Chris Phillips

Chris Phillips is a Professor of English and Department Head at Lafayette College. He holds a Ph.D., M.A., and B.A. from Stanford University (2007, 2001) and Westmont College (2000). His research focuses on the history of reading, book history, and transatlantic literatures, with notable works exploring epic traditions, hymnology, and early American cultural interactions. Phillips emphasizes teaching as an act of hospitality and discovery, fostering student engagement through hands-on activities and interdisciplinary methods.

His awards include the Jones Faculty Lecture Award (2014) and prestigious fellowships from the NEH and ACLS. Phillips is deeply involved in community initiatives, serving as board president of the Easton Book Festival and an elder at College Hill Presbyterian Church. He mentors students in research projects, such as the Easton Library Company Database, blending literary analysis with digital humanities.

Research interests include early American literature, the intersection of religion and text, and the materiality of books. His work bridges historical analysis with contemporary relevance, examining forgotten voices and marginalized narratives in American literary history.