Eir-Anne Edgar

Eir-Anne Edgar serves as Associate Professor of Literature in English within the Department of Teacher Education at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Faculty of Education. She holds leadership positions as 2022-2026 Vice President of the American Studies Association in Norway (ASANOR) and founder of NTNU's North American Studies research group. Her institutional affiliations extend to the International Research Society for Children’s Literature, ILU's Forum for Equity/Diversity/Inclusion, and editorial roles including Currents at the University of Michigan.

Her educational background includes a PhD in English with focus on Critical Theory and 20th Century American Literature from the University of Kentucky (2016), preceded by faculty positions teaching grades 9-12 at Interlochen Arts Academy. Key research interests span:

• Gender, sexuality, and race representation in 20th/21st century American literature and film
• Feminist critical dystopian fiction (exemplified by her monograph Women in the Wastelands)
• Global citizenship education through literature (Developing Global Citizens in the Classroom project)
• Pedagogical approaches to empathy development and ethical skill-building
• Reproductive justice frameworks in dystopian narratives

Her publication trends reveal sustained interdisciplinary engagement across American Studies, Gender Studies, and Pedagogy. Recent works increasingly integrate UNESCO's global citizenship framework with literary analysis while maintaining core commitments to feminist and queer theoretical lenses. The 2020-2025 output demonstrates strategic expansion into children's literature, graphic novels, and electoral politics while deepening dystopian fiction analyses.

Notable scientific awards include:

• NeMLA Summer Fellowship (2024)
• Robert Mikkelsen Research Grant (ASANOR)
• Emerging Diversity Scholar designation (University of Michigan, 2016)
• Women’s Club Fellowship Award (University of Kentucky, 2013-2014)

Edgar actively mentors student research collaborations and has secured ILU funding for her global citizenship education project. Her sabbatical year (2023-24) served as Research Associate at the Five College Consortium Women's Studies Research Center. She participates in grant-funded initiatives including the British Library/University of Edinburgh-sponsored US Politics and Gender research group and ILU's Equity/Diversity/Inclusion Forum.

She leads the NTNU North American Studies research group and contributes to the International Research Society for Children’s Literature working group on Climate Change and Climate Literacy. Her collaborative projects frequently bridge Norwegian educational contexts with global literary frameworks, particularly through UNESCO-aligned pedagogical approaches.