Derek F. DiMatteo

Derek F. DiMatteo serves as Assistant Professor in the English Department at Gannon University, Erie, PA since 2020, and concurrently holds the position of Associate Executive Director at the Northeast Modern Language Association (NeMLA) starting in 2024. His academic journey spans teaching in Japan, editorial work at Indiana University Press, and advanced studies in literature and cultural studies.

• PhD in English (Literature concentration, American Studies minor), Indiana University (2019)
• MA in English Literature, Indiana University (2014)
• MAT in English Education, Tufts University (2002)
• BA in English Literature, Wesleyan University (1997)

Specializing in post-1945 American literature and cultural studies, DiMatteo investigates protest literature, academic capitalism, and representations of race through interdisciplinary American Studies frameworks. His research bridges ecocriticism, satire, and critical pedagogy with transnational perspectives, particularly examining how cultural works like campus novels and films critique higher education's corporatization. Current projects focus on the intersections of identity formation, immigrant experiences, and educational justice in contemporary African American narratives.

Recent publications (2024-2025) demonstrate consistent thematic threads across literary analysis and educational practice, with dominant focus on African American satire, identity politics in media, and teacher development. His work reveals methodological diversity—from analyzing DJ aesthetics in Paul Beatty's fiction to dissecting protest narratives in campus films—while maintaining critical engagement with institutional power structures in academia and society.

DiMatteo actively contributes to academic service through Gannon's CHESS Strategic Planning Committee, Faculty Development Grant Committee (2021-2024), and Teacher Education Advisory Committee. He organizes faculty writing groups and participates in professional societies including MLA, MELUS, and NCTE, reflecting his commitment to collaborative scholarly communities. His teaching portfolio spans ecocriticism, young adult literature, and educational philosophy, emphasizing the practical applications of literary study for students' professional development.