Michelle Gompf

Michelle Gompf is a Professor of English and Chair of the Department of Humanities at Concord University's College of Professional and Liberal Studies. Her academic work bridges literary studies, cultural analysis, and interdisciplinary exploration of human nature.

• Ph.D., UNC-Greensboro (2001)
• M.A., University of Rochester (1993)
• B.A., Hollins University (1992)

Dr. Gompf specializes in William Blake studies and its intersections with pop culture, notably through Thomas Harris' Hannibal Lecter novels and the television adaptation Hannibal. Her research examines:

• Historical and cultural contexts of literature
• Contradictions between good/evil and rational/irrational
• Connections between medicine and humanities
• Gender, sexuality, and class dynamics
• Visual arts and narrative media (film, graphic novels)

She has published extensively on Blake's influence in modern criminal narratives, including a monograph on Hannibal Lecter novels (McFarland, 2013) and a forthcoming work analyzing the television series. Her recent scholarship explores societal implications of horror media, with a focus on works like The Purge and Pennywise's cultural resonance.