Deanna Benjamin

Deanna Benjamin is a Teaching Professor in College Writing and CAPS at Washington University in St. Louis, affiliated with the College of Arts & Sciences. She holds a PhD from the University of Missouri and an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Her teaching emphasizes theories of identity, memory, storytelling, and the structural and historical dimensions of essays, memoirs, and lyric prose. She co-chairs the McLeod First-Year Writing Prize and the Writing Identity theme, and serves as a four-year advisor for the College of Arts & Sciences.

Education:

• PhD, University of Missouri
• MFA, Vermont College of Fine Arts

Research Interests: Dr. Benjamin’s work explores how narrative forms and pedagogical practices shape identity and memory. She focuses on the intersection of creative nonfiction, rhetorical theory, and the evolution of prose genres. Her teaching integrates critical analysis with creative expression to foster student engagement with interdisciplinary storytelling.

Awards & Roles:

• Co-chair, McLeod First-Year Writing Prize
• Co-chair, Writing Identity Theme Initiative

Advising & Affiliations: As an advisor, she supports undergraduate students across four years of academic development. Her office is located in Cupples II, Room 104, and she can be reached via email or phone (314-935-6700).