The third lecture in the St. Norbert College Distinguished Lecture Series will discuss the public images of select American First Ladies – how society influences their public image, and how they, in turn, influence society.
Dr. Cheryl Kalny
This topic proves to be an historical subject as well as a current issue, as the public image of First Lady Michelle Obama has received a lot of notoriety since President Obama’s inauguration. “First Ladies and Their Public Images: Roosevelt to Obama” will be presented at the Door Community Auditorium (DCA) by Dr. Cheryl Kalny, Adjunct Assistant Professor of History at St. Norbert College, on Saturday, February 12, 2011, at 9 am.
Dr. Kalny provided a brief description of her lecture.
“As a social historian, I am interested in examining how the times influence the roles First Ladies play in American history, and how various First Ladies, themselves, redefine the role of this non-official, yet very powerful, position in presidential politics,” says Kalny. “A glance at select examples of First Ladies from Eleanor Roosevelt to Michelle Obama also reveals how society plays a role in shaping the public images of First Ladies, while these women, themselves, often change societal views and expectations.”
Cheryl Toronto Kalny was born and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota. She received her Undergraduate degree from Mount Mary College, Milwaukee, in 1973, her Masters in History from Gonzaga University, and her Ph.D in American History from Marquette University in 1989. Kalny has taught U.S. History and Women’s Studies at St. Norbert College and at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay for many years. She considers herself an activist scholar; teaching, lecturing and publishing on women’s rights. Her most recent publication is, “Women’s Rights in the United States,” Chapter included in Women’s Rights: A Global View, Lynn Walter ed., Greenwood Press, 2000.
All lectures begin at 9 am and are free and open to the public. The Lecture Series is sponsored by Dahl Law Firm, LLC and Ross Estate Planning. AppleCreek Resort – Motel & Suites has provided lodging for Dr. Kalny. Ecology Sports Base Camp will provide refreshments for purchase. Please call the box office at 920.868.2728 for more information, or visit the DCA Web site at www.dcauditorium.org for full lecture topic descriptions.
