GREENVILLE, Pa.—Thiel College Department of English faculty member Sheila Gross, Ph.D. ’10 presented an academic paper at the Research Society for Victorian Periodicals Annual Conference hosted by the University of Stirling, Scotland, this past summer.
Titled “Place in the Victorian Press,” this year’s international conference took place in Scotland and was held on June 13-15. The conference brought together presenters from North America, the United Kingdom, Europe, and abroad who explored how the idea of place or location impacted the publications within and publishing process of Victorian periodicals. In addition to panel presentations and keynote addresses on the topic of place, the conference also highlighted place by incorporating Scottish culture in the conference events, including a cèilidh band at the conference reception, where presenters were taught traditional cèilidh dances.
Gross, an Assistant Professor of English and alumna, presented her paper, “(Re)placing Magic with Marriage: Anne Thackeray Ritchie’s ‘Sleeping Beauty in the Wood’ in the Cornhill Magazine.” Her presentation explored how traditional fairy tales, such as Sleeping Beauty, transform when magical elements are removed and replaced with marriage and courtship. This exploration connects to Gross’s overarching research interest of recognizing how some female writers in the Victorian Era began to critique marriage expectations and allowed women more space for social mobility within a marriage, especially within the genre of fairy tales.
About Thiel College
Thiel College is an independent college founded in the Lutheran tradition. Located in Greenville, Pa., the College offers 60 majors and minors, 24 varsity sports, and an 11:1 student-faculty ratio. The College is also home to a new Master of Science in speech-language pathology and 2Master of Business Administration. Both master’s degree programs offer innovative and accelerated five-year paths which allow students to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years. The speech-language pathology program also has an accelerated 15-month graduate-level program. The M.B.A. program also has a 12-month post-graduate program.A dedicated faculty paired with dynamic research and internship opportunities produce numerous graduate school and job placements. Coeducational from its beginnings, the College remains committed to combining tradition with innovation as it celebrates 150 years.