Gene Bluestein -
A brief bio
Gene Bluestein was
awarded a BA degree from Brooklyn College and MA and PhD degrees
(in American Studies) from the University of Minnesota. His first
job was teaching English at Michigan State University. He came
to Fresno State University, now CSUF, in 1963. While there, he
was awarded many local and national honors, including three teaching
Fulbright fellowships (once to Finland and twice to Japan). He
also taught in France in 1975, and in China in 1989.
At CSUF, he and a colleague
were instrumental in establishing a Black Studies program. He
also ran a program sponsored by the National Endowment for the
Arts, which brought many nationally-known folk artists to the
university, among them: Kenny Hall, Bessie Jones, Richard Hogopian,
Jean Ritchie, Lydia Mendoza, and Dewey Balfa. The artists taught
courses in their specialties and were available to local schools,
at no charge.
Bluestein has authored
numerous scholarly articles and books. He retired from CSUF in
1992 and served as Professor of English Emeritus until his death
in August 2002.
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