Eleftheria Bernidaki-Aldous

Detailed Curriculum Vitae

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Bernidaki - Aldous Eleftheria

Mail address: American College of Greece, 6 Gravias Street, Ag. Paraskevi 15342, Athens, Greece
Tel.: +30 210 6009800 ext. 1384
e-mail: ebernidaki@acg.edu, e.bernidaki-aldous@parliament.gr

Member of Greek Parliament (MP Nation- Wide) (March 2004 to September 2007)

American College of Greece, Deree
- Professor of Classics (1992 to Present)
- Holder of the Endowed Chair of Modern Greek Studies Eleftherios Venizelos (January 2008 to Present)

On the suggestion of Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis she was elected parliamentarian Nation-wide for the New Democracy Party in March, 2004 elections.

Committees in the Greek Parliament

• Member of the Standing Committee on Cultural and Educational Affairs
• Member of the Special Standing Committee on Equality and Human Rights
• Chairman of the Special Standing Committee on Issues Concerning the Handicapped

Eleftheria Bernidaki-Aldous was professor of Classics at the American College of Greece, Deree, (1992- 2004) where she taught courses in classical literature and ancient history

She has also taught at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska (1985-1992, full-time), at Oberlin College, Ohio (1983-1984, full-time) and at the Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland (1978-1979).

She received her Ph.D. in Classics from the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore Maryland and an M.A. in Classics from the same University.
She received an M.A. in European History from the University of Rochester in Rochester, N.Y. and a B.A. with "distinction" from the same university with a double major, in Classics and History. Before attending these Universities in the U.S., she graduated from Pierce High school and Lycium of the American College of Greece "with great honors".

She wrote her Ph.D. dissertation on Sophocles under William Arrowsmith and Georg Luck (listed among the best Ph.D. dissertations of the 20th century) from which resulted her book, Blindness in a Culture of Light: Especially the Case of "Oedipus at Colonus" of Sophocles. This book was published by Peter Lang (1990) and was "welcomed by all those who find in Greek drama the texts of our Western humanity" (Arrowsmith, W.). Her book continues to be reviewed favorably in published book reviews by scholars in Europe and in the U.S.
Professor Bernidaki-Aldous has authored articles on various topics of Greek literature and culture, has presented scholarly papers in professional conferences and has given invited lectures in many universities and organizations in the U.S. and in Greece.

Among her many honors and awards are

• Fellowships and scholarships from the Johns Hopkins University, from the University of Rochester, and from Pierce Highschool (including full tuition scholarships from all the above institutions, during the whole length of her studies).
• A Charlotte W. Newcombe Dissertation Fellowship from the Woodrow Wilson Foundation.
• A Fellowship from the Alexandros S. Onassis Institute for Scholarship and Research during the writing of her Ph.D. dissertation.
• Award of the Academy of Athens, presented during the Panegyric Ceremony of December 30, 1997.

Bernidaki-Aldous was born and raised in Crete. She has been blind, as a result of an accident, since the age of three. She is married to Eugene Ralph Aldous and they have three childre, Alexandros, Ariadne and Antonios.

She is active as a member of many professional Associations and Organizations. She has served on many committees in the colleges and universities where she worked. In addition, she has been of service to the community at large both in the U.S. and in Greece, by giving many presentations, workshops and lectures on topics dealing with the education and professional rehabilitation of the blind and with the promotion of the Greek culture and classical civilization.

Foreign Languages

English, Spanish, French, German.

Research Interest

• Ancient Greek Language and Literature
• Latin Language and Literature
• Greek and Roman Civilization and History
• Modern Greek Language and Literature

Education

• Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD., 1985, Ph.D. Classics
• Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD., 1979 M.A., Classics
• University of Rochester, N.Y., 1975 M.A., European History
• University of Rochester N.Y., 1974 B.A., History and Classics

Dissertation

Blindness in a Culture of Light: The Case of Sophocles "Oedipus at Colonus"
Director: Professors William Arrowsmith and Georg Luck

Teaching Experience

• American College of Greece, Deree, 1992 - 2004, Professor III of Classics
• Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, 1985 - 1992, Assistant Professor of Classics
• Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio, 1983 - 1984, Assistant Professor of Classics
• The Johns Hopkins University, Baltiomore, MD., 1978 -1979, Teaching Assistant of Classics

Honors and Awards

• The American College of Greece, Deree, Promotion to Professor III, 1997.
• Academy of Athens Prize, December 1997
• Charlotte W. Newcombe Dissertation Fellowship-Woodrow Wilson Foundation, 1981.
• Alexandros S. Onassis Institute, Dissertation Fellowship, 1982-83.
• American College of Greece Alumni Association, "Distinguished Alumna Award", 1992.
• Greek Ministry of Culture and Civilization Scholarships, 1975-78.
• Creighton University, College of Arts and Sciences, "Faculty Development Award", 1990.
• Johns Hopkins University Fellowships, 1975-85.
• University of Rochester Full-tuition Scholarships, 1970-75.
• Joseph A. O'Connor Graduate Study Award, University of Rochester, 1974.
• Russell Mumford Turtle Prize in Greek, University of Rochester, 1974.
• MacKenzie Prize in History, University of Rochester, 1971.
• Pan Cretan Association of America Scholarships, 1970-78.
• P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship, 1974-75.
• World Council of Churches Scholarships, 1970-74.
• Rotary Club of Piraeus, Greece, Book Award, 1989.
• Rotary Club of Kallithea, Athens, Greece, Honorary Plaque, 1989.

Publications

Book Review

• Blindness in a Culture of Light: Especially the Case of "Oedipus at Colonus" of Sophocles. Book published by Peter Lang, Inc., New York, Bern, Frankfurt, and Paris, 1990.
• Blindness in a culture of light: Especially the Case of "Oedipus at Colonus" of Sophocles. A dissertation submitted to the Johns Hopkins University, published by University Microfilms International, Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S.A. - London, England, 1985.
• Article, "The Power of the Evil Eye in the Blind: Oedipus Tyrannus 1306 and Oedipus at Colonus 149-156", in the book Text and Performance (Volume VIII of the proceedings of the Comparative Drama Conference, University of Florida at Gainesville), Published by University press of America, Inc., Spring, 1988.
• "Insight in Blindness in a culture of Light", Creighton University Faculty Journal. Volume 5, pp. 29-37, 1986.
• "Hero and Choros in the Oedipus at Colonus", in the Program of the Eighty-second Annual Meeting of the Classical Association of the Middle West and South, The Classical Journal Vol. 81, No. 3, p. 268, 1986.
• "Hero and Choros in the Oedipus at Colonus" in the Abstracts of Papers of the Eighty-second annual Meeting of the Classical Association of the Middle West and South, April, 1986.
• "Sophron Polis: on the Pension of the Handicapped Athenian (Lysias 24)", in the Abstracts of Papers of the Eighty-third annual Meeting of the Classical Association of the Middle West and South. April, 1987.
• "Oedipus and Demeter, an Odd Couple: Solutions to the Paradox of the Phos Aphegges in the Oedipus at Colonus" in the Abstracts of Papers of the Eighty-fourth annual Meeting of the Classical Association of the Middle West and South, April, 1988.
• Book review of my book, Blindness in a Culture of Light: Especially the Case of "Oedipus at Colonus" of Sophocles, by D. Dombrowski, in the Classical Review, Oxford University Press, Vol. XLI, Number 1, pp. 15-16, Spring, 1991.
• Cited in World Literature: A Catalog of Selected Doctoral Dissertation Research. Published by University Microfilms International, 300 N. Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106, p. 3, February, 1987.
• Cited in the Classical Studies: A Selected Collection of Doctoral Dissertations from 1908-1985, Ed. Sarah Marianne Bonnycastle, Published by University Microfilms Inc., 300 N. Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106, p. 13, 1987.

Papers Presented

• "Oedipus as Demon in Oedipus Coloneus 1354-1481", April, 1990; Columbia, Missouri, CAMWS Conference.
• "Oedipus and Demeter, an Odd Couple: Solution to the Paradox of the Phos Aphegges", April, 1988; New Orleans, Louisiana, CAMWS Conference.
• "The Treatment of the Guest (Wanderer or Friend) in Ancient Greek Drama and the Rizitika Folk Songs of Crete", March 1988; At Comparative Drama Conference at the University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
• "Attitudes and Policies towards the Handicapped and Especially the Blind, from Ancient Greece to Modern U.S.A.", February 1988; Creighton University, "College Hour Lecture".
• "Hospitality and Tragedy: Treatment of the Guest-Wanderer in Classical Drama and the Cretan Folk Songs" October, 1987; At the European Studies Conference; University of Nebraska at Lincoln
• "Sophron Polis: on the Pension of the Handicapped Athenian (Lysias 24)", April, 1987, Boulder, Colorado, CAMWS Conference.
• "The Power of the Evil Eye in the Blind: Oedipus Tyrannus 1306, Oedipus at Colonus 149-156", March 1987; at the Comparative Drama Conference at the University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
• "Hero and Choroes in the Oedipus at Colonus", April, 1986; Tampa, Florida, CAMWS Conference.

Invited Lectures

• Athens, Greece, Balkan and European Conference for Visually Impaired Lecture on "Experiences of the Blind in the Work Place
• Athens, Greece, Balkan and European Conference for Visually Impaired, Participant in the panel: "Models of Professional Rehabilitation of the Blind in the Balkan Countries"
• Colby College Department of Classics, Waterville, Maine, USA, Peter A. Vlachos Lectures Series in Classics, "Singers and Seers in Homer", February 12, 2002.
• Colby College, Waterville, Maine, USA, Student Government Lecture Series, "Attitudes toward the Handicapped from Ancient Greece to Modern USA", February 11, 2002
• American College of Greece, Deree, Student Union Lecture Series, The World of Ideas VI, "The Day After: The Role of the Classics (Reflections on the September 11 attacks)", November, 12-16, 2001
• Creighton University Lecture, "Mainstreaming the Visually Impaired Students in Schools", April, 1991.
• Creighton Preparatory High School Lecture, "Teaching of the Oedipus the King", October, 1990.
• Creighton University presentation, "Mainstreaming the Visually Impaired Students in Schools" for the class of Dr. Doyle (Education 425), April, 1990.
• Piraeus, Greece, lecture at the Rotary Club of Piraeus, "Messages for the Young from the Ancient Greek Writers", June, 1989.
• Piraeus, Greece, lecture at the Hatzikyriakeion Orphanage on "An Example of Achievement in spite of Difficulties: My Personal Experience", June, 1989.
• Athens, Greece, lecture at the Rotary Club of Kallithea, "Continuity of Aspects of Greek Culture from Ancient to Modern", May, 1989.
• Creighton University presentation, "Mainstreaming the Handicapped Students at Schools:Is it a Good Idea?", for the class of Dr. Doyle (Education 425), April, 1989.
• Creighton University presentation, "How to Teach Visually Impaired Children", for the class of Dr. Doyle (Education 425), April, 1988.
• Creighton University presentation to the Faculty Research Group, "The Evil Eye in the Blind: The Oedipus Plays of Sophocles", November, 1987.
• Creighton University lecture, "Blindness and Insight in Greek Tragedy", October, 1987.
• Athens, Greece, lecture at the Cultural Center of Kephessia, "Blindness in a Culture of Light", July, 1987.
• Omaha, Nebraska - panegyric at the Greek Orthodox Church, "On Four Hundred Years of Occupation and Four Hundred Years of Resistance: Greek Independence", March, 1987.
• Creighton University lecture, "On the Education of the Blind: Mainstreaming or not", March, 1987.
• Creighton University lecture, "On Prejudices towards the Blind", February, 1987.
• Creighton University lecture, "On the Evil Eye in Ancient Greece", Spring, 1987.
• Creighton University lecture, "Social Welfare for the Handicapped in Classical Athens", December, 1986.
• Creighton University lecture, "Prejudice and Career Opportunities for the Blind", June, 1986.
• Creighton University lecture, "Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind", April, 1986.
• Creighton University lecture, "Important Aspects of the Oedipus at Colonus: How to teach the Drama", April, 1986.
• Creighton University lecture, "Environmental Ethics in Greek Poetry", February, 1986.
• Creighton University lecture, "The Significance of Blindness in the Oedipus at Colonus", February, 1985.
• Oberlin College lecture, "A Close Reading of Oedipus at Colonus", April, 1983.
• Baltimore, Maryland, Essex Community College lecture, "How to Teach Oedipus Tyrannus", March, 1983.
• Johns Hopkins University Colloquium, "Oedipus the Blind", November, 1980.

Additional Teaching and Reasearch Interests

Research and write on Modern Greek literature in relation to the Ancient Greek tradition.

Memberships

• Classical Association of the Middle West and South
• Modern Greek Studies Association
• American Classical League
• The Vergilian Society
• American Association of University Women
• Daughters of Penelope
• American Philological Association

Service

• Member of the Faculty Research Group, Creighton University, 1985-1992.
• Appointed member to Executive Committee, Creighton University, 1987-1989.
• Appointed member to the Curriculum Subcommittee, Creighton University, 1987-1989.
• Elected to the Committee of Lectures, Films and Concerts, Creighton University, 1987-1988.
• Reinert Alumni Library Advisory Committee, 1986-1991 (Chair), Creighton University.
• Elected to the Fringe Benefits Committee, Creighton University, 1988-1991.
• Appointed Member to the Committee on Services for the Handicapped, Creighton University, 1989-1991.
• Member of Creighton Women's Network, Creighton University, 1985-1991.
• Member and Coordinator of Creighton's Faculty Women's Group, Creighton University,1987-1991.
• Advisor to freshmen through the "Freshman Seminar" program, Creighton University, 1986-1988.
• Lecturing on the education and professional rehabilitation of the blind (In U.S.A. and Greece).
• Ηelping with activities of the St. John's Greek Orthodox Church, Omaha (especially teaching the children of Sunday School about Greek culture), 1985-1991.
• Presentations at St. Cecilia's Grade School, "Issues and Awareness Regarding the Handicapped", 1987-1991.
• Member of the organizing committee of exhibition of Greek folk art in Greek communities (churches), Baltimore, MD.

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