Women's Studies Faculty

The Director's Welcome Statement

Research Summary John Younger 213 E Bailey Hall 864-2211 jyounger@ku.edu

Hello!

I'm delighted and honored to have been invited by the faculty of the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program to be its newest director.

And a little humbled, too, for the Program (in its earlier guise) is one of the oldest and most respected in America (see the chronological outline of its history).

This past year has seen some major changes in our Program: a new WGSS minor in Human Sexuality was approved and is now up and running (I had the great pleasure of working with Charlene Meuhlenhard on that proposal).

Last Spring, the Program in Women's Studies changed its name to Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Read the fascinating letter from my predecessor Ann Cudd, detailing the rationale.

And, to continue the Program's development, we are in the midst of formulating a proposal for a PhD in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; if it is approved, we hope to begin implementation in 2009.

I am very excited to be part of these developments.

Let me close by saying a little bit about myself (to know more than you'll ever need to know, visit my website). I'm an archaeologist with research interests in the art of ancient Greece, both prehistoric and classical (yes, the picture above is me at Olympia this summer). But I have also specialized in the lives of ancient women and in ancient gender and sexuality and have several articles and a major book on these subjects.

Just to round out the picture: I'm a newcomer to KU, joining the faculty in 2002, being lured away from 27 years at Duke University. I love dogs (have 3) and motorcycles (have 1).

And I love being at KU and in Lawrence!

I urge anyone interested in the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program (or in motorcycles, ancient art, or dogs) to drop by and chat. Please do!

Cheers!

JohnY