David Yaffe

David Yaffe was an Assistant Professor of Humanities at Syracuse University’s College of Arts and Sciences, teaching American fiction, poetry, music, and creative nonfiction for nearly 20 years. His academic work blended literary scholarship with music criticism, focusing on jazz, rock, and popular culture. He authored three influential books on music and literature, including the award-winning Reckless Daughter: A Portrait of Joni Mitchell. Yaffe held adjunct roles at CUNY Hunter College and Sarah Lawrence College prior to joining Syracuse in 2005.

Education: PhD from CUNY Graduate Center; BA from Sarah Lawrence College with an early arts training at a Dallas arts high school.

Research interests centered on the intersection of American literature and music, particularly jazz’s influence on 20th-century writing. His critical work appeared in The Nation, Harper’s, and New York Times. Awards included the ASCAP Deems Taylor Award and multiple fellowships.

Grants and recognitions highlighted his interdisciplinary contributions, including the Mellon Foundation Grant and CUNY Writing Fellowship. He advised no listed students but mentored through teaching and critical writing.

No lab affiliations were explicitly noted, though his collaborations with musicians and archival research formed key aspects of his scholarship.