Jennifer Greeson

Jennifer Greeson serves as Associate Professor of English and American Studies within the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Virginia, currently on academic leave. Her scholarly work critically examines the intersections of geography, literature, and national identity formation in American cultural history, with particular expertise in 19th-century American literature and Southern studies.

Education

• Ph.D. in American Studies, Yale University (2001)
• M.A. and M.Phil., Yale University (1997)
• B.A., Duke University (1994)

Professor Greeson's research program investigates how spatial imaginaries construct national narratives, particularly through the lens of the American South. Her work bridges postcolonial theory, transnational American studies, and literary geography, revealing how regional identities become national and global commodities. She has pioneered methodologies for analyzing the exportation of Southern mythology through literary forms like local color fiction and their connections to hemispheric power structures during Reconstruction.

Her publication trajectory demonstrates consistent engagement with foundational American texts while progressively incorporating global frameworks. Early work focused on urban gothic fiction and slavery narratives, evolving toward comprehensive analyses of Enlightenment thought's influence on American literature and the international circulation of Southern identity. This progression culminated in her award-winning monograph Our South and the field-shaping edited volume Keywords for Southern Studies.

Scientific Awards

• C. Hugh Holman Award (2010)
• Class of 1936 Bicentennial Preceptorship, Princeton University (2006-2008)
• National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship (2006)
• Mellon Fellowship, Columbia University Society of Fellows (2001-2003)
• Mrs. Giles Whiting Dissertation Fellowship (1999-2000)
• Jacob K. Javits Fellowship (1995-1999)

Greeson has secured significant external funding including a NEH 'We the People' Fellowship supporting her research on national identity formation. Her scholarly impact is evidenced by the Holman Award for Our South and editorial leadership in major reference works. While specific advising details aren't provided in source materials, her methodological innovations have influenced Southern studies pedagogy through the Keywords for Southern Studies volume used in graduate curricula nationwide.