“The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.” - Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy, Novelist and Philosopher (1828-1910)
We were extremely fortunate to have been invited to sit down with Dr Dana Heller, newly appointed ODU English Department Chair, to discuss the proposed Gay Cultural Studies Post Doctorate position the university will soon offer. Meeting briefly with Dr Heller at the inaugurate reception held this past July at the home of Tim Bostic and Tony London was a real privilege. To be granted an interview was certainly an honour for which I am most appreciative. Having read a number of Dr Heller's books and articles has already made of me a fan of the distinguished authoress and the chance to become acquainted with her was an extraordinary opportunity for me personally. teej beck
Sitting down with Dr. Dana Heller to discuss the proposed endowment for the Post Doctoral position that ODU's College of Arts & Letters is to offer in Gay Cultural Studies was initially to be a q&a, an account of the program and an address to our readers to get involved. However the woman who for twenty years has openly and actively, though unofficially, been counsel for the ODU student body seeking resources and direction on matters of diversity and sexual studies who has alone and in her own time fostered/mentored innumerable scholars proved to be equally fascinating. While of course we have much to share with you on this very worthwhile campaign for the endowment it would be less than efficacious and certainly improvident to not expand on the integral role Dr Heller of in the institution of the proposed position and she herself.
Dana, is without question brilliant, educated certainly, degrees earned from prestigious institutions such as Goddard College, Columbia University and City University of New York where she attained her PhD, she is also fascinating as a story teller, her mastery of language most evident as she easily recounts the chronicles of her adventurous life. Humourous with an amazing wit and great laugh that takes one by surprise the first time they witness her let loose. A professional manner that betrays the charming and truly delightful core earns respect and duly so as she is an impressive woman. Equally interesting and interested she communicates clearly and precisely without condescension but sincere care to relate effectively. Dr Heller, an accomplished authoress, now working on her 8th/eighth book, the most recent and yet to be published is about the work of John Waters, under-sung American filmmaker, actor, writer, journalist, visual artist and art fancier. Other works include "The Selling of 9/11: How a National Tragedy Became a Commodity" (New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005), her work examining the contradictory processes by which consumers communicate and construct national identity through cultural and symbolic goods, "Cross-Purposes: Lesbians, Feminists, and the Limits of Alliance" (Indiana University Press 1997), a collection of fifteen interdisciplinary essays on the history, current, and evolving shape of lesbian alliance with the American feminist movement; Exploring the social and aesthetic significance of the distinction between "lesbian" and "feminist" with the interest of reforming and strengthening the popular use of the labels. (some of her works can be found right here and purchase through Amazon.com via our site is encouraged.)
Articles by Dr Heller have national and international relevance, culturally insightful reflections and observations that illuminate her ponderous mind. Articles including "Anatomies of Rape." American Literary History 16.2 (2004): 329-49, "Idiot Nation: Holy Fools, Secular Saints, and Illiterate Saviors in American Literature and Popular Culture." CLC Web: Comparative Literature and Culture: A WWWeb Journal. 5.3 (2003). http://clcwebjournal.lib.purdue.edu/clcweb03-3/heller03.html, "Russian 'Sitkom' Adaptation: The Pushkin Principle." Journal of Popular Film and Television. 31.2 (Summer 2003): 60-72. "How Many Lesbians Does It Take To Screw in a Lightbulb" (Co-authored with Janet Bing). Humor: International Journal of Humor Research 16.2 (2003): 157-182 topics range from the serious and thought invoking to the witty and humourous, characteristic of Dana.
Dana is a widely sought after lecturer, speaking engagements around the world have been attended, viewed and heard by millions. Her teaching docket includes American Studies, Popular Culture(s), Gender Studies, Post-modernity, The History of the Subject and research endorsements include American Studies, Popular Culture(s), Gay and Lesbian Studies, Comparative Cultural Studies. A world traveler with teaching engagements in Russia, Belarus, Georgia and other national and international locales. Dr Dana Heller's impressive recognitions include a Fulbright Senior Specialists grant to teach at the European Humanities University in Belarus.
The Fulbright Scholar Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and managed by the Council for International Exchange of Scholars. The purpose of the Fulbright Scholar Program is to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The Senior Specialists Program, which was created to compliment the 55-year-old traditional Fulbright Scholar Program, aims increase the number of faculty and professionals who have the opportunity to go abroad on a Fulbright.
One would think that such an impressive individual would have an ego to suit but in the case of Dana Heller just the opposite is the case. Humble and sincerely so she conveys the fact of the matter that it took work, hard work, dedication, knowing herself, her abilities and what she could do with the resources she had access to in the times she did that made her as she is today.
We sat down in her old digs on her last day occupying the Humanities department, the remnants of a long tenure evident in the self styled office. She proudly shared the improvements to wall and window coverings to be her own doing. "I have raised the property value around here," she beamed as I commented on the stylish Ralph Lauren metallic faux finished walls and the snazzy modern blinds in a highly polished aluminium finish. Though in the process of moving, having already for a week now been chair of the English department and between the two offices, and despite the office a disarray in accordance with the move, her personality was everywhere and it was inviting, friendly and comfortable. I immediately felt welcomed and relaxed. Dana is a gracious host.
Dana related her first experiences at ODU as a bold brazen upstart fresh out of CUNY with the ink not yet dry on her PhD ready to come south and move the more reserved and differently motivated Virginians into the progressive sweep she was familiar with in her native New York. She learned quickly that allies were not always as easy to come by here in Virginia even if they shared her ideas, beliefs and desires. People are frightened of change and often feel impotent when comes to making way for progress. Dana took note of who she was, where she was and then realized that patience was a virtue she must quickly develop if she were to pursue achieving her deep rooted goals. It did not take Dana Heller 20 years to achieve the position, party or power to encourage the progresses of a Gay Cultural Studies Post Doc position. It took 20 years for the time to be right, the world needed to catch up with this forward thinker. And Dana realized this early on, fortunately so... otherwise the opportunity may have been forever lost or quashed long before the seed could germinate. Winning friends and making allies is part of the process, but the fact Dana most attributes the current propelling of her long time goal of realizing a diverse and integrated curriculum into motion is time. The time being now right, the convergence of so many variables having come to be so and now being the ideal time for action, now is when Dr Dana Heller activates. Dana knew her long time mission was coming to realization when Dr. Avi Santo, came to her and encouraged her to act on behalf of the university community.
Approaching Dean of Arts and Letters Chandra De Silva, Heller could not imagine the response from the dean, "I think it is a wonderful idea (the Post Doctorate position in Gay Cultural Studies), my only question is 'why have we waited so long?'" So now strong with courage, conviction and support from the university; facility, the student body and now the dean, Dr Heller set to developing ODU Pride.
Once having realized the group ODU Pride, Campaign for an endowment for the Gay Cultural Studies Post Doctorate position, the organization is making progresses with the support of the university, the community, the student body, fellow facility and are well on the way to realizing the 20 year ambition of ODU's English Department Chair.
“The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.” - Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy, Novelist and Philosopher (1828-1910) the first 20 years are the beginning, they have been filled with great achievements, amazing lessons and all preparations for the next 20 years. Newly promoted to chair of the English department after serving many years as department head for the Humanities department Dr Heller
is poised, prepared and positive as the path unfolds all in due course, all in its own time.
TOGETHERVA.com wishes to thank, Dr Heller for her time... and her patience. Seeing a purpose and recognizing the value to be such that it is Dr Dana Heller made a commitment to not wait for something to change but to make the change, her wisdom to realize that timing cannot be forced nor should be, that building the foundation is elementary but building the foundation strong and solid with careful attention to the details is everything, Dr Dana Heller is making the world a better place.
To our readers Dr Heller encourages us to and I quote "Learn"
The Post Doctorate position in Gay Cultural Studies at ODU:
The proposed Post Doctoral position for Gay Cultural Studies at Old Dominion University is a 1 year term, with option for a second year renewal, that pending the recipients area of expertise will be rotated throughout the College of Arts and Letters various departments while being housed in the Humanities Department. The Institute of the Humanities administers the Master of Arts Program in the Humanities curricula offered by the College of Arts and Letters.
Five of Virginia’s colleges and universities currently support curricula and offer programs in sexuality and LGBTQ studies. ODU's College of Arts & Letters does not have a single dedicated faculty member offering courses on LGBT issues, sexuality studies or Queer Theory. An omission that has become acute at the graduate level, as students are writing masters theses and doctoral dissertations on topics that require advanced theoretical and methodological knowledge of sexuality and gender studies.
The program suggested by the ODU PRIDE Post Doctorate Endowment emphasizes interdisciplinary studies, cultural studies, and critical studies that allows for students to pursue individualized programs of study that incorporate work from multiple humanities disciplines.
The selected candidate would be responsible for teaching a 1/1-course load (one class in the Fall semester and one in the Spring semester). One of the courses would be a recurring graduate seminar in sexuality/gender studies while the other course would be an undergraduate offering in the scholar’s area of expertise.
ODU Pride Post Doc is an endowment campaign geared towards raising money for the proposed Post-Doctorate position in Gay Cultural Studies at Old Dominion University. The goal of the organization is to raise 1,5 million dollars to generate a perpetual endowment that would afford the university this much needed position without strain on the already under budgeted College of Arts and Letters.
In order to reach their projected need of 1,5 million dollars much campaigning needs to be done and beginning the events calendar on August 26th at the newly established Baron and Ellin Gordon gallery in ODU's campus village the ODU Pride Post Doc will host a silent auction and gathering. Area Artist's will be contributing works for auction to begin building the coffers for this much needed and much desired position. Please attend and make your contribution to seeing that diversity is represented, celebrated and encouraged at one of America's finest learning institutions.