Laura Behling

Laura Behling serves as a Professor of English at the University of Puget Sound, specializing in American literary history from the late 19th century through contemporary periods, with interdisciplinary expertise bridging literature, medicine, and science.

Her academic foundation includes:

• Bachelor of Arts (BA) from Kalamazoo College (1989)
• Master of Science (MS) from Boston University (1991)
• Master of Arts (MA) from Claremont Graduate University (1992)
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from Claremont Graduate University (1997)

Behling's research critically examines the body in literature, gender identity construction, and medical narratives within American cultural history. Her monograph Gross Anatomies: Fictions of the Physical in American Literature (2008) analyzes representations of physicality, while The Masculine Woman in America, 1890-1935 (2001) explores gender nonconformity in early 20th-century discourse. She extends this work through edited volumes like Hospital Transports (2005), recovering Civil War medical perspectives, and Reading, Writing, and Research (2010), advancing undergraduate scholarly practices.

Her distinguished recognition includes:

• Fulbright Scholar appointment at Palacky University (Olomouc, Czech Republic)
• Fulbright Senior Specialist service at American University of Bulgaria (Blagoevgrad)

Behling actively shapes pedagogy through courses including Medical Narratives and Graphic Narratives, demonstrating her commitment to interdisciplinary connections between literary studies, health humanities, and visual storytelling for Fall 2025 instruction.