Congratulations to this year's winner of the Nadia Christensen Award for Excellence in Nordic Studies, Helen Durst! Helen R. Durst is a lecturer at the University of Wisconsin and is working on her Ph.D. in Scandinavian Studies at the University of Washington. Helen loves language of any sort, and as such, also holds a B.A. & M.A. in Russian, and a B.A. & teaching certificate in mathematics and taught the language of math for many years before returning to graduate school to pursue a degree in Scandinavian Studies.
The working title of her dissertation is The Beheaded Doll: The Importance of the Independent Girl in Nordic Literature -- investigating how in creating the narrative of an independent girl 19th/20th century Nordic authors, especially women authors, were inventing themselves and carving out place in literature.
Congratulations again, Helen -- we look forward to seeing you graduate with your doctoral degree soon!