Daniel J. DeWispelare

Daniel J. DeWispelare (1983–2024) was an Associate Professor of English at George Washington University (GWU), tenured since 2018. He held a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the University of Pennsylvania (2011). His scholarship focused on multilingualism, textual authority, and 18th-/19th-century British and international literature. Known for his linguistic expertise and comparative approaches, his notable work Multilingual Subjects: On Standard English, Its Speakers, and Others in the Long Eighteenth Century (2017) explores language dynamics and cultural justice. Colleagues and students praised his intellectual rigor, generosity, and teaching excellence. He taught at Bilkent University (Ankara) before joining GWU in 2012. Survived by a legacy of impactful scholarship and personal warmth, he is remembered as a scholar-teacher of profound curiosity and humility.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Comparative Literature, University of Pennsylvania (2011)
• Dissertation: Textual Shibboleths: Anglophony, Authority, and Authenticity, 1753–1832 (Advisor: Michael Gamer)

Research Interests: DeWispelare’s work bridged historical linguistics, literary analysis, and cultural studies. He examined how language shaped identity, power, and cross-cultural communication in early modern Britain, with particular attention to multilingualism’s role in colonial and transnational contexts. His scholarship on British Romanticism and transatlantic literature emphasized marginalized voices and textual fluidity.

Legacy: A celebrated teacher, he mentored numerous students and fostered inclusive academic environments. His colleagues highlighted his intellectual generosity, warmth, and resilience amid long-term illness. Penn’s English Department and GWU community mourn his passing, honoring his contributions to literature and humanity.