Hallfríður Þórarinsdóttir

Frida Thorarins (a.k.a Hallfríður Þórarinsdóttir)
Reykjavik’s Academy
Hringbraut 121, 107 Reykjavík, Iceland
unicom@akademia.is

EDUCATION

1999 Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology. Dissertation title: "Purity and Power: the Policy of Purism in Icelandic Nationalism and National Identity". The New School for Social Research, Graduate Faculty, 65 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10003, USA.

AWARDS & GRANTS

2006 Margrét Björgólfsdóttir Memorial Fund.
2003 - 2006 Grundtvig II Learning Partnerships of the European Union. Project: Towards an Integration of Immigrants.
2003-2004 Education Fund of the Icelandic Directorate of Labor
2001 Innovation Fund of IceTec Technological Institute of Iceland -Frumkvöðlasjóður
1997 The Icelandic Research Council - Vísindasjóður Rannís.
1996 The Icelandic Association of University Women – Félag háskólakvenna.
1995-1996 John D. and Catherine MacArthur Foundation, New School Ph.D. Fellowship.
1994-1995 American Scandinavian Foundation, Thor Thors Fellowship.
1986-1989 Graduate Faculty Dean’s Fellowship, The New School for Social Research.

WORK EXPERIENCE - highlights

Lecturer, organizer, director
University of Iceland, Reykjavik’s University, Bifröst School of Business, Long Island University, Columbia University, Borough of Manhattan Community College (CUNY), School of Visual Arts, UniCom Education Center, Fræðsluver GG, and numerous Icelandic private businesses and public institutions.
Anthropology lecturer. Author, lecturer and organizer in numerous Life Long Learning workshops. Subjects: Nationalism, Language, Culture and Identity, Anthropological Theories, Intercultural Communication, Culture and Market, The Multi-Cultural Work Place, National

Identity and Globalization, Icelandic Language Policy, Communication and Interaction in the Workplace, and many more. Founder and executive director of UniCom Education Center. Lecturer, public speaker and organizer of a variety of seminars, workshops, lectures’ given by UniCom on issues concerning immigration, ethnic relations, nationalism and globalization.
Cofounder of Simennt.is, a distant learning center, serving all the members of The Federation of State and Municipal Employers (BSRB).
Worked as a reporter, host and producer at the Icelandic State Radio and other radio stations in Reykjavik.

Seminars

Reserved Workforce or Unused Resources? Organizer and manager of monthly seminars on various immigrant issues ReykjavíkurAkademía 2005-2006.
Integration vs. Isolation? Seminar focusing on immigration in Iceland May 28th 2005. Reykjavik’s Akademy
President of The Icelandic Anthropological Association from its founding in 2002 until the present. Organizer and manager of monthly seminars held by the IAA from 2002- 2006.
Conference Reykjavik February 24-26 ReykjavíkurAkademían.

Papers – selection

03/11 2006. “Beloved, language, the nation and the culture”. ReykjavíkurAkademían Seminar on immigration issues.
02/25 2006. “Doomed course or justified power? Linguistic purity a national mission in times of intensified immigration and globalization” Images of the North: International
04/22/05 “Cultural differences, cultural similarities”. Grundtvig 4th Informal Meeting – Socrates. Reykjavík City Hall.
01/25/05 “Language of power – the power of language” Icel. Historical Soc. Nordic House.
22/10/04. “Representative of indignities“ Studies in Soc. Sci. V. University of Iceland.
05/12/04. “Culture as a resource and commodity”. The Anthropological Assoc. of Iceland. ReykjavíkurAkademían.
01/17/04 “Language policy – Cultural policy, who rules, what rules and why? Seminar on Cultural Heritage, Cultural Studies and Cultural Policy. Nordic House Reykjavík.
06/14/03 “What is racism?” Conference on Racism in Nordic House Reykjavík.
04/01/03 “Culture in the workplace” Talk given for nurses at Akureyri’s Hospital.
12/17/03 “Response to criticism on Icelandic language policy.” ReykjavíkurAkademían.
11/13/02: “Political correctness and Icelandic language policy” The Anthropological Assoc. of Iceland, International House Reykjavík.
9/11/01: "Globalization and Icelandic national identity – two poles on the same axes? Icel. Historical Society. Nordic House Reykjavík.
17/3 2001: "The belief in purity and multi-cultural democracy – incompatible contradictions?
Sigurður Nordal Institute. National Library Reykjavík.
11/08/00: "Icelandic language policy and national identity” Conference on the Icelandic language at the turn of the century. Menntaskólinn á Akureyri.
04/04/00: “Language and language protection” Rannsóknarstofnun Kennaraháskóla Íslands
11/24/99: “Language and Power” ReykjavíkurAkademían.

Publications – selection

“Language of power – the power of language” Icel. Hist. Soc. Nordic House. Kistan.is # 3664. 2005.
Teacher and Apprentice in the Work Place. The Education Center of Metal Industries, Reykjavík May 2004.
“Representative of Indignities“ a critique on Icelandic nationalism. Research in The Social Sciences A Reader. Fall 2004. University of Iceland Press. Rannsóknir í félagsvísindum V. Haust 2004. Útg. Háskólaútgáfan.
“Globalizaion and Icelandic National Identity” in Kistan.is # 1924. 2001.
“The Belief in Purity and Multi-Cultural Democracy – incompatible differences.” Lesbók Morgunblað April 28, 2001.
Purity and Power: The Policy of Purism in Icelandic Nationalism and National Identity. Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis. New York: New School for Social Research.