Name: Madeline M. Bertasi

Title of Program: Bioethics and Human Dignity in Contemporary American Public Policy.

E-mail Address: MBERTASi@UTK.EDU

Hometown: Germantown, TN

Year: Senior

Anticipated Graduation Date: December 2007

Description of Program: My program combines the basic knowledge of government and public policy making with a specialized interest and concern for the bioethical issues that face American society today, especially women.  Classes in the area of philosophy and bioethics and individualized studies have specialized my program to study my concern of the dimension of abortion policy and politics in the United States and how to change public policy in this area. My senior thesis directly addresses the issue of pregnancy in college women and what resources are/should be made available to them through their universities so that they are not forced into terminating their pregnancy.  My program also encompasses the discipline of Spanish so as to better prepare myself for working with underprivileged young women in the United States in the area of crisis pregnancy and abortion policy.

Departmental Emphases: Political Science, Spanish, and Philosophy

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Michael Fitzgerald

Plans after graduation (career, graduate/professional school, etc.): Traveling and teaching English in Spain and then Law School.

Prior Enrollment at Other Colleges or Universities: None

Study Abroad: Universidad Católica de Cordoba, Argentina

Research Experiences or Internships: Internship with Tennessee Right to Life

Part-time employment; Hobbies; Campus Clubs/Activities: Spanish Tutor, Gamma Sigma Sigma Service Sorority, Catholic Student Association, RENEW Leader, Volunteer at Pregnancy Help Center, Private Pilot