Burton – As part of their 50th Anniversary Celebration, Kent State University at Geauga will be hosting monthly luncheon talks. All talks will be at noon and held in the William T. and Margaret R. Clark Commons at the Geauga Campus in Burton, 14111 Claridon Troy Road.
In celebration of Women’s History Month, on March 18, Bari Oyler Stith, Ph.D, will embark on an entertaining and enlightening saga of the influence women have had in forming this county, state, and nation in her presentation:
“O The Joys of Pioneering: Vision and Reality for Women on the Western Reserve Frontier.”
Bari Oyler Stith, Ph.D., is currently Director of Ursuline’s Historic Preservation program and has been adjunct faculty in History at John Carroll University since 1993. She previously served as Geauga County Archivist for 18 years.
A native Buckeye, she enjoys living on an 1847 farm in Geauga County and investigating the built environment and natural landscapes of 19th century Ohio. When on break she explores the American West with her sister in a Jeep Wrangler.
She earned her Ph. D. in American Studies, as well as her M.A. in American Studies and Museum Studies, from Case Western Reserve University, leading to specialties, presentations, and publications in 19th century American women, family, community, and education. In addition to her activity in historic preservation and heritage interpretation, Dr. Stith has worked actively in archival preservation, oral history, and exhibit development since beginning her public history career at Western Reserve Historical Society while she was a graduate student at CWRU.
Her current research projects focus on the intersections between community identity, heritage, and preservation in frontier and rural communities with special emphasis on women’s experience and the importance of place in personal and community identity.
And a word of warning – Dr. Stith believes that all of her students are as fascinated by history as she is because who doesn’t love detective work and storytelling???!!!
Future Programs:
• Tuesday, April 8:
o April is Alcohol Awareness Month. The Geauga County Sheriff’s Department will share some facts and figures on the impact alcohol abuse has on the county and ways the Sheriff’s Department combats this plague.
• Wednesday, April 30:
o Lynda Nemeth, Geauga County Tourism Director:
“Take the Geauga County Tourism Challenge & be a “Tourist in your own Backyard” for National Tourism Week!
The public is encouraged to attend these informative Lunch and Learn presentations. They are guaranteed to be both engaging and educational. Bring your lunch or share our pizza. All programs start at 12 noon and will conclude by 1:00pm. Join in the celebration of Geauga County’s only university, Kent State University, as the Geauga Campus celebrates 50 years of educating today’s leaders and the leaders of the future.
