Opening Plenary Session: Ann Lundberg

Kick off the 70th Annual Willa Cather Spring Conference with a talk from Ann Lundberg, English professor and longtime interpretive ranger, about Cather at Mesa Verde.

As a professor of American Literature, Ann studies the literature of geological and archeological exploration of the American West in the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century, and how it works to define national identity. She's presented and published essays on topics including John Muir's glacial geology, "Ancient America at the World's Fair," and the mystique surrounding Casa Grande in Arizona, "The Ruin of Expectations." Her teaching resume includes both environmental literature and eco-composition in addition to Native American Literature and other topics.

Alongside her academic career, Ann has served as an interpretive Ranger at eight different National Park Service units, including three seasons at Mesa Verde. She has long maintained an interest in Willa Cather and her depiction of place, both the prairies of Nebraska and the canyons and cliff dwellings of the Southwest.

This event is free to attend thanks to the generosity of Humanities Nebraska and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment.