S. L. FULLER
News Editor
Did you know that Dr. Chris Givner, dean of the College of Education, likes hip hop dancing? Did you know that she was a bra-burning hippy in the ‘70s? Sure, it’s her job to oversee approximately 1,100 students and 29 programs, but there’s a lot more to Givner than meets the eye.
After moving from Pennsylvania, to Vermont, to California, and having a plethora of life experiences, Givner is content where she is and who she is.
“I grew up in Warren, Pennsylvania which is just south of here,” said Givner. “In the course of my career, I went from … Pittsburg, that’s where I got my PhD, and then I went to Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, and then we went from Baltimore to Vermont for four years, and then my family went out to Los Angeles for 11 years.”
Givner is currently in her 11th year as a dean at Fredonia. Actually, she was the founding dean who helped create the College of Education. But when she was younger, Givner never wanted to study education.
“When I was in high school, I thought I wanted to be a psychiatrist or medical doctor of some kind. I was the valedictorian from my high school class of 464 [students],” said Givner. “And so I went to Allegheny College in Meadville [Pennsylvania] as a pre-med student. And when I got there, I majored in psychology, and I decided that I was much more interested in the social sciences and getting out and doing service learning. So then, when I decided not to do medicine, I decided that I would get my bachelor’s degree and then go on and do a graduate program in special education.”
Givner was in her 20s — and in college — during a very pivotal era in history. She faced many social struggles, as many did in the ‘70s, but she aimed to keep positive throughout.
“I was a hippy. I graduated in 1971 [and] I was part of a generation of women who burned their bras,” said Givner. “I protested my senior year of high school so that we could wear pants and not just dresses.”
Givner was quick to add with a laugh that she asked for her principal’s permission to hold the rally before hand.
“[In] my 20s, I think the challenge was — my husband and I were together, I was 21 when I met him, so I’ve been married a long time. And he’s African-American,” continued Givner. “So I think the biggest challenge was trying to negotiate how to be a couple in a time when there was a lot of prejudice and discrimination. Trying to be just positive and have a good attitude toward how we went forward to face challenges that were very disturbing in a way that made us feel stronger and made me feel good about my life — that was a challenge.”
Givner’s good attitude has seemed to remain with her throughout the years. Her life has brought her many joys, but none greater than her son.
“I think being a parent is one of the most precious things we do being a human being,” said Givner, getting teary-eyed at the thought. “And I would say professionally, I’m a blessed woman. I’ve had so many wonderful, wonderful experiences. I feel like I’ve kind of been open to the possibilities and I’ve had a supportive husband. People disappoint you and you have to rise above that and realize that in the end, most people are really wonderful.”
Givner seems like the kind of person who loves life and loves to embrace the bad with the good. However, she has so many interests that maybe she needs multiple lives to have time to live out every dream.
“If I had multiple lives — I love to dance. I love to dance. Any dancing,” said Givner with emphasis on the word “love.” “I can do a little bit of hip-hopping, I love ballet, and I’ve been a dancer since I was three or four. I just love to dance.
“The other thing I think my hidden talents [is, is that] I like to paint and sketch. But I never get to do it right now,” continued Givner. “I love to crochet. And I’m a filmy. I love classic movies. I really like to critique movies. And I love to sing. I don’t get to do that very often with groups and stuff. And I love to garden, I’m an avid reader. I love technology. That’s not really a hidden talent, everyone knows that about me.”
The dimensions of Givner’s personality goes on and on.