Chris Barrett

Chris Barrett is an Associate Professor of English at Louisiana State University (LSU) and serves as Dean's Fellow in the College of Humanities & Social Sciences. She joined LSU's faculty in 2012 after earning her Ph.D. in English from Harvard University. Her research focuses on early modern English literature, geocritical approaches, ecocriticism, and critical animal studies, with particular attention to Spenser, Milton, and Shakespeare. She currently serves as acting director of the HSS Humanities Center and previously advised LSU's Spectrum LGBTQIA+ organization from 2013–2024.

• Education: Ph.D., Harvard University (English)

Her research explores intersections of literature, geography, and environment. Notable works include Early Modern English Literature and the Poetics of Cartographic Anxiety (Oxford UP, 2018), recognized with a Rainmaker Award. Her writings analyze topics like forests, whales, fire, and humor in early modern texts. Supported by grants from the Newberry Library, Folger Library, and others, her work bridges literary analysis with environmental and spatial studies.

Awards:

• Rainmaker Award (2018)
• Outstanding Professor Award (LSU Student Government, 2018)
• Tiger Athletic Foundation President’s Award (2017)

Advising & Leadership: Advised Spectrum LSU’s largest LGBTQIA+ group for over a decade. Currently leads the HSS Humanities Center, fostering interdisciplinary humanities research and collaboration.