PCAL Calendar

In politics, the old adage “having a seat at the table” is often used to refer to those in positions of power, influence and policy making. This poster exhibit highlights a few of the women who have held political office and had “a seat at the table” in decision making for the Commonwealth.

This exhibit tells the stories of freshmen year from participants in a student success intiative, WKU Freshmen Guided Pathway (FGP). This cohort of first-time, full-time students who graduated from one of five high schools in Warren County represent the typical WKU freshman in terms of academic achievement prior to admission and their demographic makeup.

FGP assists students as they negotiate the often difficult affective and academic shifts between high school and college. Learn more about the program in this exhibit, presented by the Kelly M. Burch Institute for Transformative Practices in Higher Education, Office of Strategic Communications and Marketing, the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, the WKU Center for Literacy, and the Kentucky Museum.

Gazing Deeply showcases how WKU’s backyard—the unique landscape of Mammoth Cave—is being studied, interpreted, and inspiring action on environmental change. Coinciding with the UNESCO Conservation of Fragile Karst Resources: A Workshop on Sustainability and Community and Earth Day’s 50th anniversary in 2020, this exhibition is a collaborative effort between arts and science faculty and students that highlights one of the most well-known and vital natural landscapes in the world. 

This exhibit traces the history of Kentucky women in politics and political activism, featuring artifacts from the Rather-Westerman Collection and the America United/Divided project. 

History suggests that as “big business” started to take hold in the late 1800s, women became more involved in business and working outside the home. However, few women owned companies. Those that did were in industries centered on women, such as home goods, apparel, or personal care.

Today, women own only 40% of businesses in the U.S., making Carrie Burnam Taylor’s business of the early 20th century that much more impressive. Curated with Dr. Carrie Cox, this exhibit will explore Taylor's life and work, displaying three of her dresses, two coats, two bodices, and various undergarments recently conserved thanks to our Adopt-an-Artifact program.

More Information

Folk Studies MA Alumni Roundtable:

Lilli Tichinin (’14) was the graduate assistant for Kentucky Folklife Program and concentrated in Public Folklore. After graduating she worked as Accessibility Coordinator for the Smithsonian Folklife Festival and as an oral history intern for the National Park Service.  She is now the Folk Arts Program Coordinator for the New Mexico state arts agency, New Mexico Arts.

Eleanor Hasken-Wagner (’16) concentrated in Public Folklore and wrote thesis was entitled: "Performing Gender in Bowling, or, 'I Was in Shock Other Girls Could Bowl."  She is a recent graduate of Indiana University, with a PhD in Folklore & Ethnomusicology and a minor in History. Her dissertation is titled: "The Migration of a Local Legend: The Case of Mothman." She is now the Museum and Historic Sites Supervisor for the city of Frankfort, KY.

Sarah Shultz (’17) wrote a thesis entitles "Nightmares in the Kitchen: Personal Experience Narratives About Cooking and Food," about kitchen "fails" and performances of identity. She is currently a PhD candidate at the Memorial University of Newfoundland in the Folklore Department and is working on finishing her dissertation, which focuses on spicy food as a culinary tourist attraction in London in the United Kingdom and Nashville, Tennessee. 

For more infomrtaiton, Contact Dr. Ann Ferrell, ann.ferrell@wku.edu

Join us for Russian Nesting Doll Painting!