A West Virginia University alumna will return to her alma mater for a book reading as part of the Helen Coast Hayes Lecture Series.

Dr. Dixee Bartholomew-Feis will speak at 4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 30, in the Robinson Reading Room of the Wise Library on WVU’s Downtown Campus. She will read an excerpt from her new book, “The OSS and Ho Chi Minh: Unexpected Allies in War Against Japan.” The event is free and open to the public. The reading will be followed by a short question-and-answer session and a book signing opportunity.

Dr. Bartholomew-Feis is a native of Monongalia County and a graduate of Clay-Battelle High School. She is currently an associate professor of history at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa.

She is a 1987 summa cum laude graduate of WVU’s Eberly College of Arts and Sciences with a bachelor of arts degree in history, international relations (Asian emphasis) and French. She was also Phi Beta Kappa at WVU. She earned a master of arts degree in secondary education from The College of William and Mary in 1989. She graduated from The Ohio State University in 2001, with a Ph.D in history. Her major field of study was Asian history, and her minors included military and modern Middle Eastern history.

Her book, “The OSS and Ho Chi Minh: Unexpected Allies in the War Against Japan” was published in 2006 by the University Press of Kansas. It explores the once-cooperative relationship between the United States and Vietnam War enemy Ho Chi Minh.

“It is a special delight to welcome Dixee back to campus where she began as an outstanding undergraduate student and now returns as a important young scholar with a distinguished first book,” said Jack Hammersmith, a professor of history who taught Bartholomew-Feis as undergraduate at WVU.

The Helen Coast Hayes Lecture Series was established in 1998 by an endowment that provides permanent support for annual lectures on peace studies. The series explores a variety of topics in the humanities that affect peace, including the literature, history, sociology, psychology and philosophy of peace.

For more information, please contact Dr. Jack Hammersmith at Jack.Hammersmith@mail.wvu.edu or at 304-293-2421, ext. 5235.

Dee Dee Strimel, the regional PEIA Pathways to Wellness coordinator, announced today that the WVU Libraries is the November Worksite of the Month.  She lauded the Libraries’ wellness program for coordinating activities and being responsive in the administration of programs.  She also praised the Libraries’ employees for their extensive participation.  Recent programs include a nutrition activity called “5 a Day;” a stress reduction series called “Stress Less, Be Your Best;” and a walking program called “Walk 100 Miles in 100 Days.”   Each activity is coordinated by a Wellness Committee member:  Sherry Steadman, Barbara Lagodna, Susanne Rasmussen, Carroll Wilkinson, Kristi Truban, and Linda Blake.  The Libraries’ staff benefit from these health and wellness activities thanks to the support of Myra Lowe, Associate Dean of Libraries, and Frances O’Brien, Dean of Libraries. 

Submitted by Linda Blake