Heather Schell

Heather Schell is an Assistant Professor in the University Writing Program at George Washington University, part of the Columbian College of Arts & Sciences. Her research focuses on popular romance narratives, gender, sexuality, and cross-cultural analysis. She is currently co-chair of the Romance Area of the Popular Culture Association and leads a book project examining Turkish and U.S. popular romance readership. Schell’s work bridges literary studies and cultural sociology, emphasizing how narratives shape social and political identities.

Education:

• Ph.D. Modern Thought and Literature (2000), Stanford University
• M.A. English (1991), Georgetown University
• B.S.F.S., Foreign Service (1988), Georgetown University

Research: Schell’s book project involves surveying 300 Turkish Harlequin readers and analyzing translated romance texts. Her co-authored article How the Story Ends: Gender, Sexuality, and Nation in the Happy Ending (2019) explores global interpretations of happy endings across cultural and political contexts. Recent publications include After ‘I Do’: Turkish Harlequin Readers Re-Imagine the Happy Ending (2020) and Sheikh Romance in Post-9/11 America (2016).

Publications & Impact: Her articles span cultural critique, gender studies, and interdisciplinary topics, including analyses of science fiction, folklore, and telecommunications systems. Schell’s work engages with contemporary debates on social justice and romance narratives, reflecting her commitment to intersectional scholarship.