B.J. Woodstein

B.J. Woodstein is a Senior Lecturer in Literature and Translation at the School of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing, University of East Anglia (UEA), where she has been a faculty member since 2009. She is also a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, reflecting her commitment to teaching excellence.

Her academic background includes a B.A. in Literature and Creative Writing from Bryn Mawr College (2001), an MFA in Creative Writing from Queens University (2004), a Ph.D. in Translation Studies from Swansea University (2009), and an MA in Higher Education Practice from UEA (2011).

Dr. Woodstein's research spans multiple interconnected fields, including Translation Studies, Children's Literature, LGBTQ+ Studies, Scandinavian Literature, and Comics and Graphic Novels. Her work critically examines representation, identity, and cultural transfer, particularly in how LGBTQ+ characters are portrayed in children's and young adult literature, and how figurative language is translated across languages and cultures.

Her recent publications reveal a strong trend toward interdisciplinary, socially engaged scholarship. Themes include maternal representation (especially breastfeeding), death in picturebooks, queer parenting, and genre-specific translation challenges. Her work bridges academic and public discourse, often contributing to popular media outlets.

• Senior Fellow, Higher Education Academy (HEA)

Dr. Woodstein supervises PhD students and has secured external funding from institutions such as the Swedish Institute and the Nordic Culture Fund. She was also involved in the ERASMUS+ project Towards a European Reference Framework for the Education and Training of Literary Translators, indicating collaboration across European academic networks. While not leading a formal lab, her work is embedded in collaborative research groups, including the Comics Studies Research Group at UEA, and she frequently engages with libraries, schools, and community organizations through workshops and public speaking.