Beth L. Virtanen
Finnish North American Literature Association
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Biographical Information
Beth L. Virtanen was raised in Toivola, Michigan, granddaughter of a Finnish
immigrant grandfather, Frank Virtanen, and a French Canadian/Native American
grandmother, Kathryn Lepine, on her father's side and great granddaughter of
four Finnish immigrants on her mother's side, including Einokki and Senja
Wiideman and Andrew and Johannah Wisti. She has examined her cultural
heritage in depth, including developing proficiency in the French language, an
acquaintance with Ojibway language and culture, an acquaintance with the Finnish
language and extended study of Finnish immigrant culture, migration, and
literature in the US and Canada.
She was educated at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor (A.B.), Ball State
University in Muncie, IN (M.A.), and Michigan Technological University (PhD), and
in 2006 she earned an M.S. in Higher Education Administration from Capella
University online. She also attended Suomi College and Northern Michigan
University. She has taught in Alaska, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Nigeria, Canada,
and Puerto Rico. She has two sons, Shane and Brandon Hirvi.
Beth Virtanen has published numerous articles on writing theory and pedagogy,
education, and diaspora literature. She has also published poetry and short fiction.
Creative Publications
“On the Treadmill in Bethel, Alaska.” Short Story. New Orphic Review, Spring 2007.
“Swamp Roses,” Origins and Identity,” Three Words Cost Ten,” and “I Happened to
Lose.” Poems. New Orphic Review, Autumn, 2006.
"At the Train Station in Helsinki." Short Fiction. New World Finn. Winter 2006.
Virtanen, Beth L. Guarding Passage. Poems and photos. Iowa City, IA: Penfield
Books, 2005.
Virtanen-Armstrong, Beth L. “Talking on His Class,” individual poem. Now Here
Nowhere, 2000. 3(1):18.
Hirvi, Beth L. “Brothers.” Above the Bridge. 1984.
Pertinent Critical Work
Editor. 2008. Landscapes and Soulscapes: On the Literature of Finnish North
America. Special Issue of the Journal of Finnish Studies/Monograph: Aspasia
Books, Beaverton, Ontario, Canada.
2008. “Red, Yellow, Pink, and White: Shades of Ideology in Finnish North
American Writing.” Journal of Finnish Studies. University of Toronto.
2007. “Suomi on Kaunis Maa: Memories of Finland as Cultural Markers in Finnish
North American Autobiography.” Journal of Finnish Studies. University of Toronto.
"Female Poets in the Finnish Diaspora: An Analysis of Identity Presented in Four
Poets' Works." Journal of Finnish Studies 9 (2005): 39-59.
Beth L. Virtanen was raised in Toivola, Michigan, granddaughter of a Finnish
immigrant grandfather, Frank Virtanen, and a French Canadian/Native American
grandmother, Kathryn Lepine, on her father's side and great granddaughter of
four Finnish immigrants on her mother's side, including Einokki and Senja
Wiideman and Andrew and Johannah Wisti. She has examined her cultural
heritage in depth, including developing proficiency in the French language, an
acquaintance with Ojibway language and culture, an acquaintance with the Finnish
language and extended study of Finnish immigrant culture, migration, and
literature in the US and Canada.
She was educated at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor (A.B.), Ball State
University in Muncie, IN (M.A.), and Michigan Technological University (PhD), and
in 2006 she earned an M.S. in Higher Education Administration from Capella
University online. She also attended Suomi College and Northern Michigan
University. She has taught in Alaska, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Nigeria, Canada,
and Puerto Rico. She has two sons, Shane and Brandon Hirvi.
Beth Virtanen has published numerous articles on writing theory and pedagogy,
education, and diaspora literature. She has also published poetry and short fiction.
Creative Publications
“On the Treadmill in Bethel, Alaska.” Short Story. New Orphic Review, Spring 2007.
“Swamp Roses,” Origins and Identity,” Three Words Cost Ten,” and “I Happened to
Lose.” Poems. New Orphic Review, Autumn, 2006.
"At the Train Station in Helsinki." Short Fiction. New World Finn. Winter 2006.
Virtanen, Beth L. Guarding Passage. Poems and photos. Iowa City, IA: Penfield
Books, 2005.
Virtanen-Armstrong, Beth L. “Talking on His Class,” individual poem. Now Here
Nowhere, 2000. 3(1):18.
Hirvi, Beth L. “Brothers.” Above the Bridge. 1984.
Pertinent Critical Work
Editor. 2008. Landscapes and Soulscapes: On the Literature of Finnish North
America. Special Issue of the Journal of Finnish Studies/Monograph: Aspasia
Books, Beaverton, Ontario, Canada.
2008. “Red, Yellow, Pink, and White: Shades of Ideology in Finnish North
American Writing.” Journal of Finnish Studies. University of Toronto.
2007. “Suomi on Kaunis Maa: Memories of Finland as Cultural Markers in Finnish
North American Autobiography.” Journal of Finnish Studies. University of Toronto.
"Female Poets in the Finnish Diaspora: An Analysis of Identity Presented in Four
Poets' Works." Journal of Finnish Studies 9 (2005): 39-59.
| Beth L. Virtanen |
| Beth at the "big Buddha" on Lantau |
| Beth at restaurant by big Buddha |
| Big Buddha, up close |