(Posted October 12, 2009)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Two Juniata College professors who have been involved with the college's study abroad program for decades will give a talk on "Study Abroad in Mexico: The Universities of Guanajuato and Veracruz" at 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 21 in Neff Lecture Hall in the von Liebig center for Science on the Juniata campus.

The lecture is free and open to the public. The Bookend Lecture series features afternoon lectures each month by Juniata College faculty.

Kim Richardson, professor of education, and Ruth Reed, professor of chemistry, will report on their visits to two of Juniata's study abroad sites: the University of Guanajuato and the University of Veracruz. Juniata recently signed an agreement with the Guanajuato institution for direct exchange with Juniata students and the University of Veracruz has been a partner with Juniata through Brethren Colleges Abroad for decades.

The talk will cover each university's locale, the university structure and the advantages and disadvantages of each site as a study abroad opportunity for Juniata students.

Reed joined Juniata's faculty in 1976. She earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Winthrop College in South Carolina and earned a Fulbright grant for study at the University at Göttingen, Germany before earning a doctoral degree in biochemistry at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

She was part of the first Juniata faculty exchange with Catholic University of Lille, France in 1980 and later directed Juniata's Foreign Exchange Program. She has taught all levels of college chemistry from introductory chemistry through biochemistry, organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, and molecular biology.

She received the 1993 Beachley Distinguished Professor Award for outstanding teaching.

Richardson became part of the faculty of Juniata in 1979. She served as a professor in language and literacy methods courses, supervisor of elementary school student teachers, and as department chair. She was named associate dean of academic affairs from 1990 to 1996, where she directed the Office of International Programs.

She earned a bachelor's degree from Duke University, and went on to earn a master's degree in elementary education at Old Dominion University. She earned a doctorate from Temple University.

She received the Lindback Foundation Award for Distinguished Teaching in 1983 and the Beachley Award for Academic Service in 1996.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.