Molly Wertheimer

Molly Wertheimer
Professor of Communication Arts & Sciences and Women's Gender & Sexuality Studies (Professor Emerita)

First Lady Barbara Bush and Press Secretary Anna Perez: Lessons from an Effective Media Relations Partnership - February, 2020

Review of The Rhetoric of Rebel Women: Civil War Diaries and Confederate Persuasion, Peitho: The Journal of the Coalition of Women Scholars in the History of Composition and Rhetoric - January, 2016

“The Blending of the Traditional and Professional Approaches to Communication: Department Chairs Share Administrative Challenges, Opportunities, and Best Practices.”, Journal of Communication Administration - January, 2016
Collaborator: Rodney Troester, Co-Author

Review of The Politics of the President's Wife, Political Science Quarterly - 2012

Barbara Bush's Use of Millie during her First 100 Days as First Lady, White House Studies - 2008

First Ladies and the American Press: The Unfinished Partnership of the Media Age, American Journalism - July, 2006
Collaborator: Molly Wertheimer

Report to the First Lady 2005 (book); "Laura Bush--A Biography" (my chapter) - 2005
Collaborator: Molly M Wertheimer

Report to the First Lady 2005 (book); "The First Lady as an International Diplomat" (my chapter) - 2005
Collaborator:

Report to the First Lady 2005 (book); "Laura Bush--A Biography" (my chapter) - 2005
Collaborator:

Elizabth Dole: Speaking from the Heart - 2004
Collaborators: Molly M Wertheimer; Nichola D Gutgold

Leading Ladies of the White House - 2004

OL 4000 Online Course Authoring, The Pennsylvania State University

Online Teaching Certificate, The Pennsylvania State University

April 26, 2018

Papers
WHAT HAPPENED? -- Unique Place in the Tradition of First Lady Autobiography
Pittsburgh, PA

Paper was about Hillary Clinton's autobiography and how it fits within the context of other first lady autobiographies. Clinton's purpose was told explain from her perspective how the election for the presidency in 2016 enfolded from her perspective.

November 17, 2017

Papers and Oral Presentations
Lady Bird Johnston: Eye Witness of J.F.K.'s Assassination and Contribution to His Legacy
National Communication Association
Dallas. Texas

Lady Bird Johnson began her Autobiography with an eye witness account of the assassination of JFK. Throughout the pages of her autobiography, she details the projects she worked--assigned to her by Jackie Kennedy--which helped build the Kennedy Legacy in the areas of White House restoration and the acquisition of art/historical artifacts.

November 17, 2017

Seminars
Tour and Seminar of the George W. Bush Presidential Library
Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas

This Presidential Library our and Seminar was planned by members of my First Lady listserve. After the private tour, we met with Natalie Gonella-Platts, Deputy Director of the Women's Initiative at the GWB Institute. Her talk on International First Ladies was followed by a discussion about how to stimulate research in this area and how to make the results available to women in this position and their staffs.

November 16, 2017

Papers and Oral Presentations
A Bush League of Their Own
National Communication Association
Dallas, Texas

Barbara Bush, Laura Bush, and daughters Barbara and Jena Bush, all use their autobiographies to build and reinforce the Bush political legacy. This paper explores some of the key ways each woman contributes to that legacy both in deeds and words. The paper also touches on the autobiography of Karen Hughes, who played a significant role in the Bush (George W.) presidency.

March 31, 2017

Chaired panel and introduced the topic
Are We Free to Laugh? Political Comedy and the 2016 Presidential Election
Eastern Communication Association
Boston, MA

Introduced the topic by talking about recent comments made by Senator Al Franken during the Neil Gorsuch Supreme Court Nomination Hearings.

March 31, 2017

Presentations
You Can't Make This Stuff Up: Absurdity in the 2016 Presidential Campaign
Eastern Communication Association
Boston, MA

Paper traced absurdity in the 2016 presidential campaign. Topics covered: #fatshaming, #cheatinghusbandshaming, Anthony Weiner's hard drive, Melanie Trump's cyber-bullying speech.

April 1, 2016

Presentations
Tribute to Robert E. Denton
Eastern Communication Association
Baltimore, MD

This presentation was an acknowledgment of the way Robert E. Denton, as the editor of a book series, influenced the research and scholarship on the political rhetoric of American First Ladies.

March 31, 2016

Papers and Oral Presentations
Louisa Catherine Adams: First Lady Autobiographer
Eastern Communication Association
Baltimore, MD

This paper explores questions I would like to ask Mrs. Adams, if she and I could meet for a cup of tea.

March, 2016

Panels
First Ladies: Finding New Ways to Serve Their Families, Causes, and Country
National Communication Association Convention
Philadelphia

I organized a panel proposal consisting of five papers for the National Communication Association Convention to be held in Philadelphia in November 2016.

April 24, 2015

Presented a critical response to three scholarly papers.
Deliberating the American First Lady: Maternal Frame, Rhetorical Distance, and Social Style
Eastern Communication Association
Philadelphia, PA

Each paper explores a different way in which the American First Lady role has been framed and negotiated, followed by a critical response.

November 22, 2014

Panels
Organized and moderated panel
National Communication Association Conference
Chicago

This was a panel I organized and moderated. I solicited papers, chose among them, wrote the panel proposal (see attached) and moderated the discussion at the convention.

November 20, 2014

Papers and Oral Presentations
"A Surprisingly Substantive Mission: Rosalynn Carter’s 1977 Trip to Latin America"
National Communication Association Conference
Chicago

This paper and presentation was part of a panel I organized: "The American First Lady as an International Diplomat"

April 27, 2013

Papers
They’re All Gonna Laugh at You: Best Practices for Bullying Prevention in Academia
Eastern Communication Association
Pittsburgh, PA

The panel explored best practices for bullying prevention in academia.

April 26, 2013

Papers
The Confluence of the Traditional and Professional Approaches to Communication: Profiling Programs that Combine the Best of Both
Eastern Communication Association
Pittsburgh, PA

The panel explored best practices for combining "communication studies" and "communications" into one effective and efficient program.

April 18, 2013

Keynotes/Plenary Addresses
Welcome to My World of Research
Regional Research Fair
Hazleton Campus

November 15, 2012

Panel chair, moderator, and discussant
Bullying in the Academy: Confronting Aggressive Communication in the Professional Community
National Communication Association, 98th Annual Convention
Orlando

November 15, 2012

Seminars
Smithsonian Seminar on First Ladies Exhabit
National Communication Association, 98th Annual Convention
Washington, DC

November, 2011

Panel organizer, chair, and presenter
They'll Huff and Puff and Blow Your House Down: How Bullies Destroy Faculty, Morale, and Departments
National Communication Association, 97th Annual Convention
New Orleans

November, 2011

Papers and Oral Presentations
Lifting Up Her Voice: The Rise of the Female Political Pundit
National Communication Association, 97th Annual Convention
New Orleans

April 8, 2011

Panel Discussion
From Ideas to Imprints: Turning Good Ideas into Publications
Arts and Humanities--Social Science and Education Disciplinary Meeting
University Park, PA

February 14, 2011

Debate
Do Words Engender Violence? An Introspective Debate on the Arizona Shooting
Penn State Worthington Scranton Faculty Debate
Dunmore, PA

November 17, 2010

Oral Presentations
Conflict, Metaphor, and Rhetorical Purpose
New Insights into Conflict Resolution
San Francisco, CA

November 17, 2010

Roundtable discussion
Building Bridges of Peace Through Movies
San Francisco, CA

November 17, 2010

Roundtable discussion
From Idea to Imprint: Getting Your Gender or Political Communication Book Published
San Francisco, CA

April, 2010

Oral Presentations
Emotional Intelligence and the Rhetoric of Aristotle
American Society for the History of Rhetoric Panel
Baltimore, MD

May 14, 2009

Oral Presentations
Status of Women Faculty at Penn State and Penn State Hershey
Designing a Culture that Promotes Satisfaction and Success
Hershey, PA

April 24, 2009

Oral Presentations
On the Contributions of Henry W. Johnstone, Jr., to the Philosophy of Communication
100 Years of ECA
Philadelphia, PA

April 24, 2009

Oral Presentations
On the Scholarship of Carroll C. Arnold
100 Years of ECA
Philadelphia, PA

April 9, 2009

Oral Presentations
Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
Mentoring Program
University Park, PA

October 18, 2008

Oral Presentations
"Media Construction in the 2008 Presidential Election--A Case Study of Peggy Noonan's Construction of Hillary Clinton"
Pennsylvania Communication Association Annual Conference
Penn State University--Lehigh Valley Campus

May 1, 2008

Political Difference and Change: Teaching Gender and Political Communications Courses--A Case Study of Developing Political Themes in a Women's Studies Course
Eastern Communication Association
Pittsburgh, PA

November 08, 2006

Excellence in Leadership and Management
The Penn State Leadership Academy
University Park

October 29, 2006

Pennsylvania--American Council on Education--Office of Women in Higher Education
Women Leaders for the 21st Century: Ideals
Hershey, PA

September 24, 2006

Community Day Presentation: "Confronting Conversation"

2005

Pennsylvania's Governor's Conference for Women 2005

November 15, 2005

Pennsylvania's Governor's Conference for Women 2005
Philadelphia, PA

July 12, 2005

On Course I Workshop

July 09, 2005

On Course I Workshop
Marriottsville, Maryland

June 17, 2005

Writing Your Spiritual Autobiography
Kirkridge Retreat and Study Center

June 09, 2005

"Women Mentoring Women"
Women's Leadership Summer Colloquium
Wilkes College in Wilkes-Barre, PA

2004

Critical Response to Four Presentations

2004

The Rhetoric of LBJ and Ladybird

November 13, 2004

"Diplomacy and the First Lady, with a Special Look at Laura Bush "
National Communication Association
Chicago

Collaborator:

November 07, 2004

Women Leader's of the 21st Century: Pathways to the Presidency
Pennsylvania American Council on Education (PACE)-- Network Forum
Hershey, PA

April 23, 2004

"Barbara Bush's Rhetorical Use of Millie during Her First 100 Days as First Lady"
Eastern Communication Association
Boston

Collaborator: