About
Jeffrey Cohen is Dean of Humanities in The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Arizona State University (ASU), holding the title of Foundation Professor of English. He previously served at George Washington University as department chair and administrator. His research explores monsters, environmental humanities, and medieval studies, emphasizing how cultural phenomena reveal societal values. Notable works include Stone: An Ecology of the Inhuman (2015) and collaborations with planetary scientists on Earth (2023).
Education: BA in History of English (University of Rochester), PhD in English and American Literature from Harvard University. Academic service includes co-presidency of the Association for the Study of Literature and the Environment (ASLE). Awards include the 2017 René Wellek Prize in comparative literature.
- Leadership: Revitalized humanities programs at GW and ASU, emphasizing interdisciplinary study and environmental justice.
- Research Focus: Monsters as cultural metaphors, planetary thinking, climate narratives, and medieval ecological thought.
- Public Engagement: Featured in New Yorker, New York Times, and climate policy consultations.
- Labs/Initiatives: Co-founded the GW Medieval and Early Studies Institute and ASU's environmental humanities initiatives.
Advocates for accessible education, diversity in academia, and using humanities to address climate crises. Collaborates across disciplines with scientists, artists, and global scholars.
