Billy J. Stratton

Billy J. Stratton is a Professor of English and Literary Arts at the University of Denver, holding affiliations with the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences and the Interdisciplinary Research Institute for the Study of (in)Equality. He serves as Special Advisor on Native American Partnerships and Programs, and as Liaison for the Cheyenne & Arapaho Sand Creek Descendant Tribal Council. Stratton earned a BA from Miami University (2002) and a PhD in American Indian Studies from the University of Arizona (2008).

His research focuses on Native American literature, ecocriticism, postcolonial studies, and the cultural memory of colonial violence. Notable works include Buried in Shades of Night (2013) and contributions to The Oxford History of Popular Print Culture (2019). He actively engages with historical reconciliation efforts, particularly around the Sand Creek Massacre, and is a leading voice in Indigenous literary and cultural studies.

Stratton's teaching spans contemporary Native American literature, creative writing, and interdisciplinary courses on dystopian narratives and cultural theory. He has published widely in journals such as Wicazo-Sa Review and TIME, and his commentary bridges academic scholarship with public discourse on Indigenous rights and historical justice.