Christi A. Merrill

Christi A. Merrill is a Professor of South Asian Literature and Postcolonial Theory at the University of Michigan, with a secondary appointment as Associate Professor of Comparative Literature. Her work bridges translation theory, postcolonial studies, and human rights discourse, focusing on contemporary Indian literature and Dalit narratives.

• Education: Ph.D. in Comparative Literature (University of Iowa, 1999), M.F.A. in Translation (University of Iowa, 1993), M.F.A. in Nonfiction Writing (University of Iowa, 1999)

Professor Merrill's research interrogates translation's role in negotiating cultural possession, gendered discrimination, and human rights through South Asian literature. She has pioneered courses integrating digital pedagogy, including virtual workshops and online tools for analyzing translated texts and museum collections.

Her scholarship spans translation ethics, caste studies, and intercultural representation, with publications in Blackwell’s Companion, Rutgers University Press, and World Literature Today. She has served as a keynote speaker at international conferences including the International Hindi Conference and Jaipur Literature Festival.

• Awards:
  • A.K. Ramanujan Award for Translation (2012)
  • NEA Literature Fellowship
  • NEH/AIIS Senior Fellowship
  • University of Michigan Human Rights Fellowship

Merrill has advised graduate students across disciplines including Anthropology, English, and South Asian Studies, while developing innovative approaches to teaching translation ethics and intercultural communication.