[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 68 (Friday, May 14, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E848-E850]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 AWARDING OF AN HONORARY DOCTORATE DEGREE TO SISTER FRANCESCA THOMPSON 
       FROM THE CHRISTIAN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, INDIANAPOLIS, IN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JULIA CARSON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 13, 2004

  Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of 
Sister Francesca Thompson, O.S.F., Sisters of St. Francis, Oldenburg, 
Indiana.
  Sister Thompson, born in Los Angeles, CA, received her B.A. in 
English from Marian College, Indianapolis, IN. She earned a Masters of 
Education degree with a concentration in Communication Arts from Xavier 
University, Cincinnati, OH. Later, Sister Thompson earned a PhD in 
Theatre/Speech at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.
  Her 50 years of teaching experience include St. Joseph Elementary 
School of Cincinnati, OH; High School English and Speech at the Academy 
of the Immaculate Conception, Oldenburg, Indiana; Theatre, Speech and 
Black Studies at Marian College in Indianapolis, IN; a Teaching Fellow 
in Acting at the University of Michigan; Assistant to the Dean, 
Associate Professor African-American Studies, and the Department of 
Communications at Fordham University, Bronx, New York and Assistant 
Dean and Director of Multi-Cultural Programs at Fordham University, 
Bronx, New York.
  Sister Thompson's publications include her Dissertation: The 
Lafayette Players, 1915-1932. History of the First Black Dramatic Stock 
Company in the United States; Twice Called: Autobiographies of 
Seventeen Convert Sisters; (one chapter): Notable Women in American 
Theatre; Black Women in America, historical encyclopedia; Families: 
Black and Catholic, United States Catholic Conference, Department of 
Education; and Oscar Micheaux and His Circle.
  Her background experience in directing include such classics as: 
``Midsummer's Night Dream'', ``Hotel Paradiso'', ``In White America'', 
``As You Like It'', ``Ten Angry Women'', and ``The Dutchman'' and 
encompasses original plays entitled ``Rag Dolly'', ``The Inside 
Story'', ``Remember When'', ``Precious Dear's Magic Christmas'' and 
Happiness Is''.
  Her organizations are the National Black Federal Theatre Board; 
Jesuit commission on Minority Affairs; National board of Operation 
P.U.S.H., and the Broadway Tony Board.
  Sister Thompson is an accomplished lecturer and public speaker in the 
areas of Theatre, African American Studies, Communication, the Black 
Family and Ministering the Black Community.
  Mr. Speaker: I echo the thoughts of behalf of many former students, 
friends and colleagues whose lives have been touched by Sister 
Thompson.
  Finally, throughout her illustrious career, Sister Thompson has 
shared her many gifts and talents in many places and with many people. 
It is the sharing of her gifts that makes her a genuine treasure. Mr. 
Speaker I have enclosed a copy of the extensive resume of Sister 
Frances Thompson.

                                 Resume

       Sister Francesca Thompson, O.S.F., Dean's Office--McGinley 
     Center #211, Fordham University at Rose Hill, Bronx, New 
     York.

[[Page E849]]

       Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, Sisters of St. 
     Francis, Oldenburg, Indiana.


                          educational history

       B.A. English--Marian College, Indianapolis, Indiana.
       M. of Ed. Concentration in Communication Arts--Xavier 
     University, Cincinnati, Ohio.
       Ph.D. Theatre/Speech--University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 
     Michigan.


                          teaching experience

       1954-1961: Taught grades two through eight: St. Joseph 
     Elementary School, Cincinnati, Ohio.
       1961-1967: High School English and Speech: Academy of the 
     Immaculate Conception, Oldenburg, Indiana.
       1967-1982: Theatre, Speech, Black Studies: Marian College, 
     Indianapolis, Indiana.
       1969-1971: Leave of absence to complete PhD., Teaching 
     Fellow, Acting: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
       1974-1982: Chairperson Department Theatre/Speech: Marian 
     College, Indianapolis, Indiana.
       1982-1999: Assistant to the Dean, Associate Professor 
     African-American Studies, and Associate Professor in 
     Department of Communications: Fordham University, Bronx, New 
     York.
       1999-  : Assistant Dean/Director Multi-Cultural Programs, 
     Associate Professor in Department of Communication, and 
     Associate Professor of African American Studies: Fordham 
     University, Bronx, New York.


                     classes taught, college level

       Acting Technique, Advanced Acting, Problems in Acting, Oral 
     Interpretation, Introduction to Theatre, Theatre Criticism, 
     Theatre History, Survey of Dramatic Literature, Black 
     Literature, Black Drama, Directing, Speech, Teaching 
     Speech on the Secondary Level (Class for Education 
     Majors), Conflicts and Choices--20th Century Drama, 
     Tension Between God and Man Found in Dramatic Literature, 
     Shades of Values: Themes in Black and White Drama, 
     Beginning Acting.


                              publications

       Dissertation: The Lafayette Players, 1915-1932. (History of 
     the First Black Dramatic Stock Company in the United States).
       Twice Called: Autobiographies of Seventeen Convert Sisters, 
     (one chapter): Bruce Publishing Company, Milwaukee, 
     Wisconsin, 1959.
       Contributor: Black World, Freeing the Spirit America, U.S. 
     Catholic, Black Masks (theater magazine), magazines.
       The Theatre of Black Americans, Vol. 11, ed. Dr. Erroll 
     Hill, Chapter 1, ``The Lafayette Players. New York: Prentice-
     Hall, 1980.
       Families: Black and Catholic, ed. Sr. Thea Bowman, FSPA. 
     Washington, D.C.: United States Catholic Conference, 
     Department of Education, 1985.
       Notable Women in American Theatre, Vol. 1, ed. Dr. Alice 
     Robinson. New York: Greenwood Press, 1989.
       Black Women in America: Historical Encyclopedia, ed. 
     Darlene C. Hine. New York: Carlson Publishing, 1993.
       Oscar Micheaux and His Circle, ed. Bowser, Gaines, Musser. 
     Bloomington, IN, Indiana University Press, 2001.


                         background experience

       Directing: This Bird of Dawning, Dutchman, The Miser, The 
     Silver Cord, And We Own The Night, At Liberty, Midsummer's 
     Night Dream, Hotel Paradiso, In White America, As You Like 
     It, Ten Angry Women, The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-In-The-
     Moon Marigolds, I Never Saw Another Butterfly, River of My 
     Song, Belle of Amherst, Black Vignettes (an original 
     musicale) and numerous Children's Theatre productions.
       Original plays: Rag Dolly, The Inside Story, Precious 
     Dear's Magic Christmas, Remember When, Happiness Is . . . .


                           awards and grants

       Nominated for Outstanding Teaching Fellow of the Year at 
     the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.
       Special ``Sojourner Truth Award'' given by the members of 
     the Union for Black Identity--Marian College, Indianapolis, 
     Indiana.
       Brotherhood Award--awarded by the National Conference of 
     Christians and Jews.
       Outstanding Alumni Award--Marian College, Indianapolis, 
     Indiana.
       Key to the City, Mayoral Award--Clarksdale, Mississippi.
       Indianapolis Education Association's Dr. Martin Luther King 
     Human Rights Award.
       New York State English Council Award for Teacher of 
     Excellence in Drama.
       Sister Francesca Thompson Scholarship Endowment established 
     by the Sisters of St. Francis Oldenburg, Indiana Justice and 
     Peace Committee.
       Teacher of the Year Award--Fordham University, Bronx, New 
     York.
       Pierre Toussaint Award for Outstanding Contributions to the 
     Black Catholic Community.
       International Black Women's Conference: A. Nomsa John--
     Inspiration Award.
       National Catholic Education Association: A. Koob National 
     Award for Outstanding Contribution to Catholic Education.
       Honorary Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters, LeMoyne College, 
     Syracuse, New York, May 1996.
       Selected as one of 25 of ``The Most Influential Individuals 
     in Catholic Education Over the Past 25 Years.'' Award 
     presented by the Peter Li Education Group under the auspices 
     of the National Catholic Education Association--Minneapolis, 
     Minnesota.
       Presenter of Commencement address and Honorary Degree 
     recipient--Marian College, Indianapolis, Indiana, May, 1997.
       Received the degree of Doctor of Fine Arts, from St. 
     Michael's College, Winooski Park, Colchester, Vermont--May 
     1997.
       Received Outstanding Alumnus of the Year Award from the 
     Department of Theatre, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 
     Michigan (Ph.D., 1972).
       Honorary Degree: Doctor of Fine Arts, Fordham University, 
     May 2002.
       Outstanding Sagamore Award--Given by the Governor of 
     Indiana for Superlative Service to the Governor and the 
     State.


                             organizations

       The Armstead-Johnson Foundation for Theatre Research, New 
     York, New York (Executive Board Member).
       Martin Luther King, Jr. Fellow (Executive Board Member).
       National Board of Operation P.U.S.H.
       Jesuit Commission on Minority Affairs.
       Former Board of Trustees, St. Michael College, Winsooki, 
     Vermont.
       National Black Federal Theatre Board.
       Broadway Tony Board.


                     partial list of lecture sites

       John Carroll University, Cleveland, Ohio.
       Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.
       Indiana University.
       Purdue University.
       University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
       University of Missouri, Kansas City, Missouri.
       Notre Dame University.
       Rochester University of Theology.
       Mt. St. Joseph International Theological Institute, 
     Cincinnati, Ohio.
       M.L.A. Conference, Chicago, Illinois.
       American Theatre Conference, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
       Trinity Baptist Church, Los Angeles, California.
       Conference on Black Women; Indianapolis, Indiana.
       Canaan Baptist Church, New York, New York.
       First Nazarene Baptist Church, Camden, New Jersey.
       Antioch Baptist Church, Seattle, Washington.
       Metropolitan Baptist Church, Washington, D.C.
       P.U.S.H. National Convention, New Orleans, Louisiana
       Conference on Ministry to Blacks in Higher Education, 
     Daytona Beach, Florida.
       National Black Progressive Baptist Conference, Chicago, 
     Illinois.
       National Black Pastor's Conference, Detroit, Michigan, 
     1979.
       National Black Pastor's Conference, Chicago, Illinois, 
     1980.
       15 talks in Oakland, California, ``Scholar in Residence'' 
     for the Public Secondary Schools.
       Tri-State (Ohio, Illinois, Indiana) National Conference for 
     Hospital Administrators and Staff.
       Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
       National Vocation Conference, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
       National Conference on Peace and Justice, New York, New 
     York.
       Network of Black Career Women, New York and Cincinnati, 
     Ohio.
       N.A.A.C.P. Regional Conference, Michigan.
       Conference on Ministering in the Black Community, Adrian, 
     Michigan.
       Urban Education In-service Program, Cleveland, Ohio.
       Black Urban Child Conference, Archdiocese of Chicago, 
     Chicago, Illinois.
       Conference on Catechetics for the Black Community, School 
     Office Archdiocese of Washington, Washington, D.C.
       Black Catholic Conference, New York, New York.
       LCWR Conference, Kansas City, Missouri.
       Molloy College, Rockville Centre Diocesan Office, Rockville 
     Centre, New York.
       Union Theological Seminary, New York, New York.
       St. Paul Community Baptist Church, Brooklyn, New York.
       Fordham Prep, New York, New York.
       National Progressive Baptist Women's Luncheon, Brooklyn, 
     New York.
       Faculty In-Service Lecture, Rice High School, New York, New 
     York.
       Office of Black Ministry, Awards Banquet, New Haven, 
     Connecticut.
       St. Augustine's Anglican Church, New York, New York.
       St. Charles Lawanga National Institute for Black 
     Seminarians (Faculty), Chicago, Illinois.
       National Catholic Educator's Association; St. Louis, 
     Missouri.
       Claremont School of Theology, Commencement Address, Los 
     Angeles, California.
       Black American Law Student Association, Fordham University, 
     Bronx, New York.
       C.S.J. International Conference, East St. Louis, Illinois.
       Conference for Inner-City Teachers, Boston, MA.
       N.A.A.C.P. Awards Banquet, East St. Louis, Illinois.
       National Conference of Black Criminal Justice Employees, 
     St. Louis, Missouri.
       African-American Catholic Catechetical Conference, Los 
     Angeles, California.
       National Black Theatre Program Conference, Baltimore, 
     Maryland.
       National Black Catholic Conference, Keynote Address, 
     Washington, D.C.
       Presenter BLACK SPIRITUALITY RETREAT, Bay St. Louis, 
     Mississippi.
       BLACK EXPO, Indianapolis, Indiana.
       National LCWR Conference, St. Paul, Minnesota.

[[Page E850]]

       National ``Future of the Church'' Conference, Washington. 
     D.C.
       National Black Clergy and Black Religious Conference, 
     Indianapolis, Indiana.
       Future of the Church Conference--Washington, D.C.
       Saint Meinrad Seminary.
       Pacific Coast Religion Congress--Keynote Address, Los 
     Angeles, California.
       Institute for Black Catholic Studies--Xavier University; 
     New, Orleans, Louisiana.
       Black Catholic Congress--Keynote Address, Atlanta, Georgia.
       Inner-City Teacher's Conference, Oakland, California.
       Black History Month Celebration, Museum of Natural History, 
     New York, New York.
       Symposium on Black Performance, Columbia University, New 
     York, New York.
       North American Conference on Incultration in the Church, 
     Rome, Italy.
       Archdiocese of Chicago, Illinois--City-Wide Black Catholic 
     Revival.
       Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration--St. Francis, New York, 
     New York.
       Black History Month Celebration--San Francisco, California.
       Peace and Justice Center Lecture Series--Cincinnati, Ohio.
       New York Archdiocesan Institute for Elementary and 
     Secondary Teachers, New York, New York.
       Major Superiors of Religious Men Conference, San Antonio, 
     Texas.
       Archdiocesan Afro-American Theology Conference, Los 
     Angeles, California.
       ``100 Years of Catholic Social Thought''; International 
     Conference, San Francisco, California.
       National Association of Anglican Women, Washington, D.C.
       National Black Theatre Conference, Winston Salem, North 
     Carolina.
       International Black Women's Conference, New Jersey.
       Inter-faith Celebration of Martin L. King, Jr. Day, 
     Angelican Cathedral, Garden City, New York.
       National Catholic Educational Conference, St. Louis, 
     Missouri.
       AEEE National Conference, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
       Inter Faith Ecumenical Service to Initiate: Stop the 
     Violence Week, Temple Emmanu-El, New York, New York.
       Conference on BLACKS IN SILENT FILMS--Yale University, New 
     Haven, Connecticut.
       The International Chapter Convocation of the FMM 
     Congregation--Boston, Massachusetts--December 1996.
       National Black Catholic Congress, Covington, KY. Keynote, 
     1999.
       National Black Theatre Conference, Winston Salem, N.C., 
     2001.
       International Silent Film Festival: Le Giornate Del Cinema 
     Muto, Sacile, Italy, Guest and Speaker for the Festival.
       National Black Catholic Congress, Chicago, Illinois, 2002.
       Keynote Speaker for the 100th Anniversary Celebration for 
     the oldest Black Catholic Church in Indianapolis, IN--Holy 
     Angels Parish.
       Scholarship Fund Raiser for the University of Michigan 
     Theatre Department, Ann Arbor, MI.
       Black History Month speaker for St. Paul of the Ship 
     Wrecked--San Francisco, CA.

                          ____________________