Chris Foss

Chris Foss is a Professor of English and Linguistics at the University of Mary Washington (College of Arts and Sciences), specializing in 19th-century British literature and disability studies. His research explores intersections between literary analysis, pedagogy, and autism advocacy.

• B.A., Concordia College (English with secondary education & Spanish)
• M.A., Northeastern University (literature)
• Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison (19th-century British literature)

Foss’s primary research focuses on 19th-century British authors like Toru Dutt, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and Oscar Wilde. His secondary expertise lies in disability studies, particularly autism, where he examines literary representations and inclusive pedagogical practices. Recent work includes analyzing Wilde’s fairy tales through disability theory and universal design principles in education.

His articles reflect trends in postcolonial literature, pedagogical ethics, and disability advocacy, with emphasis on historical contexts and interdisciplinary approaches. Foss actively contributes to academic discourse through presentations at conferences like the Nineteenth Century Studies Association and editorial roles at Ought: The Journal of Autistic Culture.