During its most recent meeting, the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors conferred the emerita title on Bernice Hausman, Edward S. Diggs Professor in the Humanities.

Hausman was recognized for her interdisciplinary scholarship on feminist theory and literature, gender, transsexualism, breastfeeding, and vaccine controversy, and was the author of four books and numerous articles.

A successful teacher of undergraduates and award-winner advisor of graduate students, she directed the Women’s Studies program from 2003 to 2005 and coordinated the Medicine and Society since its inception in 2005.

Hausman was a member of the Virginia Tech community from 1995 to 2018; she currently serves as chair of the Department of Humanities at the Penn State College of Medicine.

Hausman earned her bachelor’s degree from Yale University and a master’s degree and doctorate from the University of Iowa.