Särkiö provides global perspective

Com professor to speak on Finland and Nordic welfare

By Abby Sessock | gargoyle@flagler.edu

Communication professor Dr. Helena Särkiö will speak about how the Nordic Welfare System empowers women.

Särkiö will be presenting this lecture Nov. 11 at 10 a.m. in the Flagler Room, as part of the Flagler College Community Lecture Series. The 2008 series features a theme of “Global Perspectives.”

Särkiö is originally from Helsinki, Finland, and will be speaking on many of the details of the Nordic welfare system and the empowerment it brings to women.

The Nordic countries include Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. The Nordic model has been known for providing equal employment opportunities, especially to women. Additionally, the countries have also been known for their education systems, which provide citizens free education through college.

Särkiö received dual citizenship for both Finland and the United States in 2006.

Finland has one of the highest rates of women in government. The president of Finland is a woman named Tarja Kaarina Halonen, who began her term in office in 2000 and was re-elected for another six-year term in 2006.

Särkiö moved from Finland to America in the early ’90s. She came to the United States on a full scholarship. Särkiö received both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from Iowa State University.

Additionally, she received a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. Her degrees are in journalism and mass communication.

While Särkiö is currently a journalism professor at Flagler, she has also worked at the University of Colorado, the University of Minnesota and the University of Florida. She has also held various positions at television stations.

Tickets to each of the features in this year’s Community Lecture Series are $5 individually and $15 for all.