About
Richard Astro is Provost Emeritus and Distinguished University Professor in the Department of English and Philosophy at Drexel University. His career spans academic leadership roles, including deanships at Northeastern University and provost positions at the University of Central Florida and Drexel. He has also engaged in consultancy work with professional baseball organizations and Eastern European educational institutions.
Education:
- PhD in American Literature, University of Washington (1969)
- MA in English, University of Colorado (1965)
- BA in English, Oregon State University (1964)
Research focuses on 20th-century American fiction, 18th-century British poetry, and intersections of sports and social issues. His work includes seminal studies on John Steinbeck and marine biologist Edward F. Ricketts, as well as collaborative analyses of Bernard Malamud’s fiction. Notable contributions include the establishment of the Center for the Study of Sport and Society and educational partnerships in Eastern Europe.
Publications reflect his interdisciplinary approach, blending literary analysis with ecological and social critiques. His later work includes an introduction to Steinbeck and Ricketts’ The Log from the Sea of Cortez.
Grants and advising: While no formal advisees are listed, his leadership roles involved institutional collaborations and curriculum development, such as co-authoring Drexel’s College of Law curriculum. He also advised the Boston Red Sox and New York Mets on player education programs.
Labs/teams: His academic work emphasizes cross-disciplinary initiatives, such as the three-seas marine program and Moldova-Florida educational ties.
