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French Professor's Article Published in The French Review

Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2012

An article by Dr. Leslie Kealhofer, Westminster College visiting assistant professor of French, was published in the February issue of The French Review.

The French Review is the official journal of the American Association of Teachers of French and has the largest circulation of any scholarly journal of French and Francophone studies in the world.

Kealhofer's article, "‘Telling Their Story Makes Their Voices Heard': An Interview with Fatiha Benatsou," recounts a November 2009 interview with Benatsou, who was born in France to Algerian parents and is the first female prefect (regional government official) of North African descent in France.  Her autobiographical book, Djamila's Dream, pays tribute to Benatsou's mother, grandmother, and other North African women who raised their families in shantytowns on the outskirts of Paris in the 1950s and 1960s.

During the interview, Benatsou spoke about writing the book; the challenges associated with "giving a voice" to women who were rarely seen or heard by the majority population in France; the education the women instilled in their children; and the challenges that persist for the children and grandchildren of North African migrants in France.

"Ms. Benatsou is a very inspiring woman," Kealhofer said.  "Meeting her and speaking with her about her book and her experiences was unforgettable."

Kealhofer, who joined the Westminster faculty in 2011, earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame and master's degree and Ph.D. from Florida State University.

Contact Kealhofer at (724) 946-6260 or email for additional information.

Dr. Leslie Kealhofer