution by serving as editor at a difficult time and did a fabulous job.
At the NEMLA Executive Board meeting, candidates were reviewed for vacant positions on the NEMLA Board of Directors. The following candidates were approved. For the single candidates, we ask the membership to indicate approval. For the two candidates for English/American Director, we need to ask for endorsement of one or the other. Please use the ballot below OR the ballot that you received by e-mail. Send to Michelle Tokarczyk **.
Matthew Wilson, Ph.D., English; Affiliation: Capital College - Penn State, Harrisburg
Brief Biography: Matthew Wilson (Ph.D., Rutgers), Associate Professor of Humanities and Writing is currently Humanities Graduate Coordinator in the School of Humanities, Capital College - Penn State Harrisburg. He has also served as Secondary Education English Coordinator, Undergraduate Coordinator, and acting School Director. He has published in composition studies and on a range of contemporary American novelists — the African American writers, John Edgar Wideman and David Bradley, two essays on Philip Roth, and an essay on John Updike. His edition of Charles W. Chesnutt's manuscript novel, Paul Marchand, F.M.C. (1998) was published by the University Press of Mississippi and was favorably reviewed in the Sunday New York Times Book Review. In addition he has published essays on Charles W. Chesnutt in Prospects, American Studies, and College Literature, and his book, Whiteness in the Novels of Charles W. Chesnutt will be published by the University Press of Mississippi in Fall 2004.
Goals: I would like to bring my considerable administrative experience (at Rutgers University and Penn State Harrisburg) to serve in the position of Second Vice-President. I have been a member of NEMLA for the last eleven years and have participated regularly as a presenter and as a panel chair. I believe I could help to build on the strengths of the organization and to insure that the conventions continue to be a success for a range of scholars, from graduate students through established scholars. In practical terms. I would like to explore ways to diversity the format of the convention, and to help to continue to bring scholars of the stature of Homi Bhabha to the convention (and to continue to have a significant presence for creative work at the convention - like the session at the 2002 convention in which Frank Bidart and Louise Gluck read their poetry.) NEMLA has been a kind of professional home to me over the last decade; it's the conference I have attended the most regularly, and I would now like to give back to the organization by serving in the position of Second Vice-President.
Nilgun Anadolu-Okur, Ph.D. English; Affiliation: Temple University, Philadelphia PA
Brief Biography: Nilgun Anadolu-Okur teaches literature, women's studies and intellectual heritage at Temple University. Her research and publications include topics in American and African American drama, literature and folklore. She is the recipient of two international Fulbright awards. She has been a Commonwealth Speaker for PHC (Pennsylvania Humanities Council) since 1994. At present she is the Chair for the Status of Women Committee at Temple University. Her most recent book is titled Contemporary African American Drama. (Post-doc.1989; Ph.D.1984; M.A. 1979; B.A. 1977)
Goals: If elected my goal is to serve NEMLA rightfully; to help initiate membership; support clarity in purpose and reach new audiences within the parameters already defined in our by-laws. I already feel privileged to be a member of NEMLA. What else can be done? In my opinion reaching to new scholars in our field by organizing poetry, drama or fiction contests once a year will enhance our ability to communicate our goals and attract new membership.
Marilyn Rye, Ph.D., Comparative Literature; Affiliation: College at Florham, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Madison, NJ 07904
Brief Biography: Marilyn Rye, who holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from Rutgers University, is an Associate Professor of English, Assistant Provost, and former Director of the Writing Program at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison, NJ. She is a past president of New Jersey College English Association, recently served as the Women's Caucus Representative on the NEMLA Executive Board, and continues to serve on the Women's Caucus Advisory Board. Since joining NEMLA, Marilyn has presented twelve papers and organized nine panels. In addition to a composition anthology, she has published articles on detective fiction, women writers, and composition. Her recent publications include "Changing Gender Conventions and the Detective Formula: J. A. Jance's Beaumont and Brady Series" and "Using Composition Strategies in the Literature Classroom to Develop 'Critical Readers' and 'Critical Relativism.'" Marilyn is currently editing an anthology on contemporary Indian Anglophone writers.
Goals: As a board member I would work to strengthen NEMLA as a forum that promotes scholarship, professional development, mentoring of junior scholars, respect for diverse backgrounds and theoretical approaches, and a renewed focus on our role as educators. My top priority would be to develop a stable and active membership base, and to extend national and international interest and participation in NEMLA. I am also committed to ensuring that NEMLA remains a financially healthy organization.
Laureano Corces; Ph.D., Spanish; Affiliation: Fairleigh Dickinson University
Brief Biography: Laureano Corces is an Assistant Professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University, and holds his Ph.D. from New York University. Though his dissertation was on the Modern Spanish Theater, he also took a specialization in peninsular literature which included additional coursework on Latin American literature. He received a Ma�trese in drama and theatre with an honorable mention from the Sorbonne. He also holds a B.A. in Business Administration. He has published extensively on the theater, the experience of translation, and Spanglish. He has been active in NEMLA since 1999.
Goals: Nominated by both Noelle Caruggi and Antonio Cao, Dr. Corces would truly like to serve. [in the absence of a formal statement by Professor Corces this is taken from his original application]
No candidate has stepped forward; position still vacant.
Complete BALLOT and return by snail mail or email by Jan. 1, 2004.