Edlie Wong

Edlie Wong is Professor and Associate Chair of English at the University of Maryland. Her research bridges African American, Asian American, and Transatlantic literary studies, with emphasis on citizenship, race, and legal history. She directs the Center for Literary and Comparative Studies and has held leadership roles in major academic societies.

Research Focus: Interrogates racial formations through legal narratives and periodical culture. Key themes include:

• Reconstruction-era racial politics
• Transpacific migration and exclusion
• Black-Asian comparative racialization

Publications analyze how 19th-20th century texts shaped concepts of freedom and belonging, with recent work examining digital methodologies in periodical studies.

Awards:

• NEH and Mellon Foundation fellowships
• Presidency of C19: Society of Nineteenth-Century Americanists
• University-level research and service awards

Advises graduate students and leads public humanities initiatives exploring race in historical context.