SU Celebrates Women's History Month in March

SALISBURY, MD---Poet Francine Sterle continues this year's Women's History Month celebration at Salisbury University with a reading of her work as part of SU’s Writers-on-the-Shore series 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 12, in the Montgomery Room of the Commons. Sterle is the author of Nude in Winter, The White Bridge and the Tupelo Press Editor’s Prize-winning Every Bird Is One Bird. Her poems have appeared in a number of literary journals, including The North American Review, Nimrod, The Beloit Poetry Journal and Atlanta Review. They also have been anthologized in 33 Minnesota Poets and The Cancer Poetry Project.

Long-time Delmarva television newscaster Kelley Rouse stars as fiercely independent artist Georgia O’Keeffe in the production O’Keeffe — Sunset of an Artist 7 p.m. Thursday, March 14, in the Black Box Theatre of Fulton Hall. Directed by Nancy Mitchell of SU’s English Department, the two-act play, by Martha Furey, depicts the first woman in the American Modern Art Movement in her twilight years as she reminisces about her passion for art and life. A slideshow of works by O’Keeffe, selected by University Galleries Director Liz Kauffman, precedes the show at 6:30 p.m.

Misty Copeland, the first African-American female soloist in more than 20 years at New York’s American Ballet Theatre, discusses her distinguished career 2 p.m. Monday, March 25, in the Bennett Family Auditorium. Her talk is made possible, in part, by a grant from the Salisbury Wicomico Arts Council, awarded by the Maryland State Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.

The series culminates with the discussion “Trailblazers: Changing ‘Women’s Work’” 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 26, in the Bennett Family Auditorium. Panelists from a variety of backgrounds share their experiences. They include NASA engineers Lissette Martinez and Jaya Bajpayee, Salisbury Police Chief Barbara Duncan, and former Coalition of Labor Union Women President Kathy Black. Those who cannot attend the event in person may participate in the Twitter conversation using the hashtag #sutrailblazers.

Throughout the month, Blackwell Library features the display “Inspiration, Innovation, Imagination,” featuring examples of faculty and staff teaching, scholarship, art, service and honors relating to the national Women’s History Month theme, “Women Inspiring Innovation Through Imagination.”

Sponsored by the Women’s History Month Committee, admission to all activities is free; however, donations are accepted. Marjorie Hill of SU’s Art Department has created an original ceramic work into which donations may be placed. The artwork will be present at each Women’s History Month event.

The public is invited. For more information call 410-543-6030 or visit the SU Web site at www.salisbury.edu.