University of Houston-Clear Lake Assistant Professor in Humanities Shreerekha Subramanian(c) received the Marilyn Mieszkuc Professorship in Women’s Studies. Pictured with Subramanian are Ben Mieszkuc (l), who created the professorship in memory of his wife Marilyn, and UH-Clear Lake Associate Vice President for University Advancement Dion McInnis. .

UH-Clear Lake awards professorship

University of Houston-Clear Lake Assistant Professor in Humanities Shreerekha Subramanian received the Marilyn Mieszkuc Professorship in Women’s Studies, the first such professorship ever established at the university. 

“I was absolutely delighted and very humbled to receive this professorship,” said Subramanian. “I have been at UH-Clear Lake only a short time, and I wasn’t expecting this award or such a warm welcome here.” 

The professorship was created in 2004 by university friend and Marilyn’s husband Ben Mieszkuc to memorialize Marilyn. Funds from the scholarship will be used to support a women’s studies faculty member who can broaden course offerings, spearhead new research and increase community outreach. The Marilyn Mieszkuc Professor has access to 50 percent of the funds available for a year to defray costs associated with research or a scholarly project. In addition, the recipient will present her work at a colloquium, exhibit or other public event hosted by the women’s studies faculty. 

Subramanian plans to use the money to complete her most recent project, a book titled “Women Resisting Violence: Locating Community in Contemporary Novels from the Americas and South Asia.” The money will allow her to finish the bibliography portion of the project.

Research interests for Subramanian include the literary work of Caribbean, African-American and South Asian writers. She holds a doctorate in comparative literature from Rutgers University, a master’s in creative writing from Syracuse University and a bachelor’s in English literature from University of Michigan. She was chosen as the candidate by the Mieszkuc Professorship Award Committee led by Associate Professor of Anthropology Christine Kovic. 

“This year’s recipient is extremely qualified for this professorship,” said Mieszkuc. “The financial aid Dr. Subramanian will receive will allow her to complete a book that needs to be written.”