Maria K. Bachman, associate professor of English at Coastal Carolina University, has been appointed director of the Women's and Gender Studies Program, an interdisciplinary program that draws on resources from education, business, humanities, the fine arts, and natural and applied sciences.

As director, Bachman will organize lectures, films, workshops, and other cultural events devoted to the advancement of women's and gender studies throughout the university. Prior to this appointment, she served as co-director of the University Honors Program from 2001-2005. She earned a bachelor's degree in international affairs from George Washington University, a master's degree in English from George Mason University and a doctorate in English from the University of Tennessee.

Prior to her academic career, she served as managing editor of publications for the National Organization for Women, and as legislative associate for Business and Professional Women USA, a bipartisan organization dedicated to grassroots activism, policy influence and advocacy for working women. She co-edited scholarly editions of two Wilkie Collins novels, "The Woman in White" and "Blind Love." She is also the author of "Reality's Dark Light: The Sensational Wilkie Collins."