JOAN MARIE CICHON
EDUCATION
Philosophy and Religion, Concentration in Women’s Spirituality, PhD, 2013. California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, California. Dissertation: “Matriarchy in Minoan Crete: A Perspective from Archaeomythology and Modern Matriarchal Studies.” Committee Members: Dr. Mara Lynn Keller, chair, Dr. Susan Gail Carter, and Dr. Cristina Biaggi.
Library Science, MA, 1975. Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois. Awarded with Honors.
History, MA, 1972. Northern Illinois University. Awarded with Honors. Areas of specialization: 18th and 19th-century British social history, and 19th and 20th-century Russian history.
History, BA, 1970. Northern Illinois University. Awarded with Honors.
PROFESSIONAL LIBRARY EXPERIENCE
1982-2005 Reference and Bibliographic Instruction Librarian
Professor of Library Services
Oakton Community College, Des Plaines, Illinois
Now retired, I was one of two full-time librarians on the faculty whose primary duties were reference and bibliographic instruction. Thus, I worked with students individually and in the classroom to teach them research skills, particularly those that had to do with automated card catalogs, research databases, and the World Wide Web.
I also consulted with faculty, administrators, and staff on their research projects, and with faculty on their planning of research-related classroom assignments. I was one of a team of librarians who provided bibliographic instruction to the whole college community in the form of numerous campus-wide workshops.
I maintained the college’s archives and oversaw Dialog database searches. For several years at the end of my tenure at Oakton, I also did original cataloging. Throughout my tenure, I shared the responsibility of selection and collection development with my fellow library faculty.
As regards supervisory or administrative experience, at various points in my career at the college, I supervised staff members and student aids, and mentored new part-time and full-time library faculty. I also served one semester as Acting Director of the Honors Program while the permanent director was on sabbatical leave.
As a member of the Oakton faculty, I served on many faculty-wide committees at the College. Among these were the Academic Computing Committee, Global Studies Advisory Committee, Sabbatical Leave Committee, Curriculum Committee, Wellness Committee, and the Faculty Senate.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Fall 2022 Adjunct Professor, Philosophy and Religion
California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, California.
Goddesses and Priestesses of Matricultural Crete. This course was co-taught with Dr. Mara Lynn Keller.
1986-1996 Professor of History
Oakton Community College, DesPlaines, Illinois.
In 1986, I helped to establish the college’s Honors Program becoming part of the teaching team for the Honors Program’s inaugural course: the year-long History of Western Civilization. This was a “core” course required for all Honors students and was taught in tandem with a Humanities course. I and the instructor for the Humanities course worked together to fully integrate the course material, and students received six credit hours. I taught this course for ten years. This teaching was done in addition to my primary role as a reference/bibliographic instruction librarian at the college.
Additionally, I taught a History of the Soviet Union to both honors and traditional students at Oakton Community College in 1987 and 1988.
Spring 2009. Teaching Assistant, California Institute of Integral Studies, Cultures in Balance: Women at the Center.
Fall 2007. Teaching Assistant, California Institute of Integral Studies, The Eleusinian Mysteries of Demeter and Persephone.
Fall 2006. Teaching Assistant, California Institute of Integral Studies, Goddess and God Civilization of Ancient Crete.
1970-1972. Teaching Assistant, Northern Illinois University, History of Western Civilization.
TEACHING OVERSEAS
In July of 2002, I led a week-long study trip to Crete, Greece for graduate students of the California Institute of Integral Studies. Our focus was the Bronze Age archaeological sites of eastern Crete.
In the spring of 1989, I co-led a two-week field study history course in Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, and France for community college students for the College of Lake County, Grayslake, Illinois.
During the fall term of 1987, I taught two courses, the History of Western Civilization, and the History of the Soviet Union, in London, England, under the auspices of Oakton Community College and the Illinois Consortium for International Studies.
PUBLICATIONS
Matriarchy in Bronze Age Crete: A Perspective from Archaeomythology and Modern Matriarchal Studies. Oxford: Archaeopress, 2022.
“The Centrality of Women in Bronze Age Crete: A Perspective from Archaeomythology.” In Proceedings of the Hellenic Institute of Egyptology’s Second Egyptological Conference: Quod Est Superius Est Sicut Quod Est Inferius: The Cosmic Hypostasis and Earthly/Social Functions of Women During Antiquity in Egypt and in the Mediterranean Basin, Athens February 10-14, 2020, 15-24. Athens: Serapis Editions, 2022.
“Understanding Bronze Age Crete through the Lens of Marija Gimbutas, Old Europe, and Archaeomythology,” The Journal of Archaeomythology, volume 10 2021:51-63. https://www.archaeomythology.org/publications/the-journal-of-archaeomythology/2021-volume-10/2021-volume-10-article-6/
“The Mother Goddess of Bronze Age Crete.” In Goddesses in Myth, History, and Culture, edited by Mary Ann Beavis and Helen Hye-Sook Hwang, 52-74. Lytle Creek, CA: Mago Books, 2018.
“Archaeomythology from Neolithic Malta to Modern Poland: Apprehending the Material and Spiritual Realities of Ancient and Present-Day Cultures.” In Myths Shattered and Restored: Proceedings of the Association for the Study of Women and Mythology, edited by Marion Dumont and Gayatri Devi, 38-63. Albuquerque, NM: Women and Myth Press, 2016.
“Demeter and the Eleusinian Mysteries: Ancient Origins and Modern Impact.” In Myths Shattered and Restored: Proceedings of the Association for the Study of Women and Mythology, edited by Marion Dumont and Gayatri Devi, 217-262. Albuquerque, NM: Women and Myth Press, 2016.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
“Matriarchy in Bronze Age Crete: A Perspective from Archaeomythology and Modern Matriarchal Studies.” Re-formed Congregation of the Goddess International, Gathering of Priestesses and Goddess Women, May 17-19, 2024. Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.
“Matriarchy in Bronze Age Crete: A Perspective from Archaeomythology and Modern Matriarchal Studies.” Association for the Study of Women and Mythology, Salon Number 67, March 7, 2024. Online.
“Matriarchy in Bronze Age Crete: A Perspective from Archaeomythology and Modern Matriarchal Studies.” Carol Christ and the Pilgrimage to the Goddess: a Celebration of the Life and Work of Feminist Theologian Carol P. Christ, December 20, 2023. Online.
“Matriarchy in Bronze Age Crete: A Perspective Based on the Work of Dr. Heide Goettner-Abendroth and Modern Matriarchal Studies.” International Akademie Hagia, Political Celebration Day, Heide Goettner Abendroth, Modern Matriarchal Studies: Her Life and Work, September 12, 2021, Berlin, Germany.
The Peak Sanctuaries of Bronze Age Crete: An Archaeomythological Perspective.” Association for the Study of Women and Mythology 2021 Symposium: Wisdom Across the Ages: Celebrating the Centennial of Archaeomythologist Marija Gimbutas. July 16-18, 2021. Online.
“Which Way the River Flows: Modern Matriarchal Studies: A New Light on an Old Debate.” Association for the Study of Women and Mythology, 2020 Conference, March 13-14, Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico.
“Goddess, Women, and Matriarchy in Ariadnian Crete: A Goddess Scholar’s Perspective.” Orchard of Avalon Gathering, February 22, 2020, Glastonbury, England.
“The Centrality of Women in Bronze Age Crete: A Perspective from Archaeomythology.” Hellenic Institute of Egyptology, Second Egyptological Conference: Quod Est Superius Est Sicut Quod Est Inferius: The Cosmic Hypostasis and Earthly/Social Functions of Women During Antiquity in Egypt and in the Mediterranean Basin, February 10-14, 2020, Athens, Greece.
“Sacred Drama as a Tool to Transform the World and Bring Archaeomythology Alive.” Goddess Spirit Rising, International Goddess Conference, September 12-15, 2019, Simi Valley, California.
“A Vision for the World: The Life and Work of Archaeomythologist Marija Gimbutas.” 2019 Portuguese Goddess Conference, Sintra, Portugal, May 10-12, 2019.
“Archaeomythology as a Tool for Resurrecting the Past and Seeking the Future.” Parliament of World Religions, November 1-7, 2018, Toronto, Canada.
“She Can Be Silenced No More: Sacred Drama as a Tool to Transform the World and Bring Goddess Alive.” Women Rising! New Visions for a Post Patriarchal World, California Institute of Integral Studies, October 12-14, 2018, San Francisco.
“A Vision for the World: The Life and World of Archaeomythologist Marija Gimbutas.” Re-formed Congregation of the Goddess International, Gathering of Priestesses and Goddess Women, May 18-20, 2018. Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.
“Celebrating Goddess, Women, Plants, and Animals: Bronze Age Cretan Iconography as Seen through an Archaeomythological Perspective.” Association for the Study of Women and Mythology, Fifth Biennial Conference, March 16-18, 2018, Las Vegas, Nevada.
“The Forgotten Goddesses of Ariadne’s Wheel.” Association for the Study of Women and Mythology, Fourth Biennial Conference, April 1-2, 2016, Las Vegas, Nevada.
“The Mother Goddess and Women in Minoan Religion and Society.” American Academy of Religion, Pacific Northwest Region Annual Meeting, May 9-11, 2014, University of Calgary, Canada.
“Matriarchy in Minoan Crete: A Perspective from Archaeomythology and Modern Matriarchal Studies.” The Association for the Study of Women & Mythology, Third Biennial Conference, March 28-29, 2014, San Antonio, Texas.
“Matriarchy in Minoan Crete: A Perspective from Archaeomythology and Modern Matriarchal Studies.” Matriarchal Studies Day, March 27, 2014, San Antonio, Texas.
“Archaeomythology: From Neolithic Malta to Modern Poland. Apprehending the Material and Spiritual Realities of Ancient and Present-Day Cultures.” The Association for the Study of Women & Mythology, Second Biennial Conference, May 11-13, 2012, San Francisco, California.
“Signs Out of Time: The Story of Archaeologist Marija Gimbutas.” Women & Spirituality Conference, Minnesota State University, Mankato, October 22-23, 2005, Mankato, Minnesota.
“The Politics of Archaeology and the Goddess Movement.” Women’s Spirituality Conference, New College of California, May 2-3, 2003, San Francisco, California.
“Çatal Hüyük Revisited: The Politics of Archaeology and the Attempt to Discredit the Goddess.” Women & Spirituality Conference, Minnesota State University, Mankato, October 11-12, 2003, Mankato, Minnesota.
“The Eleusinian Mysteries of Demeter and Persephone and Their Significance for Modern Women.” Women & Spirituality Conference, Minnesota State University, Mankato, October 12-13, 2002, Mankato, Minnesota.
“A Call from the Black Madonna.” Women & Spirituality Conference, Minnesota State University, Mankato, October, 20-21, 2001, Mankato, Minnesota.
“Matriarchy, Warfare, and Human Sacrifice in Minoan Crete? Some Reflections and Answers.” Women & Spirituality Conference, Minnesota State University, Mankato, October 21-22, 2000, Mankato, Minnesota.
“The Significance of the Ancient Site of Çatal Hüyük to the Modern World.” Women Continuing the Cross-Cultural Dialog for Peace Conference, October 25-27, 1999, Kalyves, Greece.
“The Politics of Archaeology.” Women & Spirituality Conference, Minnesota State University, Mankato, October 4-5, 1999, Mankato, Minnesota.
“Malta: A Spiritual and Archaeological Pilgrimage.” Women & Spirituality Conference, Minnesota State University, Mankato, October 10-11, 1998, Mankato, Minnesota.
“Archaeomythological Interpretations of the Megalithic Monuments of Neolithic Malta.” Founding Conference of the Institute of Archaeomythology, July 14-18, 1998, Madouri, Greece.
“Archaeomythological Interpretations of the Megalithic Monuments of Neolithic Malta.” Earth Shaped by Women, Women Shaped by Earth Conference, June 28-29, 1998, Istanbul, Turkey.
“A History of the Goddess.” Women & Spirituality Conference, Minnesota State University, Mankato, October 5-6, 1997, Mankato, Minnesota.
“The Courage to Find the Goddess.” Women & Spirituality Conference, Minnesota State University, Mankato, October 6-7, 1996, Mankato, Minnesota.
AWARDS
Research Assistantship, California Institute of Integral Studies, 2011.
Teaching Assistantships, California Institute of Integral Studies, 2006, 2007, and 2009.
Lifelong Learner Award, 2005, Oakton Community College, “in recognition of my commitment to learning, self-renewal, and professional development.”
Innovative Programming Award, 2004, North Suburban Library System (Illinois), for Beautiful Minds, the Oakton Library’s Distinguished Speaker Series, a series created, developed, and administered by myself and a fellow library faculty member.
Research Assistantship, Northern Illinois University, 1974-1975.
Teaching Assistantships, Northern Illinois University, 1970-1972.
PROFESSIONAL STUDIES OVERSEAS
Heritage and Archaeological Research Practice, University of Glasgow, Experimental Archaeology Field School, Kissonerga-Skalia, Cyprus, August 2014.
California Institute of Integral Studies, Madouri, Greece, June 2002. Sacred Cosmologies and Ancient Greek Mysteries.
Catholic University of Lublin, Poland, Summer 1990. Polish Language, history, and economics.
American School of Classical Studies at Athens, Greece, Summer Session, 1989. Greek history, archaeology, art history, ancient Greek language, and literature.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
1990-Present. Archaeological Institute of America.
2005-Present. Association for the Study of Women and Mythology.
Board Member since 2008.
1998-Present. Institute of Archaeomythology.
2012-2020. Matriarchal Studies Day. I was one of the co-founders and organizers of the biennial conference established to promote modern matriarchal studies in the United States.
