Christopher Donovan

Christopher Donovan is a Lecturer in Cinema Studies at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Arts & Sciences, where he has taught since 2000. He also serves as Assistant Director of Advising Services and Academic Support for the College of Arts and Sciences. Previously, he spent two decades as House Dean of Gregory College House, founding the Film Culture Program there. Donovan earned his PhD in Contemporary American Literature from New York University (1998) and is a Penn alumnus (B.A., 1992).

His research focuses on Contemporary American Film and American Film Criticism, with notable publications including Postmodern Counternarratives: Irony and Audience in the Novels of Paul Auster, Don DeLillo, Charles Johnson and Tim O'Brien. He teaches courses such as Science Fiction Cinema, The Coen Brothers, and Film Criticism, emphasizing modern and genre-based film analysis.

Donovan’s academic service includes curriculum development, student advising, and fostering interdisciplinary engagement through film programs. His courses consistently explore intersections between literature, media, and cultural critique.