Halloween Experts

Sandra Cypess - chair, Department of Spanish and Portuguese, University of Maryland.

Expertise - Latin American and Caribbean literature, comparative drama, women's studies,         translation practice, cross-cultural studies, Latin American studies.

Halloween Credentials - an expert in Dia de los Muertos ("Day of the Dead"), a Mexican celebration of life and death rooted in ancient beliefs, changed by the Spanish to coincide with their own holiday of Halloween.
Contact - (301) 405-6445 (office); smcypess@umd.edu
Webpage - www.languages.umd.edu/SpanishPortuguese/facultyweb/cypess.html

Marilyn Deighton - lecturer in costume construction, Department of Theatre, University of Maryland.

Expertise - pattern drafting, draping, men's tailoring, costume shop management.

Halloween Credentials - an expert in costumes, Deighton could give anyone pointers on making fantastic ensembles for Halloween. She is the costume director for the Colorado Shakespeare Festival, directed the costume shop at the Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey and has held positions in costume construction at other universities, including the University of Mississippi and the North Carolina School for the Arts.
Contact - (301) 405-6639; msdeight@umd.edu
Webpage - www.theatre.umd.edu/Faculty/#deighton

Daniel "Chip" Denman - assistant director for research support, Office of Information Technology / Academic Support; interim director for the Office of Information Technology user support services, University of Maryland.

Expertise - biostatistics and epidemiology. Provides general statistical support through the OIT Statistics Laboratory.

Halloween Credentials - Denman teaches "Science and Pseudoscience," where students are taught to think critically and skeptically. He is particularly interested in the phenomenon of s�ances.
Contact - (301) 405-3084, cdenman@umd.edu
Webpage -www.honors.umd.edu/HONR228A/generalinfo.html

Jennie Levine

Levine Says - Halloween is a spooky holiday, even if you happen to be a wizard. Just ask Harry Potter. In his first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, an enormous mountain troll tried to attack his friend Hermione in the girls' bathroom. During his second year at Hogwarts, Harry attended a Death Day party (a ghost equivalent of a birthday party). Nearly Headless Nick was 500 years old, and the guests feasted on rotting birthday cake. And in his third year at Hogwarts, a murderer who had escaped from the wizarding prison, Azkaban, tried to break into his dormitory. One thing that is good about Halloween, however, is the food. On October 31, floating jack-o-lanterns light the Great Hall at Hogwarts, and the students feast on treats like pumpkin pasties, cauldron cakes and treacle tarts. If you ask most non-wizarding children, sweet things are probably their favorite part of Halloween. Even Harry's Muggle (non-wizard) cousin Dudley, who dislikes all things magical, might be tempted to venture outside for trick-or-treating, despite the risks. Will you?
Contact - (301) 314-2712 (office); lj303@umail
Webpage - www.lib.umd.edu/HBK/hornbake.html

Susan Walker - assistant professor, family studies and state family life specialist, Maryland Cooperative Extension.

Expertise - child care professional development, child care policy, parenting education, at-risk families.

Halloween Credentials - an expert in families, Susan Walker knows the ins and outs of trick-or-treating and some pointers for keeping little ones safe on a scary Halloween night. She can help families avoid most frightening encounters-except maybe a werewolf.
Contact: 301-405-8339; sw141@umail.umd.edu
Webpage - www.hhp.umd.edu/FMST/Faculty/SWalker.html

Jo Paoletti - associate professor of American Studies, University of Maryland.

Expertise - apparel design and the history of textile and clothing, especially children's clothing in America. Most recently, she has researched how to do the best possible job of interdisciplinary education and the teaching of critical thinking. Paoletti is looking at how do students learn the best way to do research and how we make the best use of available technologies.

Halloween Credentials - Paoletti specializes in American culture and presents a titillating lecture on the culture of Halloween. She has written dozens of articles, papers and books about American culture and clothing design and has served the university through several endeavors, including the College Park Scholars program and the University Senate.
Contact - (301) 405-6646, jpaol@umd.edu
Webpage - amst.umd.edu/People/paoletti.html

Anne Turkos - archivist, University of Maryland.

Expertise - The history of the University of Maryland as well as the archives and holdings in the archives at the Hornbake Library on campus.

Halloween Credentials - the preeminent expert of the University's historical archives, Anne Turkos presides over many of Maryland's historical documents, including the Maryland Folklore Database (some or which could reveal a ghost or two lurking about the campus).
Contact - (301) 405-9060, AT17@umail.umd.edu
Webpage - www.lib.umd.edu/HBK/hornbake.html