About
Dr. Sara Rutkowski is a Professor of English at Kingsborough Community College, part of the City University of New York (CUNY) system. She is a leading scholar in the field of Federal Writers' Project (FWP) studies, with expertise in American literature, oral history, and cultural studies from the Great Depression era.
Professor Rutkowski's research focuses on the Federal Writers' Project, a New Deal initiative that documented American life between 1935 and 1943. Her work explores how this government program collected oral histories, folklore, and former slave narratives, and produced travel guides that continue to influence American culture. She is particularly interested in how 21st century scholars can engage with FWP materials to address contemporary questions about American identity.
Her research has significant implications across multiple disciplines:
- Connecting historical documentation practices with modern digital humanities approaches
- Exploring how oral history techniques from the 1930s can inform contemporary fieldwork
- Examining the ongoing impact of FWP materials on literature, media, and public policy
- Developing pedagogical approaches to engage students with primary historical sources
Professor Rutkowski has received significant recognition for her work:
- Awarded a $200,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to co-direct a national institute for college faculty focused on the Federal Writers' Project
- Editor of "Rewriting America: New Essays on the Federal Writers' Project," the first multidisciplinary volume focused on the FWP
- Recognized as a leading voice in the growing field of FWP scholarship
As part of her NEH grant, Professor Rutkowski is co-directing a three-week national institute for college faculty in summer 2026, building on the success of a previous NEH-funded institute she led in 2021. The program will bring together 25 faculty and graduate students from across the country to develop curricula that engage students in multidisciplinary study of the FWP. She is collaborating with LIU Professor Deborah Mutnick on this joint project between Kingsborough Community College and Long Island University.
Professor Rutkowski's work bridges academic scholarship with public engagement, emphasizing how historical documentation projects can inform contemporary understanding of American identity and culture.
