Holy Cross Announces 1st Female Recipient of Rev. John E. Brooks, S.J., Professorship in the Humanities, 2002-2005

WORCESTER, Mass. – Professor Karen Gottschang Turner of the history department has been named the Rev. John E. Brooks, S.J. Professor in the Humanities. This rotating professorship is awarded to Holy Cross faculty for a term of three years.

Turner is the first woman faculty member in Holy Cross history to hold an endowed chair. She has been an active scholar, committed teacher and involved member of the Holy Cross community since 1983.

The College will honor Turner with two events on Thursday, October 17 in rooms 304 and 305 of the Hogan Campus Center. From 3:30 - 4:00 p.m. members of the community are invited to a reception and a display of scholarship by women faculty in a variety of disciplines from throughout the College. From 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. there will be a panel presentation that will address the question, "How has being a feminist influenced your scholarship and teaching?" Panel presenters include Turner and four other faculty from the College's Women's Studies Concentration, which celebrated its tenth anniversary last year. Both events are free and open to the public.

Turner earned her B.A. in history from Southern Illinois University, her M.A. in Asian studies from Yale University, and her Ph.D. in history from the University of Michigan. Specializing in Chinese and Vietnamese history, she has also studied at Beijing University.

At Holy Cross, Turner was instrumental in the development of the Asian Studies program. She also served as the first director of international studies and was involved with the study abroad program. In the late 1980s she led two Holy Cross groups on academic tours of China. Meanwhile, as a professor of history she has created and taught a series of new courses on women in Asia, law and human rights in Asia, and Vietnam's American War. The recipient of several academic awards and honors, Turner was also one of the first Holy Cross faculty members to receive an O'Leary Faculty Research Award in 2001.

Turner is the author of numerous books including Even Women Must Fight: Memories of War from North Vietnam (1998). One critic stated, the book is "a scholarly work that proves the best research can have deep human interest" (S. Ming, Morning Post, June 11, 1999.) In addition, Tuner has directed a documentary film on women and war and has published articles in numerous anthologies and academic journals. She has lectured at colleges and conferences around the United States and Europe.

In addition to her role as a professor of Chinese and Vietnamese history at Holy Cross, Turner is also a Senior Research Fellow of East Asian Legal Studies at Harvard Law School. She also serves on the board of directors of the Warring States Working Group in Amherst and is an elected member of the International Council of World Affairs.