Charlotte Rich

Charlotte Rich, Ph.D., serves as Professor and Chair at Eastern Kentucky University, where she leads academic initiatives while maintaining an active research profile in American literary studies. Her scholarly identity centers on critical examinations of gender, ethnicity, and cultural displacement in late nineteenth and twentieth century American fiction.

Her research program focuses on:

• Late nineteenth & twentieth century American fiction
• Women writers across diverse cultural contexts
• Multicultural narratives in Progressive Era literature
• Expatriate writer communities in Paris
• Feminist literary recovery projects

Professor Rich's publication trajectory reveals sustained engagement with multiethnic American literary traditions, particularly through her monograph 'Transcending the New Woman' (2009) and foundational work on Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Her scholarship consistently bridges historical literary analysis with contemporary critical frameworks addressing identity and representation.

Her distinguished contributions have been recognized through:

• EKU Foundation Professor Award for scholarly excellence
• Sheltowee Distinguished Service Award from EKU Honors Program
• 2023-24 Teaching & Learning Annual Themed Award for Workforce & Employability Skills

As Department Chair, Professor Rich oversees academic programming while mentoring students through research opportunities in literary studies. Her professional affiliations with national societies for American women writers and multi-ethnic literature provide students with access to broader scholarly networks and conference participation opportunities. Current teaching innovations focus on developing employability skills through literary analysis and critical thinking.