LINDA C. DEMERITT DEAN OF THE COLLEGE 520 N. Main Phone

LINDA C. DEMERITT
DEAN OF THE COLLEGE
520 N. Main
Allegheny College
Meadville, PA 16335
Phone: 814-332-3393
Fax:
814-332-2796
Email: [email protected]
EDUCATION
1982: PhD in German literature, Michigan State University. Doctoral Dissertation: “New
Subjectivity and Prose Forms of Alienation: Peter Handke and Botho Strauß,” directed by Kurt
W. Schild.
1977: MA in German linguistics, University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.
1975: BA in German, Michigan State University, Magna Cum Laude. Participated in Junior
Year Abroad Program at the Albert Ludwig University in Freiburg, West Germany.
ACADEMIC HONORS
Member: Phi Beta Kappa Honorary Society (1975), Phi Kappa Phi Honorary Society (1975),
Delta Phi Alpha Honorary German Society (1974); Named to List of Excellent Teachers at the U
of I (1975-77); Member of the MSU College of Arts and Letters Honors Society (1973-75) and
the MSU Honors College (1972-75).
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
1996-present: Professor of German, Allegheny College.
Fall 1993 and 2001: Academic Director for Semester in Cologne Program, Germany.
1989-1996: Associate Professor of German, Allegheny College.
1982-1989: Assistant Professor of German, Allegheny College.
Summer 1981: German Teaching Assistant, MSU German Department Overseas Summer
Language Program in Mayen, West Germany.
1978-81: German Teaching Assistant, MSU German Department, East Lansing, MI.
1975-77: German Teaching Assistant, U of I German Department, Champaign-Urbana, IL.
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COURSES TAUGHT
Language
First through fourth semester – four skills language program
Advanced Grammar and Composition
Intensive Beginning German
Intensive Intermediate German
Self-paced Intermediate German
German Reading Knowledge for Graduate Students
Culture
Contemporary German Culture
The Language and Structure of the German Economy
Topics in Culture
Literature
Introduction to German Literature
The German Novella
Post-1945 German Literature
Post-1945 Women's Literature
German Literature of the 20th Century
German Literature of the 19th Century
Topics in German Literature: Literature as a Vehicle of Change
Courses taught in English
Word into Image: Twentieth Century German Literature and Film
Revolution in and through Drama
Alienation in Modern German Literature and Film
Literary Responses to the Holocaust
Study Tour: Viennese Classicism
Three-week interdisciplinary study tour in Vienna and Salzburg, taught together with Dr. Lowell
Hepler (Music Department). German courses offered: “Survival German” (beginning level) and
“Musical Texts” (third year level).
PUBLICATIONS
Books
Postwar Austrian Theater: Text and Performance, edited and with an introduction by Linda C.
DeMeritt and Margarete Lamb-Faffelberger (Riverside, CA: Ariadne Press, 2002).
German Grammar (New York: HarperCollins, 1994).
New Subjectivity and Prose Forms of Alienation: Peter Handke and Botho Strauß (New York:
Peter Lang, 1987).
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Translated Books
Renate Welsh, A House of Cards, translated by Linda C. DeMeritt and Beth Bjorkland,
introduction by Linda C. DeMeritt (Riverside, CA: Ariadne Press, 2002).
Elisabeth Reichart, Foreign and La Valse, translated and with an afterword by Linda C. DeMeritt
(New York: SUNY Press, 2000).
Articles
“The Proliferation of Reality: Postmodernism in Gert Jonke‟s Geometrischer Heimatroman,” in
Visions and Visionaries in Contemporary Austrian Literature and Film, ed. Margarete LambFaffelberger and Pam Sauer (New York: Peter Lang, 2004), 115-129.
“Staging Superficiality: Elfriede Jelinek‟s Ein Sportstück,” in Postwar Austrian Theater: Text
and Performance, ed. Linda C. DeMeritt and Margarete Lamb-Faffelberger (Riverside, CA:
Ariadne Press, 2002), 257-276.
“The War Between the Sexes: Gender Relations in the Works of Elisabeth Reichart,” in After
Postmodernism: Austrian Literature and Film in Transition, ed. Willy Riemer (Riverside, CA:
Ariadne Press, 2000), 283-297.
“Die Kunst des Erinnerns: Elisabeth Reicharts Das vergessene Lächeln der Amaterasu,” Script 17
(Dec. 1999), 17-23.
“Representations of History: The Mühlviertler Hasenjagd as Word and Image,” Modern Austrian
Literature 32.4 (1999), 134-145.
“Lebkuchenherz and Cultural Identity: Elisabeth Reichart‟s Nachtmär,” Modern Austrian
Literature 32.3 (1999), 85-99.
“Identity as Schizophrenia: The Autobiography of Peter Henisch,” in The Fiction of the I:
Contemporary Austrian Writers and Autobiography, ed. Nicholas J. Meyerhofer (Riverside, CA:
Ariadne, 1999), 61-79.
“Alienation or Orientation? Gerhard Roth‟s Der Stille Ozean,” Österreich in amerikanischer
Sicht 9 (1999), 19-27.
“The Possibilities and Limitations of Language: Elisabeth Reichart‟s Fotze,” in Out From the
Shadows, ed. Margarete Lamb-Faffelberger (Riverside, CA: Ariadne, 1997), 128-142.
“The Language of Love and War: Elisabeth Reichart‟s Fotze,” Script 8 (Dec. 1995), 36-38.
“In Search of a Personal Voice: Elisabeth Reichart,” feature story in Austria Kultur 5.5 (1995),
12-13.
“The Economics of Power and the Power of Economics: Elfriede Jelinek‟s „Nora‟ Drama,”
Österreich in amerikanischer Sicht 8 (1995), 32-41.
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“A „Healthier Marriage‟: Elfriede Jelinek‟s Marxist Feminism in Die Klavierspielerin and Lust,”
in Elfriede Jelinek: Framed by Language (Riverside, CA: Ariadne, 1994), 107-128.
“Handkes Antigeschichten: Der Kriminalroman als Subtext,” in Experimente mit dem
Kriminalroman (Lang: Frankfurt, 1993), 185-203.
“The Drama of Herbert Achternbusch,” Dictionary of Literary Biography: Twentieth-Century
German Dramatists (Gale Research: Detroit, 1992), 3-12.
“„Brecht...hat mir zu denken gegeben‟: Brecht‟s Die heilige Johanna der Schlachthöfe and
Handke‟s Die Unvernünftigen sterben aus,” Modern Language Studies 21.3 (1991), 76-90.
“Thomas Bernhard: Gargoyles” (568-570); “Thomas Bernhard: Der Untergeher” (1644-1646);
“Peter Handke: The Ride Across Lake Constance” (1292-1294); “Botho Strauß: Devotion” (396397); in Cyclopedia of Literary Characters II (Pasadena: Salem Press, 1990).
“Lights! Camera! Action! Videotaping in the Conversation Class,” with Richard A. Korb, Die
Unterrichtspraxis 23.2 (1990), 112-117.
“The Role of Reason in Heinrich von Kleist‟s „Der Zweikampf,‟” Colloquia Germanica 20.1
(1988), 38-52.
“Business German for the Liberal Arts,” Die Unterrichtspraxis 20.2 (1987), 288-293.
“Peter Handke: From Alienation to Orientation,” Modern Austrian Literature 20.1 (1987), 53-71.
Interviews
“„Für mich ist die Sprache eigentlich ein Schatz:‟ Interview mit Elisabeth Reichart,” with Peter
Ensberg, Modern Austrian Literature 29.1 (1996), 1-22.
“Imagination and Preconceptions: Interview with Rolf Niederhauser,” Modern Language Studies
24.3 (Summer 1994), 3-13, with Peter Ensberg and Jochen Richter.
“Documentation: Ein Gespräch mit Günter Kunert,” with Jochen Richter, German Quarterly 61.1
(1988), 97-108.
Publications for the Literary Encyclopedia (all entries between 1500 and 3000 words)
Elisabeth Reichart: Author Profile, 2007.
Elfriede Jelinek: Author Profile, 2004.
Jelinek's Lust, 2006.
Jelinek's A SportsPlay, 2006.
Jelinek's Nora, 2005.
Jelinek's Piano Player, 2005.
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Book Reviews (1994-2003)
“Decker, Craig, ed. Balancing Acts: Textual Strategies of Peter Henisch,” German Quarterly,
76.4 (2003), 453-454.
“W.E. Yates, Allyson Fiddler, and John Warren, eds. From Perinet to Jelinek: Viennese Theatre
in its Political and Intellectual Context,” Modern Austrian Literature, 35.3/4 (2002), 133-35.
“Elke P. Frederiksen and Elizabeth G. Ametsbichler, eds. Women Writers in German-Speaking
Countries: A Bio-Bibliographical Critical Sourcebook,” Monatshefte, 2001.
“Donald G. Daviau, ed. Austria in Literature,” Modern Austrian Literature 33.3/4 (2000), 180181.
“Petra Kiedaisch, Ist die Kunst noch heiter? Theorie, Problematik und Gestaltung der Heiterkeit
in der deutschsprachigen Literatur nach 1945,” Colloquia Germanica 31.2 (1998), 193-195.
“Gernot Müller, Man müßte auf dem Gemälde selbst stehen: Kleist und die bildende Kunst,”
Colloquia Germanica 30.3 (1997), 283-285.
“Marlies Janz, Elfriede Jelinek,” Modern Austrian Literature 30.2 (1997), 165-167.
“Peter Ensberg and Helga Schreckenberger, Kunst als Auflehnung gegen das Sein,” Allegheny
College Magazine 15.2 (1995), 22-23.
“Richard Arthur Firda, Peter Handke,” German Quarterly 68.1 (1995), 112-113.
“Helmut Koopmann, ed. Bürgerlichkeit im Umbruch: Studien zum deutschsprachigen Drama
1750 – 1800,” Colloquia Germanica 27.2 (1994), 179-180.
“Gerhard Fuchs and Gerhard Melzer, eds. Peter Handke: Die Langsamkeit der Welt,” German
Quarterly 67.1 (1994), 116-117.
“Joseph Federico, Confronting Modernity: Rationality, Science, and Communication in German
Literature of the 1980’s,” Modern Austrian Literature 27.1 (1994), 162-165.
“Caroline Markolin, Eine Geschichte vom Erzählen: Peter Handkes poetische Verfahrensweisen
am Beispiel der Erzählung ‘Langsame Heimkehr,‟” Modern Austrian Literature 27.1 (1994),
158-160.
“Christine Winkelmann, Die Suche nach dem großen Gefühl: Wahrnehmung und Weltbezug bei
Botho Strauß und Peter Handke,” Germanic Review 69.1 (1994), 45.
PRESENTATIONS AS DEAN
CIC/CLA Panel Presentation: “Does the CLA Measure Value Added?” (2008), Washington, DC.
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Annapolis Group Presentations: “Preparing Students for Study Abroad” (2007), “Family-Friendly
Policies” (2008), Annapolis, Maryland.
PRESENTATIONS AS FACULTY MEMBER
“Writing Resistance: Elisabeth Reichart‟s Komm über den See,” Austrian Writers Confront the
Past: 1945-2000, University of Pennsylvania, 2002.
“Reflections and Reality: Gert Jonke‟s Geometric Regional Novel,” East Coast Conference on
Contemporary Austrian Culture, Lafayette College, 2001.
“Contextualizing Grammar with Technology,” Mellon Foundation Mini-Conference, Washington
and Lee University, 2000.
“Tech-Talk II: Applied Methods with Technology,” Northeast Conference, Washington, D.C.,
2000.
“Reception of Taboo: The Mühlviertler Hasenjadg in Novel and Film,” East Coast Conference on
Contemporary Austrian Culture, Lafayette College, 1999.
“Elisabeth Reichart‟s Das vergessene Lächeln der Amaterasu: A Novel of Japan,” Modern
Language Association Convention, Chicago, 1999.
“The Drama of Elfriede Jelinek,” Modern Language Association Convention, San Francisco,
1998.
“„Hasenjagd‟: History as Image and Word,” Annual AATG Convention, Chicago, 1998.
“Parody in the Works of Elfriede Jelinek,” Annual AATG Convention, Philadelphia, 1996.
“The War between the Sexes: Gender Relations in the Works of Elisabeth Reichart,” East Coast
Conference on Contemporary Austria Literature, University of Delaware, 1996.
“Against Preconceptions: The Historic, Linguistic, and Sexual Challenge in Elisabeth Reichart‟s
Works,” Northeast Modern Language Association Convention, Montreal, 1996.
“Language and Change: Elisabeth Reichart‟s Fotze,” Conference on Literature and Film, Florida
State University, 1995.
“The Economics of Power and the Power of Economics: Elfriede Jelinek‟s Dramas,” Annual
AATG Convention, 1993.
“Elfriede Jelinek‟s Marxist Feminism: Die Klavierspielerin,” Duquesne University, 1991.
“Gerhard Roth‟s Novel Der stille Ozean,” Symposium on Twentieth Century Austrian Literature
and Culture, University of California, Riverside, 1991.
“Lights! Camera! Action! Videotaping in the Conversation Class,” Annual AATG/ACTFL
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Convention, Nashville, 1990.
“Passion in the Eighties: The Love Stories of Elfriede Jelinek and Botho Strauß,” Northeast
Modern Language Association Convention, Toronto, 1990.
“„Brecht has given me cause for thought‟: Brecht‟s Saint Joan of the Stockyards and Handke‟s
They Are Dying Out,” Conference on Literature and Film, Florida State University, 1988.
“Büchner and Handke: The Modern Experience of Alienation,” Georg Büchner: Image and
Influence, Carleton University, 1987.
“Gender roles and language in Peter Handke‟s They Are Dying Out,” Conference on Literature
and Film, Florida State University, 1986.
“Sprachskepsis? Sprachvertrauen? The Changing Role of Language in Peter Handke‟s Dramas,”
Northeast Modern Language Association Convention, Hartford, 1986.
“Goethe‟s Faust: The Feminine in Creativity,” Modern Language Association Convention,
Chicago, 1984.
“The Historical Novella of Jeremias Gotthelf,” Northeast Modern Language Association
Convention, 1984.
“New Subjectivity and Peter Handke,” Western Pennsylvania Chapter of the American
Association of German Teachers, 1983.
“Changes in Perspectives in the Work of Anna Seghers,” Michigan State University German
Symposium, 1979.
AWARDS and SCHOLARSHIPS
1997-2000: Awarded the National Endowment for the Humanities Research Chair, Allegheny
College.
Summers 1997-2002: Research at the Dokumentationsstelle in Vienna, Austria. Allegheny
College Faculty Development Grants.
Summer 1996: Research at the European College of Translators in Straelen, Germany and at the
Dokumentationsstelle in Vienna, Austria. Allegheny College Faculty Development Grant.
Summer 1993: Grant from the Institute of European Studies to attend a Faculty Development
Seminar on “Germany after Unification and the New Europe.” Matching funds supplied by
Allegheny College.
Summer 1992: AATG Seminar on “Austrian Landeskunde und Literatur.” Subsequent research in
Austria funded by Allegheny College Faculty Development Grant.
Summer 1989: Fulbright award to participate in the six-week Summer Seminar on German
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Civilization, West Germany.
Summer 1986: Research at the Deutsches Literaturarchiv in Marbach, West Germany. Allegheny
College Faculty Development Grant.
Summer 1985: National Endowment for the Humanities Fellow, eight-week Summer Seminar
with Walter Hinderer, Princeton University.
Summer 1983: Special Seminar for Teachers of German Business Language in Cologne, West
Germany. Allegheny College Faculty Development Grant.
1981-82: Recipient of an American Association of University Women Fellowship to support
dissertation research. Also awarded the MSU Graduate Office Fellowship and Hinman
Fellowship, awarded to one graduate student at the university each year.
Summer semester 1980: Interdisciplinary Seminar in German Studies, University of California,
Berkeley. Participation supported through a German Academic Exchange Program Scholarship.
1979: Recipient of the Outstanding Graduate Student Scholarship awarded by the German
Department, MSU.
1977-78: Fulbright in Graz, Austria.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
Member of the Chief Academic Officer Advisory Task Force, Council of Independent Colleges,
2005-2007.
Organized reading by Elisabeth Reichart and a panel on her works for the conference at the
University of Pennsylvania titled Austrian Authors Confront the Past, 2002.
President, MALCA (Modern Austrian Literature and Culture Association), 2001-2004; Past
President 2004-2007.
NEH Panel Evaluator, Collaborative Research, Washington, D.C., 2001.
Outside Evaluator for German Department, Lawrence University, 2001.
Moderator for two sessions at East Coast Conference on Contemporary Austrian culture,
Lafayette College, 2001.
Member of Bylaws Committee for Modern Austrian Literature and Culture Association, 2000.
Faculty Mentor in Teaching Partner Program (Ph.D. candidate at Ohio State University), 2000.
Outside evaluator for three tenure cases (Denison University, Bowling Green State University,
Lafayette College).
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Outside evaluator for two promotion cases (University of Michigan-Dearborn, U of Vermont).
Moderator for session on “Elfriede Jelinek,” East Coast Conference on Contemporary Austrian
Culture, Lafayette College, 1999.
Commentator for session on “Austria Inside Out,” East Coast Conference on Contemporary
Austrian Literature and Culture, Bowling Green State University, 1997.
Chairperson of session on “Texts as Constructs and Performance: Formal Experimentation and
Social Criticism in Austrian Literature,” Northeast Modern Language Association, 1997.
Elected Member of Executive Council, Northeast Modern Language Association, German
representative, 1995-1998.
Co-organizer of symposium on Contemporary Austrian Literature, Allegheny College, 1994, to
become the first of the East Coast Conferences on Contemporary Austrian Literature and Culture.
Evaluator for Fulbright applications for Summer Seminar on German Civilization, 1989, 1990,
Chair in 1991.
Reader for Colloquia Germanica, 1990 – 2004; Reader for Modern Austrian Literature, 1987 2004.
Chairperson of Swiss Literature Section for Northeast Modern Language Association
Convention, 1986.
Chairperson of Section on “Racism in Post-45 Women‟s Literature” for Modern Language
Association Convention, 1985.
Secretary of Swiss Literature Section for Northeast Modern Language Association Convention,
1985.
INSTITUTIONAL GRANTS (wrote and directed)
Bringing Theory to Practice: Leadership Coalition, AAC&U, $10,000 (2009).
Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, “Renewal of the Professoriate: Early Retirement Program,”
$750,000 (2008-present).
Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, “Pre-tenure Leave,” $250,000 (2006-present).
Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, “Teaching with Technology” (Department of Modern and
Classical Languages), $300,000 (1998-2002).
INSTITUTIONAL SERVICE
Appointed Dean of the College, 2003.
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Elected Member of Faculty Council, 2002-2003.
Member of the Technology Task Force, 2000-2001.
Member of the Curriculum Committee, spring 2001.
Member of the Ad Hoc Committee to evaluate the TEF, fall 1999.
Member of numerous search committees.
Member of the Summer Strategic Planning Group (Summer Working Group), 1997.
Chair of the Modern Languages Department, 1994-1998.
Elected Member of the Faculty Review Committee, 1994-1997; Chair from 1996-1997.
German Section Head, 1983-1994.
Member of Finance and Facilities Committee, 1986-1989; Co-Chair from 1988-1989.
Member of Institutional Review Board, 1983-1986; Chair from 1985-86.