Annette Sisson

Annette Sisson is Professor of English and Graduate Program Director in the College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences at Belmont University. She holds a Ph.D. from Indiana University and specializes in Victorian Literature, particularly the works of George Eliot. Her teaching spans Victorian and Modern Fiction, The Novel, Senior Seminar, and interdisciplinary courses such as First-Year Seminar and Literature & the Stage, which she co-teaches as part of a Learning Community.

Her research and pedagogical interests include:

• Victorian Literature and George Eliot
• Wendell Berry’s essays, poetry, and fiction
• Ethical living and multidisciplinary approaches to the humanities
• Intersections of literature and theater
• Curriculum development and general education

She has led multiple Study Abroad programs to London, focusing on authors like Dickens, Hardy, Sherlock Holmes, and Harry Potter, and is planning future Maymester and summer programs. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes deep humanistic inquiry and experiential learning.

Annette Sisson has held significant academic leadership roles, including Director of General Education (1998–2006), Director of the Master of Arts in English (2010–2015), and President of the Faculty Senate (2014–2015). She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Nashville Children’s Theater as Secretary and is active in campus-wide committees related to curriculum, tenure, and writing awards. She is also an active participant in the Nashville arts community, attending theater productions and engaging in church and musical activities such as choir and piano.