Paula Ressler, professor of English education, is the 2007 recipient
of the David Strand Diversity Achievement Award at Illinois State
University.
Ressler is the 14th recipient of the award, which was established and endowed by President Emeritus David Strand to honor a faculty or staff member whose efforts result in heightened sensitivity to diversity on campus. Ressler will be honored Thursday, Feb. 15, at the Founders Day Convocation in Braden Auditorium and will receive a check and her name on the Strand Diversity Achievement Award plaque on the Wall of Fame in Bone Student Center.
Ressler is author of the book, “Dramatic Changes: Talking about Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity with High School Students Through Drama,” a book that follows her work since 1988 and which describes the innovative drama work she has done in various educational settings to address lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues. The book won the American Alliance for Theatre and Education Distinguished Book Award in 2003.
An Illinois State faculty member since 2000, Ressler also has written numerous journal articles and book chapters dealing with the teaching of English as well as issues of sexual orientation and gender identity. Before coming to Illinois State, she held teaching positions in New York City and in Massachusetts.
“Dr. Ressler has worked ceaselessly to build understanding of the nature and importance of diversity, to support individuals and groups who are marginalized because of their race/ethnicity, and to confront injustice,” said Tim Hunt, chair of the Department of English. “She understands that supporting diversity is both a matter of responding to the immediate needs of individuals and groups and also a matter of transforming our fundamental institutions and practices - and thus transforming our fundamental personal, social, and political values.
“Dr. Ressler's recent work with the University's Urban Teaching Preparation initiative, the Bloomington-Normal Safe Schools Program, and current institutional work and research in support of expanding curriculum and programs in GLBT Studies are clear instances of her holistic and wide-ranging approach,” he said.
Past recipients of the Strand Diversity Achievement Award are Alison Bailey, Nancy Tolson, Christopher Horvath, Kim Pereira, Marilyn Boyd, Maria Canabal, Madeleine Hoss, Ming-Gon John Lian, Maura Toro-Morn, Louis Perez, Ron Strickland, Julia Visor and Savario Mungo.
