Curriculum Vitae: ADRIEN J. BLEDSTEIN
EDUCATOR, WRITER, INVENTOR, ENTREPRENEUR
An educator and published independent scholar, Adrien Bledstein has led Bible study compared to ancient Near Eastern Literature with adults for five decades. Trained as a reading specialist to increase a person's independent level of reading comprehension, critical thinking, and writing, she conducted a private practice for individuals, including graduate students and professional people. For publications see: https://adrienbledstein.academia.edu/research#articles
Adrien, the "masked granny," in her patented silk comfort mask.
In the early 1990's following a viral respiratory infection Adrien began experiencing periods of fatigue. September 1994, she woke up wheezing. After several antibiotics didn't help, she was diagnosed with a chronic lung disorder. Determined to avoid triggers, she experimented with masks which increased her energy. All the masks she tried were uncomfortable, burdensome, ineffective, or ugly, so she designed her own. Mobilized by environmental illness and by the increasing incidence of breathing disorders in Chicago and worldwide, she applied for a patent and founded a corporation to produce effective, comfortable, attractive quality face masks for individuals to reduce exposure to airborne irritants and to feel good ("Getting Well"). From 2006-2008 Adrien and her daughter, Hannah Bledstein, a milliner trained in theater craft, were asked to develop a pollution sport mask for two international teams of elite athletes competing during heavy pollution in test events in preparation for Beijing games in August & September 2008.
Publications: https://adrienbledstein.academia.edu/research
2016 “Feminism Re-frames Who Wrote Hebrew Scriptures: 10th Century Tamar, the ‘Master’ Storyteller,” M. Paludi and J. H. Ellens, Feminism & Religion: How Faiths View Women and Their Rights, (Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger Publishers Inc, 2016)
2007 "David at the Cave of Adullam, Depression and Hypergraphia," ed. J. Harold Ellens, Festschrift for Bruce M. Metzger, Vol. 2 (Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix Press, 2007) 241-250
2006 "Woman's Humor in the Bible?" Humanist Judaism, XXXIV Number II Spring 2006, 14-16 (Reprinted with slight changes from 1991 and 1998)
2004 Review of Sarah: Mother of Nations by Tammi Schneider, Interpretation.
2001 "Family Matters, a Multidimensional Reading of Miriam's Humiliation and Healing," Numbers 12, Biblical Research, vol. XLVI, 1991 (sic) 2, 55-61
2000 "Tamar and the 'Coat of Many Colors' '" Samuel and Kings, A Feminist Companion to the Bible, ed. A. Brenner (Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 2000) 2/7:65-83
1997 United States Patent Number 5,701,892 December 30,
1997: "Multipurpose Face Mask that Maintains an Airspace between the Mask and the Wearer’s Face"
1995 "Dr. Tamar" a letter in Bible Review October 1995, 10-11
1993 "Was Eve Cursed? or did a woman write Genesis?" Bible Review February 1993, IX:1, 42-45
1993 "Binder, Trickster, Heel and Hairy-man: Rereading Genesis 27 as a Trickster Tale Told by a Woman" Genesis, A Feminist Companion to the Bible, ed. A. Brenner (Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1993) 2:282-295
1993 "Female Companionships: If the Book of Ruth Were Written by a Woman . . . ." Ruth, A Feminist Companion to the Bible, ed. A. Brenner (Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1993) 3:116-133
1993 "Is Judges a Woman's Satire of Men Who Play God?" Judges, A Feminist Companion to the Bible, ed. A. Brenner (Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1993) 4:34-54
1992 "Was Habbirya? a Healing Ritual Performed by a Woman in King David's House?" Biblical Research, 1992, 37:5-31
1991 "Dear Harold Bloom" Lilith, Summer 1991, 16:3, 28
1991 "So J Was a Woman?" Sh'ma, A Journal of Jewish Responsibility February 8, 1991, 21:407, 49-51
1982 "Huldah" KAM-II Bulletin, 11/30/82
1981 "The Trials of Sarah," Judaism, Fall 1981, 30:4, 411-417
1977 "The Genesis of Humans: The Garden of Eden Revisited," Judaism, Spring 1977, 26:2, 187-200
Papers and Presentations:
2013 "Earthquake, Mayhem, and Prophetic Misogyny: A Seismic Shift in Biblical Thinking," International SBL, July
2013 "Princess, Priestess, and "Master" Storyteller for Teaching Bible," Midwest SBL, Feb. 9th
2013 "Psalms of David in the Context of His Life," Midwest SBL Feb. 9th
2011 Design for America, Northwestern University, workshop about developing products for coping with asthma with students from seven universities.
2011 "Performing Job as Comedy: The Trouble with Being Earnest" Society of Biblical Literature, London, Seminar on the Book of Job.
2010 Intellectual Property Law "Protecting Your Ideas," COS Law Workshop, Golder College Prep, Chicago, Fridays May 7 & October 8, 2010, Meet an Inventor: Adrien Bledstein, Founder/President – I Can Breathe!® Masks
2009 "King David's Mother" SBL Annual Meeting
2008 "Abuse and Recovery: 2 Samuel 13:1-22, Telling the Story," Society of Biblical Literature, Rome, Methods in Hebrew Bible Studies: Text and Context: New Approaches; 2008 SBL, Boston, MA Saturday, Psychology and Biblical Studies Section, S22-128 Abuse and Healing in Biblical Texts, November. Review by Robin Gallaher Branch, Professor, Biblical Studies Crichton College, Memphis
2008 "Agony, Laughter, and Healing: Performing Job as Tragicomedy," Society of Biblical Literature, Rome, Biblical Scholarship and Disabilities: Ancient Medicine and Healing Practices; 2008 Chicago Society for Biblical Research, 4/5/08
2007 "Laughter in the Book of Job?" Society of Biblical Literature, San Diego, CA, November 18th.
2006 "David’s Rupture with God, Depression, and Recovery," Society of Biblical Literature, Washington DC, November 19th
2005 "David at the Cave of Adullam: Depression and Hypergraphia," Society of Biblical Literature, Philadelphia, November 19th
2005 "'Against them, my son, be warned?' Reading Kohelet as a Satire Written by a Woman," Society of Biblical Literature, Philadelphia, November
2003 "Parallel Triangles: Bata and Uriah, Beautiful Wife and Ruler," Society of Biblical Literature, Atlanta, November
2002 "Zipporah at a Crossroads" Society of Biblical Literature, Toronto, November
2001 "Family Matters, a Multidimensional Reading of Miriam's Humiliation and Healing" Chicago Society for Biblical Research, 2/25/01
2000 Small Business Expert, Women’s Business Development Center, Chicago
1998 "The Meaning of a Garment and a Buildup Curse in Isaiah 22:15-25" Society of Biblical Literature, Orlando, November
1993 "Judah, the Lion, and Tamar, the Tree of Life: Excavating Genesis 38," illustrated. Chicago Society for Biblical Research, 4/17/93
1992 "Sons of Gods, Angels, and Kings: Blurred Boundaries between Mortal and Divine," Society of Biblical Literature, San Francisco, November
Edited
1995 "Effects of the Holocaust on Fatherhood: A Pilot Study of Male Second-Generation Offspring," Pamela Beth Wasserman, Ph.D. dissertation
1992 "Marginal Teachers," Ida Gross, Ph.D. dissertation
1976-2010 Articles by Burton J. Bledstein, American History
1976 The Culture of Professionalism, Burton J. Bledstein (New York: W. W. Norton)
Employment
1995-2015 Founder and President of I Can Breathe! Inc. Air Filter Masks (U. S. Patent 5,701,892)
1967-2015 Teaching Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Literature, adults, teens, K.A.M. Isaiah Israel Congregation, Chicago
1982-87; 92-95; 99-2005 Chicago Sinai Congregation, Adult Bible Study
1986-95 Teaching Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Literature, Open University for Adults, Jewish Community Center
1986-97 Readers' Academy, individual instruction in reading comprehension, critical thinking and writing, all ages
1987-94 Reading therapy for brain trauma rehabilitation
1985-89 Dawn Schuman Institute for Jewish Studies, adults
1990 Staff training for teachers, public schools
1978-86 The Reading Institute, individual instruction all ages
1972-1986 Summers, educator/librarian at Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute
1971 Designed and manufactured baby carrier, sold to Marshall Field, Chicago
1961-66 English and public speaking teacher, drama director, Pennington Central High School, New Jersey
Professional Associations
Chicago Asthma Consortium, American Lung Association
Chicago Society for Biblical Research
Chicago Storytelling Guild
National Coalition of Independent Scholars
Sisters in Crime
Society of Biblical Literature
Women’s Business Development Center, Chicago
Education
1995-2015 Independent research on patents, environmental illness, masks and business
1969-2015 Independent research leading to publications on the Bible
1995 Seminar at the Woman’s Business Development Center, Chicago
1980 Jewish Educators' Seminar in Israel
1978-86 The Reading Institute founded by Elsa Richmond, Chicago
1976-8, 80-81 Spertus College of Judaica, Chicago (Hebrew, Bible)
1965 Lawrenceville-Rutgers Summer Session for High School English Teachers
1964 Rutgers Institute for High School English Teachers
1956-61 University of California at Los Angeles, B.A. and High School Teaching Certificate in English and Social Studies
1956-58 College of Jewish Studies, Los Angeles, Teaching Certificate
©All rights reserved, Adrien J. Bledstein This page was last updated on 01/06/18.